From Tigers to Falcons

FRESNO, CALIF. –- The Fresno Falcons announced today that left wings Kyle Hagel and Dustin Sproat have agreed to terms for the 2008-09 season. Both players are products of Princeton University, and enter their first professional seasons.

Hagel appeared in 117 games during his four years with the Tigers, scoring 12 goals and adding 12 assists for 24 points, while also accumulating 80 penalty minutes. The 23-year-old served as an assistant captain for the Tigers during his senior season. He was named to the ECAC All-Academic Team in each of his final three seasons at Princeton, and as a senior, was an Academic All-Ivy League selection.

"Kyle is a strong, power forward who is relentless on the forecheck and is very physical," Falcons head coach and general manager Matt Thomas said. "He'll earn the praise of fans and teammates from the start due to his work ethic. He is a team first guy that has great leadership qualities."

Sproat returns to the ice for the first time since the 2005-06 season when he suited up in 16 games for the ECHL’s Reading Royals, scoring one goal and adding an assist. The 27-year-old played three years at Princeton, playing in 92 games and scoring 28 goals while adding 29 assists for 57 points. He enjoyed his best season in 2004-05, scoring 18 goals and adding 17 assists for a team-leading 35 points in 31 games. His 35 points that season led the ECAC, and he was named to the All-ECAC Second Team and was a First Team All-Ivy League selection, while also serving as the Tigers’ captain.

"Dustin is a unique story, as the leading returning scorer in the ECAC, he lost his last year of eligibility at Princeton, and was somewhat forced out of the game," Thomas said. "He has a renewed focus and passion to win and succeed and will be a huge surprise to a lot of people out there.

"Guy Gadowsky (Princeton's Coach and former Falcons Coach/Player) is a strong believer in both of these players," Thomas continued. "He believes that few will out-work and out-muscle Kyle and thinks that Dustin can be an impact scorer immediately because of his hockey sense and creativity. We look forward to both players adding strength and skill to our line-up."

While at Princeton, Sproat and Hagel were teammates with returning Falcons’ defenseman Daryl Marcoux, and with left-wing Grant Goeckner-Zoeller, whom the Falcons acquired in a trade with the Dayton Bombers earlier this summer.