ECHL: Jacksonville Icemen Add Another Rookie Forward

The Jacksonville Icemen have announced that they’ve signed rookie forward Brody Crane to an ECHL Contract for the 2024-25 season. The 20-year-old forward had ten goals and 14 assists for 26 points in 47 OHL games last season. Crane becomes the 11th forward and 18th player signed by the Icemen for the 2024-25 season. He is the sixth rookie to sign with the Icemen, joining Josh Nodler, Michael Gildon, Justin McRae, Dilan Peters, and Justen Close. Heading into next season, I would expect Crane to be a bottom-six forward for the Icemen. Before going to the OHL, he spent a year with the Buffalo Junior Sabres 16U AAA team, where he put up 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points in 47 games. The Icemen are the ECHL affiliate for the Buffalo Sabres.

Crane, 20, joins the Icemen after spending three seasons in the OHL with the London Knights, Niagra IceDogs, and Guelph Storm. In 171 games, the Union, Ontario native managed to put up 31 goals and 50 assists for 81 points, including two four-point games during the 2022-23 season. He’s added six goals and two assists for eight points while playing in 28 OHL Playoff Games. Crane was traded twice during the 2023-24 season. Brody isn’t the only member of his family who’s played in the OHL; his dad, Derrick Crane, played three years in the OHL with the Ottawa 67’s, Windsor Spitfires, and London Knights. He scored 18 goals and 29 assists for 47 points in 114 games.