ECHL: Atlanta Gladiators Gain Additional Depth with Two Distinct Moves

The Atlanta Gladiators have announced two more roster changes this weekend. Yesterday, they acquired Chad Nychuk from Milwaukee (AHL), and today, they received Filip Forsmark in a trade with Wheeling.

Chad Nychuk was recently assigned to the Atlanta Gladiators by the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. Nychuk has been consistently impressive over the last three seasons. During the 2022-2023 season, he competed in both the ECHL with the Kalamazoo Wings and the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks. With the Kalamazoo Wings, he participated in 36 games, scoring four goals and 17 assists, totaling 21 points with a plus/minus of +3 and 28 penalty minutes.

During the 2023-2024 season, Nychuk demonstrated his adaptability on the ice. He participated in 24 regular season games with the Kalamazoo Wings, netting one goal and providing 11 assists, resulting in a total of 12 points, along with a plus/minus rating of -1 and 2 penalty minutes. His strong performance in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, where he played 4 games, scored two goals, and added one assist, contributing a total of three points. Across the last two seasons, he participated in a total of 49 AHL games with the Canucks, showcasing a solid performance with 3 goals and 17 assists.

Before starting his professional career, the Rossburn, Manitoba native played five games in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) for the Waywayseecappo Wolverines, where he recorded seven points (1g, 6a). He also gained additional experience in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Brandon Wheat Kings, where he secured 141 points (33 goals, 108 assists) over 206 games.

Today, Filip Forsmark was traded from the Wheeling Nailers to the Atlanta Gladiators for future considerations. Forsmark is considered a versatile forward, playing both Left and Right Wing. Forsmark, hailing from Skövde, Sweden, spent four seasons at Merrimack College competing in the NCAA Division I Hockey East conference, where he made a notable impact on the team’s offensive efforts. In the 2021-2022 season, he showcased his skills by accumulating 27 points (11g, 16a) in only 33 games. During the 2020-2021 season, he topped the team’s scoring charts with 13 points over 18 games. He also recorded three multi-point games, with a standout career-high three points against New Hampshire. His nine assists during that season were the highest recorded on the Warriors.

Prior to joining Merrimack, Forsmark spent two seasons with the Tri-City Storm in the USHL, where he was a key offensive contributor, finishing second on the team with 52 points in his final season. His impressive performance included 14 goals and 38 assists, showcasing his skills as a playmaker. Additionally, he made an impact in the playoffs, adding five points in six games and helping lead the Storm to the Clark Cup conference finals in 2019. His versatility is expected to make him an asset for the Gladiators.

The Atlanta Gladiators kick off their season with an opening-night matchup against the Indy Fuel on Saturday, October 19th, at 7 p.m. at Gas South Arena.