JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Icemen, ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres and the AHL’s Rochester Americans announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward Craig Martin, defenseman Chays Ruddy, veteran defenseman Garret Cockerill and forward Logan Cockerill. for the 2023-24 season.
Martin, 28, returns to Jacksonville after logging 34 points in 32 games played with the Icemen last season, while also recording 13 points (6g, 7a) in 12 playoff appearances. Martin began last season overseas with Slovakia’s Presov HC.
Martin led the Icemen in scoring during the 2021-22 season with 60 points and a career-high 29 goals. Martin’s return marks the fifth consecutive season he will be a member of the Icemen, where he is tied for second All-Time in club history in points (125), third in goals (52), tied for first in assists (73) and third in games played (171). Martin was originally acquired by the Icemen from Adirondack during the 2019-20 season.
The 6-1, 182-pound forward totaled 75 points (27g, 48a) in 134 games during his four collegiate seasons at Quinnipiac University from 2015-2019. The Trail, BC resident Martin was acquired by the Icemen from Adirondack on November 26, 2019.
Ruddy, 25. joins the Icemen after logging four points (1g, 3a) in 29 games played last season split between the Cincinnati Cyclones and Toledo Walleye. Ruddy played the first portion of last season overseas with the EIHL’s Manchester Storm where he collected three points in 13 games.
The 6-2, 205-pound blue liner has totaled ten points (1g, 9a) with 117 penalty minutes in 78 career ECHL contests split between the Cyclones, Walleye, Fort Wayne Komets and Kansas City Mavericks from 2021-2023.
Prior to his professional career, the Cobourg, Ontario resident played two collegiate seasons at the University of Windsor (USports) where he totaled nine points (2g, 7a) in 47 games.
Garret Cockerill, 29, returns for a third season in Jacksonville after recording 13 points (2g, 11a) in 39 games played last season. Cockerill was also a sound shutdown performer in 12 playoff games with the Icemen last spring.
Cockerill initially played for the Icemen during the 2018-2019 season collecting 14 points in 40 games. The 6-0, 210-pound defenseman has totaled 124 points (25g, 99a) in 265 career ECHL games split between the Icemen, Reading Royals, Tulsa Oilers and Kalamazoo Wings. Cockerill has also registered 19 points in 56 career AHL games with the Cleveland Monsters from 2017-2019.
Prior to his professional career, the Brighton, Michigan resident played four seasons at Northeastern University where he totaled 84 points (19g, 65a) from 2014-2018, while winning a Hockey East championship in 2016.
Logan Cockerill, 24, joins the Icemen after registering 14 points (7g, 7a) in 31 games overseas in Sweden last season while playing for BIK Karlskoga. Prior to last year, the 5-9. 174-pound forward played five collegiate seasons at Boston University where he accumulated 57 points (24g, 33a) in 134 career games.
Cockerill also served as captain for two seasons with the Terriers, while winning a Hockey-East Championship in 2018. In 2017, Cockerill won a gold medal with Team USA in the U18 World Junior Championship.
The Icemen open the 2023-24 season at home against the Florida Everblades on Saturday, October 21. Icemen full and partial ticket packages for the 2023-24 Season are currently on sale! Payment plans are also available. Contact the Icemen office at 904-602-7825, or visit www.jacksonvilleicemen.com.
