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.
