ECHL: Bloomington Bison Provide Tryout Deal to Rivermen Rookie

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.

insidetherink.com/join-us

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

ECHL: Jed Pietila Reels in Another Season with Toledo

Defenseman Jed Pietila is officially back in Walleye blue. The team announced the re-signing of Jed Pietila, bringing the blueliner back for the 2025-26 season after a strong first full year in the pros. 2024-25 Season Recap Pietila appeared in 59 games with the Toledo Walleye during the 2024-25 regular season, picking up two goals […]

Read More

ECHL: Allen Americans Sign Thomas Caron

The Allen Americans have announced that they’ve signed forward Thomas Caron for the 2025-26 season. Caron, 28, played in 31 games with the Idaho Steelheads, putting up eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points. In January, he would be traded to the Indy Fuel before being suspended by the team just two days later. […]

Read More

ECHL: Cole Fraser Joins Worcester Railers

The Worcester Railers have announced that they’ve signed defenseman Cole Fraser for the 2025-26 season. Fraser, 25, played in 35 games last season with the Allen Americans, where he put up two goals and two assists for four points along with 88 PIMS. The addition of Fraser will add some toughness to the Railers’ blueline […]

Read More