Atlanta Gladiators Release
ATLANTA – On Monday, the Atlanta Gladiators of the East Coach Hockey League (ECHL) announced the signing of senior defenseman Josh Atkinson, following the completion of his college eligibility with the Alaska Nanooks hockey team. Atkinson becomes the third senior from the 2015-16 senior class to sign a contract with a professional hockey team, following Alec Hajdukovich (Alaska Aces, ECHL) and Tyler Morley (San Diego Gulls, American Hockey League).
"I'm excited for the opportunity that I have been presented with following my senior year with the Nanooks. I'm very much looking forward to taking the next step in my hockey career as a professional," Atkinson said on Monday, following his signing.
The Atlanta Gladiators are 31-28-5 overall this season and currently sit in fourth place in the South Division of the Eastern Conference within the ECHL. The Gladiators are the ECHL affiliate for the Boston Bruins.
"We're excited for Josh to be able to start his professional hockey career," head coach Dallas Ferguson said of his senior defenseman. "His skating ability and efficiency to transfer the puck up-ice will be a big asset for him in professional hockey. This is the next step in his hockey career and we wish him all the best as he pursues his goal of playing in the NHL."
Atkinson concludes his four-year career with the Nanooks with 48 points (eight goals, 40 assists) in 144 games, not missing one game during his entire career with Alaska. Atkinson is a three-time Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) All-Academic Team selection (2015-16, 2014-15 & 2013-14) and a Kendall Classic All-Tournament Team honoree (2014).
In his senior year alone, Atkinson was one of eight Nanooks to dress for all 36 games, recording three goals and 12 assists for 16 points, including three power play goals, one shorthanded goal and one game-winning goal. Furthermore, Atkinson led all Alaska defensemen in points.
Despite moving to Atlanta for the near future, Atkinson is still expecting to graduate from the University of Alaska in May of 2016 with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting.
"My time with the Nanooks has prepared me to take this next step," Atkinson concluded. "I cannot thank my coaches and teammates enough for pushing me and helping me work my way to the next level. I'm also thankful for my friends and family who have supported me as my career moves forward."
The Atlanta Gladiators have eight games remaining in their 2015-16 regular season schedule. The next game for the Gladiators is slated for Tuesday, Mar. 29 as Atlanta travels to South Carolina to take on the Stingrays at 4:05 p.m. ADT. For more information on the Atlanta Gladiators, click here.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey page on Facebook.
