The Adirondack Thunder had a busy Monday as opening rosters are due in less than 48 hours as they suspended a player, released a player, and claimed a player off waivers. Let’s start with one of the least significant transactions, which was the release of Tyson Gilmour. The 26-year-old center was the only PTO at camp for the Thunder and was a -2 in his only pre-season game with the Thunder on Saturday Night.
The biggest news is that Ryan Francis was suspended to keep his ECHL rights, which likely means he’s headed overseas but nothing has yet to be confirmed. Francis, 22, was signed by Adirondack this off-season after splitting last season between the Ontario Reign and Greenville Swamp Rabbits, playing in 50 games, putting ten goals and 13 assists for 23 points. The Halifax, Nova Scotia native had a great rookie season, putting up 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points in 57 games with the Trois-Rivieres Lions. Francis was expected to be a key part of the Thunder heading into the 2024-25 season and was easily one of the team’s bigger signings this off-season.
Adirondack would go out and make a waiver claim on Monday as they claimed Brendan Pepe off waivers from the Bloomington Bison after playing in the team’s only pre-season game on Saturday Night. Pepe, 28, has spent the past two seasons in the SPHL with the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, putting up 14 goals and 36 assists for 50 points in 104 games as he put up 13 goals and 28 assists for 41 points in 56 games last year in Roanoke. He won an SPHL Championship with the Rail Yard Dawgs in 2023 and was named Defenseman of the Year in the SPHL last year. This is a huge signing for the Thunder as they need some more offensive production from the blueline, and that’s exactly what he will bring to the Adirondack blueline.
