The Peoria Rivermen liked this prospect last spring. Now he's signed for the season
PEORIA — The Peoria Rivermen signed promising rookie Mike Gelatt on Thursday night, hoping he continues to develop from where he left off after he joined the team late last spring.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound winger had a strong showing when he finished his college career and joined the Rivermen in the final days of the 2022-23 SPHL season and playoffs.
"He came in and started the process of learning how to play the Rivermen way, and learning our culture," Rivermen coach Jean-Guy Trudel said. "He's a very promising player, showed flashes in the playoffs. We're excited to see if he can make a step forward in what will be his first full pro season this fall."
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Gelatt comes from a hockey-playing family, with brothers Tim and John having had college careers.
The native of Middletown, N.J., spent four seasons at NCAA Division III Skidmore College, then moved on for a fifth year at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He scored 26 goals and added 30 assists in 87 career collegiate games, then signed with the Rivermen last spring. He played eight games for Peoria down the stretch, scoring two goals and adding three assists with a +2 rating. His first pro goal came on March 25 in a game at Quad City.
Gelatt earned a spot on Peoria's final 20-man roster for the playoffs, scored a goal and added two assists in five postseason games.
Big man in the middle
The Rivermen signed big center Andrew Durham earlier this week. He played 16 games with ECHL Allen last season and then came down to the Rivermen around Christmas. He notched two goals with four assists and a plus-8 rating for Peoria in eight games.
The Rivermen released him in early February, and he was later picked up by Pensacola and played against Peoria in the first round of the playoffs.
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River Readings
The SPHL has adjusted its rules governing automatic suspensions for accumulating game misconducts. League commissioner Doug Price says a player will receive a suspension after two game misconducts in the 2023-24 season. Automatic suspension did not trigger until after three ejections in the past. … Fayetteville has hired Erik Konwinski as its news broadcast voice. The Erie, Pa., native comes from a director of broadcaster and communications role with the NAHL Robertson Cup champion Oklahoma Warriors. … The Rivermen signed veteran center Hayden Hulton, 30, earlier this week. He spent the last three seasons at Evansville, and was captain there in 2022-23. His offensive output was low, but he is a left-handed faceoff specialist and elite penalty-killer.
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria Rivermen sign rookie winger Mike Gelatt for 2023-23
