Rapid Solicitors Hull Stingrays can confirm the signing of Canadian forward Brett Switzer for the 2015/16 Elite League campaign.
The 24-year-old native of Calgary, Alberta, arrives at Hull Arena following four years with Bentley University in the NCAA.
Switzer posted 110 points (45 goals and 65 assists) in 146 games and was an assistant captain last season while he was named in the AHA All-Rookie Team in 2011/12.
Before that, he had three years with Spruce Grove Saints in the AJHL, winning a championship in 2009/10 and 2010/11 and being included in the North All-Rookie Team in his first year.
A three-game spell with Olds Grizzlys in the AJHL preceded that while Switzer also played four times for Vernon Vipers in the BCHL in 2008/09. He tallied 143 points (70 goals and 73 assists) in 161 regular-season and play-off games in the AJHL.
Player-coach Omar Pacha said: “Head coach Ryan Soderquist and assistant coach Ben Murphy from Bentley University spoke very highly of Brett.
“Brett skates really well, he is a player that excels in every situation – powerplay, penalty kill and five on five. He plays a complete game and has a lot of offensive upside.
“He had a lot of interest from ECHL teams but we agreed Europe is probably the best option for him. He is a workhorse and a natural leader and we are very happy to have him in Hull.”
Switzer joins Pacha, Carl Lauzon, Matty Davies, David Brown, Yan Turcotte, Sam Towner, David Phillips, Jamie Chilcott and Hugo Turcotte on next season’s roster.
Switzer posted 110 points (45 goals and 65 assists) in 146 games and was an assistant captain last season while he was named in the AHA All-Rookie Team in 2011/12.
Before that, he had three years with Spruce Grove Saints in the AJHL, winning a championship in 2009/10 and 2010/11 and being included in the North All-Rookie Team in his first year.
Switzer said: “I am absolutely ecstatic about joining the Stingrays. I’ve been in touch a lot with [player-coach] Omar [Pacha] and I am looking forward to the upcoming season very much.
“I was looking for a place to play after my senior year and Omar got in touch. Talking with him got me very excited about the team and it seems like it is going to be a very good fit. “Since the nearing end of my senior year I started looking into some of the different European leagues and the UK league jumped out at me as a league and somewhere I would really enjoy playing. “What I bring as a player is a hard-working, tenacious style with offensive ability. In the past I have had leadership roles and feel confident I can bring that leadership to the Stingrays. “This upcoming season day in and day out I will bring a hard-working attitude and I will be giving my very best every game.”
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