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Elmira Jackals Roster Begins To Take Shape

By Melissa Kania

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The Elmira Jackals open the 2015-2016 ECHL season in exactly 95 days – or less, depending on when you’re reading this. The team opens their next campaign on October 16 against the Adirondack  Thunder, one of several new teams to the league this coming season.

As the Elmira Jackals prepare for the upcoming year, the team’s roster is beginning to take shape. They’ve made several transactions, including player signings, over the past month. Here’s a recap:

First up, most recently, the Jackals sent defenseman Mike Bergin to the Adirondack Thunder on July 11th in exchange for future considerations.

On July 9th, the Elmira Jackals announced the signing of veteran defenseman Nathan Oystrick. He’ll serve as both a player and assistant coach for the Jackals this upcoming season.

Oystrick, 32, has previously played in the NHL, AHL and KHL. He played 65 games in the NHL for the Thrashers, Ducks and Blues between 2008 and 2011 after being drafted by Atlanta 198th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

He spent last season with the AHL’s Springfield Falcons, where he registered four points in 12 games. Oystrick brings a veteran presence to the young Jackals in what will be his first-ever season in the ECHL.

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    • Back on June 30th, the Elmira Jackals announced the re-signing of defenseman Joe Houk for the upcoming season.

    Houk, 25, split last season between Elmira and Toledo of the ECHL. He registered six points and 13 penalty minutes in 14 games with the Jackals.

    Houk previously attended Hamilton College and UMass-Lowell, where he played with current Sabres defenseman Chad Ruhwedel in the 2012-13 season.

    Jackals head coach Jamie Russell was quoted in a press release as noting that Houk “fit into our culture extremely well” and noted his skating ability as one of his best assets.

    The Elmira Jackals also re-signed defenseman Jacob MacDonald.

    MacDonald, 22, spent most of last season with Cornell University before joining the ECHL squad for eight games. He had a goal and two assists with the Jackals.

    MacDonald previously played for the USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks.

    Coach Russell noted his ability to win one-on-one battles as one of his best assets.

    Earlier, on June 17th, the Elmira Jacks announced the re-signings of both Sam Marotta and Mike Seidel.

    Marotta, 24, appeared in 36 games for the Jackals last season. He had a record of 11-21-1 with a 2.74 GAA and .910 save percentage. His season included one shutout.

    He also made his AHL debut with the Rochester Americans, appearing in one game with the team. He allowed two goals on 11 shots faced.

    Seidel, 27, prepares to enter his third ECHL season. He registered 23 goals and 19 assists for 42 points in 58 games with the Jackals last season.

    He previously played for both Gwinnett and Evansville in the 2013-14 season, after leaving the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

    On June 19th, the team also announced the re-signing of defenseman Zach Tolkinen.

    Tolkinen, 25, spent last season with the Jackals, notching 19 points (5-14) in 72 games played.

    He’s a product of Quinnipiac University, having played there between 2010 and 2014, and previously played in the NAHL with Owatonna and Fairbanks.

    Finally, on July 7th, the Elmira Jackals signed 25-year-old forward Scott Jacklin for the upcoming ECHL season.

    Jacklin is a product of Robert Morris University, having just finished his fourth season there with 33 points (14-19) in 37 games.

    As a native of Kimberley, BC, he previously played in the BCHL with the Cowichan Valley Capitals and Trail Smoke Eaters.

    The Jackals kick off their next ECHL campaign this coming October, but fans are already getting excited – there’s been a 25 percent increase in individual season ticket sales from this point last year.


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