CARDIFF, UK – Two days ago Rapid City Rush lifted the CHL’s coveted prize, the President’s Cup, but the league’s top prize hasn’t been enough to stop Jon Pelle from joining UK Elite League side, Cardiff Devils.
24-year old Jon Pelle has inked an agreement with Cardiff Devils as the Red and Black Attack look to rebuild after their run to the Elite League playoff finals. With Mike Hartwick, Mark Smith and Scott Romfo all confirmed as leaving the club and defenceman Jason Stone making the move to Swindon, Pelle marks a first foray into the market for the Devils.
Scoring 44 points in 38 regular season appearances for the Rapid City Rush, and adding a further 15 points in 15 games in their President’s Cup run, the West Islip, New York native will have gained an insight from former Elite League players Brendan Cook who spent the 2008-9 season with Nottingham Panthers whilst Pelle also shared the ice with former Devils and Basingstoke Bison forward Derek Campbell. Also on the Rush were former Edinburgh Capitals defenceman Joe Dustin and former Hull Stingrays forward Scott Wray.
Whilst Pelle notched up enough to place 7th on his team in scoring, his points per game production was the best on the Rush, and a whole season at his rate of scoring would have put Pelle level with Rush top scorer Les Reaney.
A graduate of Ivy League University Harvard, the forward will be attending Cardiff Business School as part of his agreement with the Welsh based side.
At just 24, Pelle could be a potential franchise forward for the Cardiff Devils with quite a number of career years ahead of him.
In other Elite League news, Doug Sheppard ended speculation that he may join Dundee Stars or Edinburgh Capitals as Player-Coach by signing with the EPL’s Slough Jets yesterday, as reported here
Contact the Writer: phil.andrews@prohockeynews.com
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