AHL Syracuse Crunch

Syracuse Crunch Sign Defenseman Ben Thomas to ATO

March 22, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse Crunch have signed defenseman Ben Thomas to an amateur try-out contract, Crunch general manager Julien BriseBois announced today. Additionally, the Crunch have loaned Charlie Dodero to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

Thomas, 19, played in 14 contests with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League this season, posting three assists and 10 penalty minutes, before joining the Vancouver Giants for 60 games, where he tallied 25 points (8g, 17a) and 40 penalty minutes. He ranked first among Giants defenseman in goals and second in total points.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Calgary, Alberta native has skated in 213 WHL games with Calgary and Vancouver, recording 90 points (22g, 68a) and 117 penalty minutes from 2012 to 2016.

Thomas was selected in the fourth round, 119th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Dodero, 23, has skated in 10 games with the Crunch this season, recording 17 penalty minutes. He has also appeared in 25 contests with the Swamp Rabbits this season, registering one goal, three assists and 68 penalty minutes.

In 36 games with the Crunch during the 2014-15 season, Dodero collected five points (1g, 4a), 72 penalty minutes and recorded a plus-7 rating. The Bloomingdale, Illinois native also played in 33 with the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL last season, racking up 12 points (3g, 9a) and 81 penalty minutes. In 116 career ECHL games with Idaho and Greenville, Dodero has accumulated a total of 37 points (8g, 29a) and 246 penalty minutes.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman spent four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Sudbury Wolves and Kitchener Rangers, where he tallied 69 points (11g, 58a) and 286 penalty minutes over 248 contests.

Dodero was signed to a one-year AHL contract by the Syracuse Crunch on Sept. 2.

Syracuse Crunch single game and season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased either in person at the Crunch Box Office located in the War Memorial at 800 South State Street in Syracuse or by calling the office at 315-473-4444. For the latest Crunch news, visit www.syracusecrunch.com or follow the club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/syracusecrunch), Twitter (@SyracuseCrunch) and Instagram (@officialsyracusecrunch) using #SyrCrunch and #BelieveInBlue.

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