ECHL: Adirondack Thunder and Orlando Solar Bears Swap Defensemen

The Adirondack Thunder and Orlando Solar Bears struck a deal on Wednesday Morning. The Thunder sent the rights to defenseman Matt Stief to Orlando in exchange for defenseman Kurt Gosselin, who signed with Orlando earlier this off-season.

What This Means For Adirondack

For Adirondack, they get a defenseman Kurt Gosselin, who will be entering his sixth season in the league as he’s put up 22 goals and 33 assists for 55 points in 147 games as he’s spent time with the Cincinnati Cyclones, Toledo Walleye, Kalamazoo Wings, Reading Royals and Orlando Solar Bears. He’s added two assists in 15 career Kelly Cup Playoff games. Prior to going pro, the 29-year-old defenseman spent four years with the University of Alabama-Huntsville at the NCAA level, where he put up 20 goals and 38 assists for 58 points in 118 games.

The Brighton, Michigan native brings some more experience to a relatively young Thunder defensive core. One of the biggest things we’ve seen with Adirondack over the last year or so is that they’ve wanted to add size, and at 6’1, 201lb, he will fit in well with Pete MacArthur’s system. Heading into next season, I would expect Gosselin to fit in well for the Thunder on the second or third pair.

What This Means For Orlando

For Orlando, they get a defenseman who found his scoring touch in Adirondack, putting up eight goals and 53 assists for 61 points in 136 games with Adirondack after putting up 18 assists in his rookie season with the Idaho Steelheads. He’s added two assists in 12 career Kelly Cup Playoff games, all coming with Adirondack. Prior to playing in the ECHL, Stief spent his collegiate career at Canisius College, where he played for four years, putting up five goals and 55 assists for 60 points in 133 games. He would then spend a year in the SPHL with the Macon Mayhem, scoring one goal and adding six assists for seven points in 34 games.

The Boca Raton, Florida native will get a fresh start in Orlando after having a solid regular season last season, where he put up four goals and 31 assists for 35 points and led all Adirondack defensemen in points. Despite a solid regular season, he would play in just seven of Adirondack’s 19 Kelly Cup Playoffs games. Stief has shown during his time in Adirondack that he’s a guy who can easily be a top-four defenseman and contribute offensively. He should fit in well with his new team.