ODESSA, TX — The Odessa Jackalopes are proud to announce they have tendered forwards Ryan Kelly and Ryan Kusler for the 2021-22 season.
A native of Highland Ranch, Colorado, Kelly is a veteran of the South Kent School Selects Academy where he has played the past two seasons. Kelly’s has had a strong showing so far, this year with 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) in 21 games played this year in Triple A Junior Hockey. Before Joining the South Kent School, Kelly played three seasons with the Colorado Thunderbirds.
“Ryan is a bog body with skill and skates really well for his size,” said Jackalopes Director of Player Personnel Tim Christian. “He comes from a prep school that has had a history of success and we have high expectations for him.”
Kusler is in the midst of his fifth season with the famed Fox Motors AAA program in Michigan. This season has been the best for Kusler in his time with Fox Motors as he has broken out for 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 10 games played.
“Kusler has a good skill set and can score, he will bring a physical presence to the line-up and has a high compete level,” Christian said.
Both gentlemen are 2003 birth years and will likely come into the North American Hockey League as 18-year-olds.
A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Each team is granted ten (10) tenders, plus or minus any trades, which become active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft. (Information provided by NAHL.com)
