Gillies Joins Grizzlies
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WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – Utah Grizzlies Head Coach and
Director of Hockey Operations Kevin Colley announced today that the
team has signed former Union forward Nathan Gillies to a contract
for the 2009-2010 season.
Gillies has played 446 career professional games, including 152 in
the ECHL with Charlotte and Phoenix. He split this past season in
England, playing with Sheffield and with the Central Hockey
League’s Rocky Mountain Rage; tallying a combined total of
three goals and 12 assists for 15 points in 26 games while adding
39 penalty minutes.
“I played with Nate when I was with Bridgeport and loved
what he brought to the locker room,” said Colley. “He
is tenacious, knows how to change momentum and is very feisty. Just
having, now, an older guy who knows how to bring that kind of
leadership is hard to come by. I think it’s a great signing
by us and the fans are going to love him.”
Prior to 08-09, the 28-year-old Ontario native spent three seasons
with the ECHL’s Charlotte Checkers and the final half of
2007-2008 with the Phoenix RoadRunners where he totaled 35 goals
and 54 assists for 89 points and 208 penalty minutes in 152 games;
including 2006-2007 when he had a career high of 41 points (17
goals, 24 assists) in 62 games.
“I’m excited to come in to Utah and lead the boys in
whatever job that is,” said Gillies. “I played a few
games there when I was with Phoenix a few years ago and it was an
unbelievable building and I’ve heard nothing but good things
about the organization.”
The forward now occupies one of four total veteran spots allotted
to an ECHL roster.
