Gorillas ink two
Amarillo, TX 8/19/09 – The Amarillo Gorillas have signed defenseman Andrew Smale and forward Anthony Battaglia for the 2009-2010 season, the team announced Wednesday.
Smale, 27 (06/14/1982), played his last three seasons with the New Mexico Scorpions, accumulating 46 points over 156 games while in Rio Rancho.
"Andrew is a proven defenseman in this league who gives us another solid line of defense at the blue line," expressed Gorillas Head Coach Brian Pellerin. "I liked what I saw from him with New Mexico and I know our players disliked playing against him last season. That attribute alone is a good thing in my book."
Before turning pro in 2006-2007 with the Scorpions, Smale skated for the University of Toronto for four years, averaging 15 points a season for the Varsity Blues.
Battaglia, 30 (8/15/79), joins Amarillo from the Kalamazoo Wings of the International Hockey League (IHL) where he earned more goals this past season (20) since his 04-05 campaign with the Mississippi Sea Wolves of the ECHL (27).
"Anthony is a skilled forward who lets his game do his talking," remarked Pellerin. " he is a tireless worker and also brings a professional attitude in all parts of his game which is vital to our vision for the 2009-2010 season”.
The Chicago, Illinois native has skated in pro hockey since 2002, playing for nine teams in seven seasons with four leagues (AHL, ECHL, EIHL, and IHL). Before turning pro, he spent four years at Western Michigan University, totaling 47 points in 139 games. Most fans will recall the Battaglia name through Andrew’s National Hockey League veteran Bates Battaglia. Andrew and Bates are brothers.
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