February 3, 2009

Icehawks Sign Esdale

PORT HURON, MI – The Port Huron Icehawks announced that they have signed former Brown defenseman Paul Esdale to a contract. Per team policy, details of the deal were not disclosed.

Esdale (5-10, 175 lbs) is a sixth year professional who comes to the Icehawks after beginning the season with the Skovde IK in Sweden where he put up 32 points (7g, 25a) in 32 games. A former standout at Brown University (1999-2003), he has had stints in the East Coast Hockey League, Central Hockey League and in Europe since turning pro in 2003.

“Paul is a skilled player that will make an immediate impact on our team,” Head Coach and General Manager Stan Drulia said. “I have been looking for another offensive defenseman to help our power play and transition game. He brings a lot to the table. We are happy to add him to our team as we continue our quest to bring the Turner Cup to Port Huron.”

In the 2007-08 season, Esdale played 33 games with the Colorado Eagles and three games with the Corpus Christy Ice Rayz in the CHL and recorded a combined 19 points (14g, 5a) and a +9 rating.

The 29-year old native of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada was named Most Outstanding Defenseman in the Central Hockey League in the 2004-05 campaign after he led the Wichita Thunder to the playoffs with 69 points (22g, 47a) including 12 power play goals, and a +39 rating. He also amassed 12 points (3g, 9a) in 13 playoff games and was named to the CHL All Star Game and the All-CHL Team.

After his time with the Thunder, Esdale skated with several teams overseas and also played part of a season with the Youngstown Steelhounds before landing with the Eagles in the 2007-08 season.

The defenseman has played with several of his Icehawks teammates in the past. He skated with center Nick Lindberg in Corpus Christi, played with left wing Tab Lardner in Youngstown and played with goalie Bryan Bridges in Colorado.