Gresock set to play in England
Forward is 7th player from 2023-24 Walleye to sign overseas
Walleye forward Chase Gresock, who played at Bowling Green State University and started his career in Toledo last season, is leaving to play in England next season.
Gresock has signed to play for the Coventry Blaze, a team based in Coventry, England, that competes in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).
The native of Powell, Ohio appeared in 69 games for the Walleye last season and produced 35 points. Gresock scored 16 goals to go along with 19 assists.
Gresock, who ranked 11th on the team in scoring, then appeared in six playoff games and scored one goal.
Gresock was the Falcons’ second-leading scorer in his final college season in 2022-23. Gresock tallied 31 points with 11 goals and 20 assists in 36 games for BG.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound forward played one season at Miami and three at Merrimack before joining the Falcons.
In five college seasons, Gresock collected 104 points (46 G, 58 A) in 135 games.
On Tuesday, the Coventry team announced the signing.
“Chase is a proven goal-scorer whose hockey IQ will help make his linemates better,” Coventry coach Kevin Moore said in the news release. “He knows how to use time and space off the rush to get his shot off and his release will be an asset on the power play. We are thrilled to be adding Chase to the club.”
Gresock is the seventh player from last year’s Walleye team that reached the ECHL Western Conference finals who has signed to play overseas next season.
Goaltender John Lethemon, forwards Riley Sawchuk, Jason Willms, and Brady Gilmour, and defensemen Riley McCourt and Michael Prapavessis also have signed to play in Europe.
Off-season roster changes are inevitable every year in the ECHL, a Double-A developmental league.
Toledo coach Pat Mikesch said he expects to re-sign about 12 players from last season’s roster.
The ECHL has several critical dates this week. Teams must complete trade deals made last season by Thursday. Season-ending rosters are due Saturday. The first day that teams can sign players is Sunday.
Contact Mark Monroe at mmonroe@theblade.com or on Twitter @MonroeBlade.