On Tuesday, the Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes announced a pair of transactions, led by the signing of defenseman Jaden Shields to a standard contract.
Shields joins the Thunderbolts after just over a full season in the ECHL with the Tulsa Oilers late in 2023-24 along with the Kalamazoo Wings and Norfolk Admirals in 2024-25. In 35 total ECHL games, Shields amassed 2 goals and 15 points. The Royal Oak, Michigan native played four seasons of college hockey in his home state at Adrian College between 2020-2024, and was a top offensive producer, scoring 24 goals and 121 points along with a +72 rating in 110 games, finishing his collegiate career as an alternate captain in 2023-24 before turning pro with Tulsa. Among other accolades accrued at the collegiate level, Shields was named NCHA Freshman of the Year in 2020-21, NCHA Player of the Year and AHCA First Team All-American West in 2023-24, and with Adrian won NCHA Conference Championships back-to-back in 2021-22 and 2022-23 as well as the NCAA Division 3 National Championship in 2022-23. Shields also played several seasons of junior hockey in the NAHL (entirely with the Austin Bruins) and USHL (with Sioux City, Chicago, Omaha, Sioux Falls, and Lincoln) between 2016-2020.
In additional transaction news, forward Connor Tait was placed on 14-Day Injured Reserve.