ECHL: Atlanta Gladiators Announce Protected List

Photo Credit: Taylor Trebotte for Inside the Rink

The Atlanta Gladiators have announced their protected list for the upcoming season. The list is as follows:

Defensemen:

  • Dylan Carabia
  • Brenden Datema
  • Tim Davison
  • Aidan De La Gorgendiere
  • Jay Powell
  • Derek Topatigh
  • Jake Willets
  • Zach Yoder


Forwards:

  • Parker AuCoin
  • Josh Boyer
  • Ryan Cranford
  • Carson Denomie
  • Mitch Fossier
  • Brendan Hoffmann
  • Michael Marchesan
  • Jackson Pierson
  • Sanghoon Shin
  • Cody Sylvester
  • Mitch Walinski
  • Alex Whelan

Goaltenders:

  • Josh Boyko
  • Tyler Harmon

There are some notable players on this list, including some fan favorites.

Forward Tim Davison’s most recent appearance was with the Atlanta Gladiators during the 2022-2023 season, where he accumulated 29 points through seven goals and 22 assists.

Aidan De La Gorgendiere returns after playing with the University of Alberta where he would add 11 points (1g, 10a) after 10 games. Prior to returning to Canada he played in 10 games with Atlanta, tallying a total of five points (1g, 4a).

Last season, Sanghoon Shin was primarily abroad playing for HL Anyang “A”, where he scored 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) and contributed to his team’s playoff run and securing two points (1 goal, 1 assist).

Cody Sylvester also played overseas with EC Bad Nauheim, scoring four points with three goals and one assist in seven regular season games. Additionally, he participated in the postseason, featuring in two playoff games. Prior to his departure he earned 33 points with Atlanta, after 35 games (13g, 20a).

Also overseas last season was Derek Topatigh who was with the Sterzing/Vipiteno, tallying 43 points after 40 games (8g, 35a). He also made a playoff run with the team, earning eight points after 11 games (2g, 6a). Prior to that, he was with the Gladiators for the 2022-23 season, earning 38 points after 65 games (6g, 32a).

Mitch Fossier was on the injured reserve list during the latter part of the season but continued to be one of the team’s top scorers, along with Jackson Pierson. Fossier accumulated 33 points in the 27 games he played (10 goals, 23 assists), while Pierson, the team’s leading scorer, participated in all 72 games last season, amassing 43 points with 17 goals and 26 assists.

Tyler Harmon makes a comeback after being sidelined for most of the previous season, securing four wins and boasting a .902 save percentage in 13 games. Meanwhile, Josh Boyko has a .894 save percentage in 16 games with the Gladiators.

ECHL Guidelines:
Teams can protect an unlimited number of players as long as they adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association. According to the agreement, teams are entitled to retain the rights of players who:

1. Signed an SPC in 2023-24 with the Member, and has not been traded or released, OR

2. Signed an SPC in 2023-24, and was recalled to the NHL/AHL or IIHF team, and has not been traded or released, OR

3. Had received a Qualifying Offer last summer for the current Season, DID NOT sign an SPC, and has not been traded or released, OR

4. Has been suspended by the Member or League, and has not been traded or released, OR

5. Signed an SPC on or after the first day of the 2023-24 Regular Season, then subsequently signed an NHL/AHL contract, and has not been traded or released, OR

6. Has executed the ECHL Retirement Form, and has not been traded or released.


Protected lists may exceed 20 players.


The ECHL also announced that teams must complete all Future Consideration trades by 3 p.m. ET on June 20 and that teams must submit their Season-Ending Roster by 3 p.m. ET on June 22. Season-ending rosters may include up to 20 players and cannot include any players who did not sign an ECHL contract in 2023-24.

The team’s 72-game season will kick off at home on Saturday, October 19th, at 7:00 p.m. against the Indy Fuel.


Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Karen Zehner

Inside The Rink ECHL Manager | Senior Editor | Credentialed Beat Writer covering the ECHL Atlanta Gladiators. Diving into the world of slap shots, penalty kills, and the game we love. [@RunwithK] on socials.

Leave a Reply

AHL: Mitchell Gibson Signs with Hershey Bears

They say goalies are a different breed—and with good reason. They play the game from a unique perspective, often under immense pressure, and carry one of the most important roles on the ice. The Stingrays in South Carolina have seen their fair share of netminders come and go, with some making names for themselves at […]

Read More

ECHL: Adirondack Thunder Rob Lippolis Named 2025 ECHL Broadcaster of the Year

Adirondack Thunder Broadcaster Rob Lippolis has been named the 2025 ECHL Broadcaster of the Year. Lippolis was also named a finalist for the award last season. Lippolis was the brains behind Country Night which was one of three awards the Thunder brought home from the 2024 Summer Meetings in Las Vegas. The Thunder were nominated […]

Read More

ECHL: Anthony Beauchamp Re-Signs With Trois-Rivières Lions

The Trois-Rivières Lions made their third signing in three days, and re-signed the second of the two Anthony’s as they announced the re-signing of forward Anthony Beauchamp. It was a rough first year in TR for Beauchamp who was limited to 22 regular-seaon games, where he put up seven goals and an assist for eight […]

Read More