The Atlanta Gladiators recently announced the addition of Alex Whelan to their 2023-2024 roster. Whelan may be familiar to some after playing for the Jacksonville IceMen last season, where he tallied two goals and two assists for four points in just three games with the team. Whelan played in a total of 42 games in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Hartford Wolfpack and the Cleveland Monsters. In his 23 appearances for the Hartford Wolfpack, Whelan scored two goals and earned three assists. After being traded to the Cleveland Monsters in early March 2023, he would play 19 games, adding a goal and four assists for the Monsters.
Derek Nesbitt, Head Coach for the Atlanta Gladiators, added that “Alex is smart on both sides of the puck” and is looking forward to seeing how Whelan’s past experiences in the AHL will benefit the Gladiators in the upcoming season. He added that “[Alex’s] experience alone is going to be huge in helping to get our group off on the right foot” and that he “can’t hear enough about what a great teammate Alex is.”
Whelan, a native of Ramsey, NJ, will be no stranger to some of his teammates, however. He played youth hockey with both Anthony Firriolo and Tyler Harmon while on the roster for the New Jersey Hitmen AAA Team during the 2013-2014 season. He had led his team that season in goals with 35, earning Forward of the Year and Most Valuable Player for his efforts. Later, his collegiate hockey career would be spent with Quinnipiac University, where he played in 141 games over four seasons, tallying 78 points for the team (48g-30a).
The Atlanta Gladiators will kick off their season at home against the Savannah Ghost Pirates on October 21, 2023.
