The Adirondack Thunder have announced their 2024-25 opening night roster. This year’s season-opening roster is a lot different than last year’s season-opening roster, as only five skaters and two goaltenders from the 2023-24 opening night roster are on the 2024-25 season-opening roster, including Ryan Smith, T.J. Friedmann, Jace Isley, Brendan Less, Ryan Wheeler, Jeremy Brodeur, and Tyler Brennan.
Opening Night Active Roster
Brendan Less (D)
Ryan Wheeler (F)
Chase Brand (F)
Ryan Conroy (D)
Ty Gibson (D)
Kurt Gosselin (D)
Ryan Smith (F)
Andre Ghantous (F)
Alex Young (F)
Andre Ghantous (F)
Alex Young (F)
Kevin O’Neil (F)
T.J. Friedmann (F)
Zach Bannister (F)
Taylor Ford (D)
Patrick Polino (F)
Darian Skeoch (D)
James Marooney (D)
Tag Bertuzzi (F)
Shaw Boomhower (F)
Jase Isley (F)
Tyler Brennan (G)
Jeremy Brodeur (G)
Reserves/IR
David Fessenden (G) (14-Day IR)—The Adirondack Thunder will start the season with Jeremy Brodeur and Tyler Brennan as the tandem, as David Fessenden has hit the 14-day IR to begin the year. For Adirondack, this shouldn’t cause much of an issue, as they have a relatively quiet schedule, playing just three games in the first two weeks of the season. Fessenden will be eligible to return when the Thunder make their first trip North of the Border to face the Trois-Rivieres Lions on November 3rd.
Brendan Pepe (Reserve)- It doesn’t come as a shock that the Thunder’s newest addition will begin the season on reserve after being claimed by the Bloomington Bison. Pepe, 28, is entering his first season in the league after spending the past two seasons in the SPHL with the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, where he put up 14 goals and 36 assists for 50 points in 104 games. He would win an SPHL Championship with Roanoke in 2023 and be named Defenseman of the Year in the SPHL last season after leading all defensemen with 41 points in 56 games.
Keanan Stewart– The Former Cincinnati Cyclone will begin the season on reserve for the Thunder after playing in 16 games with the Cyclones at the end of last season. This comes as a bit of a surprise after Stewart found the back of the net in his only pre-season appearance.
Who Didn’t Make The Cut
Tyson Gilmour (F)- The Thunder cut the 26-year-old center after being the only play coming into camp on a PTO. Prior to being released, Gilmour would play in Saturday’s pre-season game, finishing with a -2. Depending on how the season goes, I would expect Adirondack to keep close tabs on Gilmour in the event that they need a player down the road.
Ryan Francis (F)- The 22-year-old forward was suspended by the Thunder earlier this week in order to protect his ECHL rights. According to sources, it doesn’t sound like he is headed overseas and may be back with the Thunder at some point during the season. If he can return to Adirondack, it would be a major boost for the team, as he’s a guy who could easily put up 20 goals a year.
