The Savannah Ghost Pirates have revealed their protected list of 24 players ahead of the upcoming 2024-25 season. Here is a list that includes ten defensemen, thirteen forwards, and one goalie.
Defensemen:
- Nolan Valleau
- Tanner Vescio
- Pito Walton
- Brandon Estes
- Carter Long
- CJ McGee
- Elijah Vilio
- Bryce Martin
- Nick Parody
- Brandon Hickey
Forwards:
- Keltie Jeri-Leon
- Jordan Kaplan
- Nolan Welsh
- Kyle Jeffers
- Brent Pedersen
- Ross Armour
- Nick Granowicz
- Logan Drevitch
- Anthony Collins
- Alex Gilmour
- Robbie Fromm-Delorme
- Vincent Marleau
- Spencer Naas
Goaltenders:
- Michael Bullion
Michael Bullion tied with Cam Johnson from Florida and Taylor Gauthier from Wheeling for the most shutouts in the ECHL in the regular season. He secured his fourth shutout in the final home game against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on April 14th. Through 32 games, Bullion finished the season with a save percentage of .908%. He led the team’s goalies with 15 wins, 4 shutouts, and 1753 minutes played.
Forward Logan Drevitch led in both points and assists for Savannah, scoring 19 goals and providing 33 assists in 69 games. This surpasses his performance in the 2022-23 season, where he accumulated 37 points (13 goals, 24 assists).
Among the defensemen, Nolan Valleau scored 33 points in 59 games (6 goals, 27 assists), slightly surpassing Brandon Estes, who accumulated 32 points after 65 games (7 goals, 25 assists).
Last season, Brent Pedersen, who served as an alternate captain, made significant contributions to the Ghost Pirates by scoring 22 goals and providing 21 assists, totaling 43 points over the course of 65 games played with the team.
Keltie Jeri-Leon also stood out as one of the top scorers, earning a spot on the list with 13 goals and 22 assists in 63 games while playing for the Ghost Pirates.
Carter Long had also played a key role in the team’s scoring among the defensemen. Long finished the season with a total of 25 points from 69 games, scoring six goals and providing 19 assists during the season.
ECHL Guidelines:
Teams can protect an unlimited number of players as long as they adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association. According to the agreement, teams are entitled to retain the rights of players who:
1. Signed an SPC in 2023-24 with the Member, and has not been traded or released, OR
2. Signed an SPC in 2023-24, and was recalled to the NHL/AHL or IIHF team, and has not been traded or released, OR
3. Had received a Qualifying Offer last summer for the current Season, DID NOT sign an SPC, and has not been traded or released, OR
4. Has been suspended by the Member or League, and has not been traded or released, OR
5. Signed an SPC on or after the first day of the 2023-24 Regular Season, then subsequently signed an NHL/AHL contract, and has not been traded or released, OR
6. Has executed the ECHL Retirement Form, and has not been traded or released.
Protected lists may exceed 20 players.
The ECHL also announced that teams must complete all Future Consideration trades by 3 p.m. ET on June 20 and that teams must submit their Season-Ending Roster by 3 p.m. ET on June 22. Season-ending rosters may include up to 20 players and cannot include any players who did not sign an ECHL contract in 2023-24.
The Savannah Ghost Pirates have scheduled a press conference on Monday, June 17th at 2 p.m. The event will take place at Enmarket Arena, where they will officially reveal their new NHL and AHL affiliates.
The Ghost Pirates are preparing to start their third season in the league on Friday, October 18 at Enmarket Arena with a home game against the Indy Fuel.
