Odessa, TX – The Odessa Jackalopes have brought in two newcomers to the team to help bolster the blue line a week before the trade deadline. Connor Fedorek joins the team in a trade that sent Joe Rosa to Kenai River, and Erik Nilsson adds depth as a free agent signing.
The Jackalopes acquired Connor Fedorek from the Kenai River Brown Bears on Tuesday in a trade that sent Joe Rosa back in return. Fedorek is a ’99 birth year, but a second year veteran in the NAHL. Over the course of two seasons, Fedorek has appeared in 63 games for the Brown Bears, scoring only one goal and assisting on 15.
“We got a little bit younger, and we got a left handed shot,” says head coach Greg Gatto. “It’s a guy that helps now, but also builds for the future.”
Nilsson joins the Jackalopes from the Islanders Hockey Club in the NCDC. Nilsson, the native of Cincinatti, Ohio, put up only five points (2-3-5) while playing in 30 games for the Islanders HC this season. While Fedorek adds a big body on defense (6-foot, 170-pounds), Nilsson is a little smaller (5-foot-9, 170-pounds), but both can be very offensive.
“He (Nilsson) is a puck-moving, left-handed guy as well,” says Gatto. “He’s another ’99 who wanted to get out of the NCDC, and decided he wanted to come to Odessa”.
Fedorek and Nilsson both add a hole the Jackalopes have felt they’ve had for the past few months. The Jacks have been playing four right-handed defensemen since early December, and the new additions even it out a little more.
“I like the way Rosa and (Lucas) Andersson were playing together,” explains Gatto. “Unfortunately, it hurt Lucas playing on his off-hand. Adding these two guys should up both his game and their games as well”.
Don’t miss your chance to see the newcomers in action this weekend when the Jackalopes host the Amarillo Bulls for three games, this Thursday through Saturday. These games will be the last time the Jackalopes are at home for nearly a month, before returning on March 9th.
The 2017-2018 Odessa Jackalopes single game tickets are on sale now! To reserve your seats, contact the Jackalopes’ ticket office today at 432-552-7825 or hop on to www.jackalopes.org for more information.
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— ODESSA JACKALOPES —
