Coventry Blaze Ice Hockey Team have signed American defenceman Sean Erickson for the 2013/14 Rapid Solicitors Elite League campaign.
The 29-year-old Minnesota native spent last season with Tulsa Oilers in the Central Hockey League, posting 37 points (seven goals and 30 assists) in 66 games.
Erickson had four years at the University of Connecticut, captaining the team in his last two seasons and having one game for Trenton Devils in the ECHL in the 2008/09 campaign.
He joined Tulsa in 2009 and has made 255 regular-season and play-off appearances for them, registering 130 points (39 goals and 91 assists) while also being called up by American Hockey League side Oklahoma City Barons - affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers - for one game two years ago.
Coach Matt Soderstrom said: "I am delighted to bring Sean on board. We felt we needed to add another offensive defenceman, someone who can help take a bit of pressure of Mike Schutte, who logged a lot of minutes last season and who we relied on too much.
"Sean has managed between 30-40 points a season over the last few years in the CHL. He has been a captain and a player/assistant-coach and that shows you he has good leadership, experience and maturity.
"He is very mobile, he is ready for a new challenge and he will help our powerplay. We were searching for a player who ticks all the boxes in what we were looking for to enhance our offence from the back-end and we feel Sean does that."
The capture of Erickson completes Blaze's defence for the new season and Director of Hockey Operations Paul Thompson said: "We are extremely happy with our defensive unit.
"In Mike Egener and Benn Olson we have two tough stay-at-home defencemen and Steven Chalmers is a stay-at-home guy too, who is getting better and better.
"James Griffin is another top talent and he has been encouraged to rush the puck and jump in on plays and he is one of the best in his position in the league at doing that. We then have Mike Schutte, who was voted the league's best defenceman last season, and we feel Sean can help burden some of the offensive responsibility next season."
Erickson joins Steven Chalmers, Ross Venus, James Griffin, Mike Egener, Adam Henrich, Benn Olson, Mike Schutte, Russell Cowley, Mike Zacharias, Matt Selby, Dale White, Adam Goss, Michael Henrich and Ryan Ginand on next season's roster.
Erikson told the Blaze website:
“I'm extremely excited about joining the Blaze. I could not be any happier with my decision about landing in Coventry. [Coach] Matt [Soderstrom] and [Director of Hockey Operations] Paul [Thompson] have reached out to me and already made me feel welcome and have been nothing but professional.
“Gerome and I spoke a lot even dating back to last season while he was still with Coventry. He spoke very highly of the organisation from the top down and the great fans Coventry have. I'm excited to have this opportunity to play for such an organisation.
“When speaking with Paul and Matt they stressed the need for another puck-moving defenceman and someone who can contribute not only defensively but offensively as well. What I'm looking to bring is more of an offensive punch from the back-end - that being either five on five or with the man advantage. I hope to bring speed to the ‘D’ core.
“I'm coming to Coventry because I feel that with the returning players they have and the guys they are bringing in we will have a great chance to compete for titles. I want to win and I believe the Blaze will have that chance.”