The Wichita Thunder have announced that they have signed forward Alex Gritz and defenseman Nico Somerville for the 2024-25 ECHL season.
Alex Gritz’s Career
The 6’0″ forward from Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania started his junior career in the 2016-17 season playing in the OHL. Gritz spent his four seasons in the OHL with the Soo Greyhounds and Erie Otters playing in 162 games between the two teams. Gritz had 25 goals and 32 assists for 57 points. He had 19 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -27. He played in seven postseason games where he did not have any points or penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -1. After starting the 2019-20 season with the Erie Otters, Gritz joined the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL. He played in three games where he had zero goals and one assist for one point. He had zero penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -1. He then spent the rest of the season in the QMJHL with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. In 45 games with the Huskies, Gritz had two goals and six assists for eight points. He had 19 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -3.
Gritz then spent the 2020-21 season in the NAHL with the Johnstown Tomahawks. In 46 games, he had ten goals and 14 assists for 24 points. He had six penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +4. In five playoff games, he had zero goals and one assist for one point. He had zero penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +4. Gritz was the captain of the 2020-21 Johnstown Tomahawks.
Gritz then joined the University of Waterloo where he played his collegiate career in USports. In three seasons with Waterloo, Gritz played in 71 games where he had 13 goals and 26 assists for 39 points with 30 penalty minutes. In two playoff games with Waterloo, Gritz had zero goals and two assists for two points with zero penalty minutes.
The 2024-25 season will be Gritz’s first season playing at the professional level.
Nico Somerville’s Career
Nico Somerville is a defenseman from Port Alberni, British Columbia, and stands at 5’9″. Somerville started his junior career in the 2015-16 season in the BCHL. In his five seasons in the BCHL, Somerville spent time playing for the Victoria Grizzlies and Penticton Vees. Between the two teams, Somerville played in 210 games where he had 17 goals and 67 assists for 84 points. He had 138 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0. In 40 playoff games, Somerville had five goals and five assists for ten points. He had ten penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0.
After completing his junior career, Nico Somerville started his collegiate career playing Division I hockey at American International College (AIC). In his four seasons at AIC, Somerville played in 110 games where he had seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points. He had 48 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +18. In the 2020-21 season, Somerville and AIC were the AHA Regular Season Champions and won the AHA Championship. Somerville was also named to the AHA All-Rookie team. In the 2021-22 season, AIC and Somerville were once again the AHA Regular Season Champions and won the AHA championship. In the 2023-24 season, Somerville was named to the AHA All-Tournament team.
The 2024-25 season will be Somerville’s first season of playing professional hockey.
Both of the players could become big assets for the Thunder in the future. They will both be rookies in the 2024-25 season, so they make take a little while to settle in to playing at a different level. But once they are able to adjust to the style of play in the ECHL and the Mountain Division, they could become great players for the Wichita Thunder.
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