ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Three Join Grizzlies From Bridgeport

Published on October 22, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


West Valley City, Utah -.Utah Grizzlies Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin Colley announced today that defenseman Andy Sertich and forwards Joel Rechlicz and Vladimir Nikiforov have joined the team from the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

The Grizzlies are proud to be the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's New York Islanders and their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport.

Sertich enters his third year in Utah after playing one game with Bridgeport in 2008-2009. He played 28 games with the Sound Tigers in 2007-2008, tallying three goals and six assists after being promoted from Utah on December 31 after scoring three goals and adding 14 assists for 17 points in 29 games. Sertich led the Grizzlies with 40 assists during the 2006-2007 season, his only full year in Utah when he was also named an ECHL All-Star.

Nikiforov, a rookie, played four games with Bridgeport this season. Last year, during his final year of junior hockey, he tallied 67 points (25 goals and 42 assists) in 51 games with Sarnia and Barrie. In three total years of junior hockey, the New York native, who is currently 21, had 63 goals and 110 assists for 113 points in 179 games.

Rechlicz, also 21, played in 25 games with the AHL's Albany River Rats in 2007-2008, tallying one assist and 106 penalty minutes in 25 games. He played junior hockey in the QMJHL and the USHL.

The home opening weekend for Utah is this Friday and Saturday, October 24 and 25 versus Alaska at the E-Center.

The Utah Grizzlies, of the ECHL, celebrate their 15th anniversary season in 2008-2009. Owned and operated by the Elmore Sports Group, the Grizzlies enter their second season and sixth overall as an affiliate of the New York Islanders. South Jordan resident and former Islander Kevin Colley enters his first season as the Grizzlies Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations after serving as Jason Christie's Assistant Coach in 2007-2008 as the team advanced to the National Conference Finals. The Grizzlies play all home games at the E-Center of West Valley City, which hosted hockey during the 2002 Winter Olympics.

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