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ECHL NOTEBOOK: Jacksonville Icemen Add Murdaca and Turner

By Mike Bonts, Florida Sports Wire

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 goaltender Joseph Murdaca and acquired forward Michael Turner from the Atlanta Gladiatorsfor the 2023-24 season.

Murdaca 25, joins the Icemen after posting a 7-5-0 record, with a 2.80 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage last season in stints with the Atlanta Gladiators, Orlando Solar Bears and Newfoundland Growlers. The 6-3, 195-pound netminder has totaled an 18-9-4 record in 31 career ECHL appearances.

During the 2021-22 season, Murdaca went 2-0-0 with a 2.50 goals-against average in two outings with the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Abbotsford Canucks. In 2020, the Niagara Falls, Ontario resident was named to the Southern Professional Hockey League’s All-Rookie First Team after compiling a 16-8-2 mark with a 2.57 goals-against average and .920 save percentage with the Knoxville Ice Bears.

During his junior career, Murdaca won an OHL Championship in 2017 with the Erie Otters and won a QMJHL and Memorial Cup Championship with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in 2018.

Turner, 27, joins the Icemen after recording five points (1g, 4a) in 47 games played last season with Atlanta. The 6-3, 210-pound winger has totaled 37 points (12g, 25a) with 305 penalty minutes in 201 career ECHL games split in stints with the Gladiators, Wichita Thunder, Rapid City Rush, Wheeling Nailers, Orlando Solar Bears and Greenville Swamp Rabbits from 2016-2023.

The Chicago, Illinois resident also registered 15 points (6g, 9a) in 25 games played with the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) during the 2016-17 season. Prior to starting his pro career, Turner played one season in the junior ranks with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Oshawa Generals where he collected 12 points in 41 contests.

In a related move to this transaction, the Icemen have traded defenseman Mackenzie Dwyer to the Maine Mariners in exchange for future considerations.

To view the Icemen’s current roster, CLICK HERE

The Icemen open the 2023-24 season at home against the Florida Everblades on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.  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 for more information. 

Bernstein to ECHL Vice President of Marketing and Licensing

The ECHL has promoted Natalie Bernstein to Vice President of Marketing and Licensing.

Bernstein had served as the League’s Director of Licensing and Events since the 2021-22 season after previously serving as Office & Marketing Manager for the previous three seasons. Bernstein joined the League Office in February 2015 as the Executive/Marketing Assistant.

She is responsible for managing the ECHL Licensing Program, consisting of more than 50 national and local licensees, executing leaguewide sponsorship programs and marketing initiatives, as well as leading efforts on League-hosted events including the annual ECHL Hockey Summer Meetings and All-Star Classic.

South Division Roster Moves

Atlanta Gladiators forward Mitch Walinski has been selected to Ottawa Senators rookie camp. The Lincoln, Rhode Island native skated in ten games with the Gladiators last season, making a lasting impression, piling up four points, and three goals…the Orlando Solar Bears have agreed to terms with rookie defenseman Kenny Johnson and defenseman Jay Powell …..the South Carolina Stingrays have signed defenseman Bryce Montgomery and forward Jarid Lukosevicius….the Greenville Swamp Rabbits have signed veteran defenseman Mark Louis.

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