By Mike Bonts, Florida Sports Wire
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Icemen’s roster is begnning to taker shape with the ECHL season a little pover a month aaway.
The club agreed to terms with goaltender Matt Vernon for the 2024-25 season. They also signed defenseman defenseman Robert Calisti.
Vernon, 26, returns for a second season with the Icemen after orchestrating an outstanding rookie campaign last year. Vernon earned ECHL All-Rookie Team and All ECHL Second Team honors after setting an Icemen team record for wins in a season with 25, while posting a 2.67 goals-against average, a 0.904 save percentage and earned a regular season shutout and two postseason shutouts. In addition, he was named ECHL Goaltender of the Month for February and was named ECHL Goaltender of the Week for the week of November 20-26.
Prior to his professional career, Vernon played at Colorado College, totaling 19 wins, with five shutouts, a 3.02 goals-against average and 0.901 save percentage. The Calgary, Alberta resident also played two seasons with the NAHL’s Aberdeen Wings where he compiled 57 wins, including a 40-win season with seven shutouts during the 2018-19 year.
Vernon is the son of NHL Hall of Fame goaltender Mike Vernon who won a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989 and with the Detroit Red Wings in 1997.
Calisti, 23, joins the Icemen after collecting 30 points (11g, 19a) in 73 games played last season split between the Kalamazoo Wings and the Atlanta Gladiators.
During the 2022-23 season, the third-year pro registered 32 points (12g, 20a) in 57 games in time spent with the K-Wings and the Florida Everblades. In total, the 5-9, 183-pound blue liner has posted 62 points (23g, 39a) in 120 career ECHL Games from 2022-2024.
Prior to his professional career, the Etobicoke, Ontario resident recorded 114 points (41g, 73a) in 195 career Ontario Hockey League (OHL) contests with the Soo Greyhounds from 2017-2022. During the 2020-21 season, Calisti made one appearance with the AHL’s Bellville Senators and logged an assist in the game.
The Icemen have agreed to terms with the following players for the upcoming 2024-25 season:
Justen Close (G)
Matt Vernon (G)
Garrett Van Wyhe (D)
Connor Russell (D)
Ivan Chukarov (D)
Carter Allen (D)
Dilan Peters (D)
Robert Calisti (D)
Christopher Brown (F)
Logan Cockerill (F)
Chris Grando (F)
Justin McRae (F)
Michael Gildon (F)
Josh Nodler (F)
Chase Lang (F)
Zach Jordan (F)
Liam Coughlin (F)
The Icemen open the 2024-25 season on Saturday, October 19 against the Florida Everblades. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. Full and partial Icemen ticket packages 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.
