ECHL: Ryan Sullivan and Michael Suda Return to Savannah

Earlier today, the Savannah Ghost Pirates announced the return of two players from last season in Ryan Sullivan and Michael Suda. Both players have been signed to ECHL contracts for the upcoming season.

The Blueline

The Ghost Pirates have brought back defenseman Michael Suda for the upcoming season. Prior to making his professional debut Suda plaed at the collegiate level for Cornell University. His final season at Cornell was also his best, putting up 11 assists in 36 games. After finishing his collegiate career, he found himself in Savannah. He played in six games for the Ghost Pirates and found his way onto the scoresheet with his first professional goal. Suda, still young at 23, will look to continue developing under Head Coach Jared Staal this season.

Retaining Firepower

In terms of offensive capability, the Ghost Pirates also brought back Ryan Sullivan. Prior to making his professional debut with Savannah, the forward played collegiately at UMASS for three seasons before transferring to the University of Miami (OH), where he was the team’s captain. In his final year with the RedHawks, he scored six goals and added four assists in 34 games. Last season in Savannah, the forward played in 15 games, contributing three assists to the Ghost Pirates lineup. The Michigan native is still only 25 and will also look to see a jump in his production next season with Savannah.

The Outlook

By bringing back both of these forward the Ghost Pirates continue to add to their depth. Both players have the potential to have breakout seasons and show the fans in Savannah what they are capable of. I would expect Sullivan to take a step forward and make an impact in the locker room as well as on the ice. Suda will likely begin to establish himself in the ECHL and become a player the coaching staff can rely upon to be a steady presence. With these two players, the Ghost Pirates now have 10 players under contract for next season, all of them are skaters, as they have yet to add a goaltender. Look for Savannah to continue to be busy this offseason.