Former Gorilla returns to the Jungle
  
Amarillo, TX 9/16/08 – In 2005-06, Joe Guenther joined the Gorillas in mid-season, scored 31 goals in 44 games, and turned many heads in the Panhandle.

So, when Head Coach Tom Coolen had the chance to bring the sniper back to Amarillo for the 2008-09 season, he jumped at the opportunity.

The six-year professional signed with the Gorillas Tuesday, marking the 14th player under contract with the team for the upcoming season.  Three times a 25+ goal scorer as a professional, Guenther last skated with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL, where he played with fellow Gorilla Paul Caponigri at the end of the 2007-08 campaign.

“Joe is a proven scorer at the CHL and ECHL level,” said Coolen.  “He is a great signing for us as we rapidly approach training camp.”

Guenther has appeared in 181 East Coast Hockey League games and 169 Central Hockey League games over his professional career, which began in 2002.  He has tallied 135 goals and 236 points between the two leagues.

“He has the potential to be a 40-goal scorer in the Central Hockey League, and his signing gives us a proven goal scorer and sniper for our team this season,” Coolen continued. “It’s an added bonus that he loves the Amarillo area.  I want to bring in people that want to be here—that means a lot to our team as we head forward.”

The Buffalo, New York native set career highs while with the Gorillas three seasons ago, scoring 31 goals and 50 points in just 44 games with the club.  Guenther also proved his mettle in the playoffs in 2006, scoring six points in the Gorillas’ first-round series against the Odessa Jackalopes.

Guenther and the Gorillas will hit the ice for the first time on October 5 during the first day of training camp, which will be open to the public in 2008.