Rampage ink two forwards, defenseman to contracts

SAN ANTONIO  – The San Antonio Rampage today announced that forwards Alex Belzile and Thomas Frazee, and defenseman Gabriel Verpaelst have been signed to AHL contracts.

Belzile, 25, returns to the Rampage after spending the last two seasons with the Silver and Black, collecting 11 goals and 11 assists in 70 games. During the 2016-17 campaign, the Saint-Éloi, Que., native also spent time with the Colorado Eagles (ECHL), registering 27 points (10g/17a) in 17 contests with San Antonio’s ECHL affiliate.

After being reassigned to Colorado on April 10, Belzile led the Eagles to their first-ever Kelly Cup Championship, leading all playoff scorers with 26 points (14g/12a) in 18 games. The 5-foot-11, 188-pound right wing has amassed 169 points (62g/107a) in 168 ECHL games with the Gwinnett Gladiators, Alaska Aces, Idaho Steelheads, Fort Wayne Komets, and the Eagles. Before turning pro in 2012, Belzile tallied 193 points (59g/134a) in three seasons with Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL).

Frazee, 27, signs with San Antonio after spending the 2016-17 season with the Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL) and the Rampage. The North Vancouver, B.C., native recorded 39 points (19g/20a) in 60 contests with the Gladiators, and appeared in six games with the Silver and Black after signing a professional tryout contract on Dec. 2. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound center spent the past two seasons with the Gladiators, earning a career-high 47 points in 2015-16 and 19 goals in 2016-17.

Verpaelst, 23, joins the Rampage after splitting the 2016-17 campaign between the Norfolk Admirals and Utah Grizzlies, combining for 19 points (7g/12a) in 71 games. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound defenseman has recorded eight AHL appearances with the Stockton Heat, including his AHL debut on Feb. 20, 2016 against the San Jose Barracuda.

The fourth-year pro has totaled 63 points (16g/47a) in 194 ECHL games with the Bakersfield Condors, Admirals, and Grizzlies. Verpaelst played under Rampage Head Coach Eric Veilleux during the 2012-14 seasons with Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) and the 2015-16 season with the Norfolk Admirals (ECHL).