Mahrle returns to Gwinnett Gladiators

By Dustin Bixby

Posted 12:16PM on Thursday, July 17, 2008

DULUTH -- The Gwinnett Gladiators announced Thursday that they have signed defenseman Ryan Mahrle for the 2008-09 season and, in a separate transaction, have dealt defenseman Joe Grimaldi to the 2008 Kelly Cup Champion Cincinnati Cyclones for undisclosed consideration.

Mahrle returns to the Gladiators after appearing in all 72 games last year with Gwinnett during his first full professional season. He posted 4 goals and 14 assists for 18 points during the regular season while recording a goal and an assist for Gwinnett in 8 Kelly Cup Playoff games.

The Troy, Mich., native collected 9 assists in 13 games with the Kalamazoo Wings in the United Hockey League during the 2006-07 season following his final collegiate season at Western Michigan University. He had 10 points in 20 post season games.

In four seasons at Western Michigan, Mahrle collected 16 goals and 54 assists for 70 points in 152 career collegiate games. He had a career year during his rookie campaign in 2003-04 notching a career best 6 goals and finishing with 19 points.

Mahrle was a two-time Neil Smith Defenseman of the Year Award winner while at Western Michigan and was named the Western Michigan University Suzanne Klop Rookie of the Year Award winner in 2003-04. He was also the Broncos' top scoring defenseman during the 2005-06 season with 18 points.

Grimaldi, dealt for undisclosed consideration, becomes the first player to join the Cincinnati Cyclones for the 2008-09 season. The Ronkonkoma, N.Y., native split time last season with three different ECHL teams and three American Hockey League teams completing the season with the Gladiators in the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound defenseman collected 4 goals and 17 assists for 21 points in 67 combined ECHL games. He posted an assist in 7 combined AHL games last season.

The Gladiators open the 2008-09 season in October of 2008. Season tickets for the 2008-09 season are on sale now. Log on to www.gwinnettgladiators.com or call the Gladiators office at (770) 497-5100 for more information.