There is no denying that when the Bloomington Bison announced their expansion into the ECHL, many hockey fans in the area wondered if they would see any movement of players from the nearby SPHL franchise, the Peoria Rivermen, to Bloomington. Today, it was announced that Peoria Rivermen rookie standout winger Mike Gelatt has signed an ECHL tryout deal with the Bloomington Bison.
Gelatt played 41 games with the Rivermen last season, including seven playoff games where he helped Peoria win the Presidents Cup as they were crowned SPHL Champions. He had 13 goals and 20 assists in the regular season and playoffs combined. The 26-year-old, originally from Middletown, New Jersey, stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 209 pounds. He played junior hockey in the NAHL and Division III in New York and Wisconsin.
Located only 45 minutes west of Bloomington, the Peoria Rivermen have played professional hockey for over 40 years in four leagues, including the ECHL, from 1996 to 2005. The movement of players between the two clubs makes sense for many reasons, one being geographic proximity. For the Rivermen, a great selling point to attract top prospects is the opportunity to be seen and available to a higher league less than an hour down Interstate 74. This is also a great advantage for Bloomington, as players eager to make the move so close can help when injuries plague the roster midway through the season.
Additionally, the Bison, still young in their history and building a fanbase, would welcome Rivermen fans to downtown Bloomington to watch some of their favorite players suit up for the Bison.
Gelatt’s tryout deal is hopefully just the first of many opportunities for these clubs to work together. What is good for hockey in Bloomington is good for hockey in Peoria, and vice versa. No official affiliation or agreement needs to be in place for the Rivermen and Bison to find success working together to give the players the best opportunity and the fans the best product possible.
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