ECHL: Wichita Thunder Sign a Forward and Sign a Defenseman to a Tryout Agreement

The Wichita Thunder have announced that they have signed 6’0″ forward Parker Saretsky. They also announced that they have signed 6’3″ defenseman Brock Bartholomew to a Tryout Agreement.

Parker Saretsky’s Career

Parker Saretsky, the Wainwright, Alberta native, spent his junior career in the AJHL with the Lloydminster Bobcats and Spruce Grove Saints. In his four AJHL seasons, Saretsky played in 152 games where he had 46 goals and 87 assists for 133 points with 64 penalty minutes. In 35 postseason games, he had 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points with 16 penalty minutes. In the 2017-18 season, Saretsky and the Spruce Grove Saints were the AJHL Champions.

After completing his junior career, Saretsky started his collegiate career playing Division I hockey at Michigan Tech. In his four seasons at Michigan Tech, Saretsky played in 133 games where he had 14 goals and 35 assists for 49 points. He had 26 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +9.

Saretsky started his professional career in the 2023-24 season when he signed with the Trois-Rivières Lions in the ECHL. Saretsky played in 43 games where he had eight assists with ten penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -10.

Saretsky is still pretty early into his career and is still adjusting to playing at the professional level. But he does have a lot of speed and can shoot from just about anywhere on the ice. Saretsky is also pretty good at picking up rebounds in front of the net to sent the puck home. If Saretsky is able to find his spark and have a breakout season, he should be a pretty good player for the Thunder.

Brock Bartholomew’s Career

Brock Bartholomew, the 6’3″ defenseman from St. Albert, Alberta was signed to a tryout agreement by the Wichita Thunder. Bartholomew spent his junior career playing with the Grande Prairie Storm and Drayton Valley Thunder in the AJHL (2017-20) and the Amherst Ramblers in the MJAHL (2019-22). In 59 games in the AJHL Bartholomew had three goals and four assists for seven points with 16 penalty minutes. In his three seasons in the MJAHL, Bartholomew played in 108 games where he had 18 goals and 44 assists for 62 points with 132 penalty minutes. In ten MJAHL playoff games, Bartholomew had four goals and six assists for ten points with eight penalty minutes. In the 2021-22 Bartholomew was named the MJAHL’s Best Defenseman and was also named to the MJAHL All-Star South team. Bartholomew also captained the Amherst Ramblers in the 2021-22 season.

After completing his junior career, Bartholomew signed overseas, where he has spent the past two seasons. Bartholomew spent the 2022-23 season in Sweden playing for the Alfta GIF and Orsa IK of HockeyTvaan. In 24 total games, he had nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points with 18 penalty minutes. Bartholomew played 11 playoff games with Orsa IK where he had one assist and four penalty minutes. Bartholomew spent the 2023-24 season in Great Britain with the Hull Seahawks. In 53 games, Bartholomew had 23 goals and 40 assists for 63 points with 37 penalty minutes. In six playoff games, he had seven assists and two penalty minutes. In the 2023-24 season, Bartholomew had both the most goals and points by a defenseman with his 23 goals and 63 points.

If Bartholomew lands a roster spot with the Thunder, he should be pretty good for the Thunder, both offensively and defensively. Bartholomew has a lot of offensive power and speed that can help his team gain odd man rushes and also take away odd man rushes for the opposing team. Bartholomew can read the ice well and has a great shot from the blue line that can help his team find the back of the net more.

The 2024-25 season will be Bartholomew’s first professional season in North America and his first season with the Wichita Thunder.