On Friday, Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes announced several transactions, led by the signing of defenseman Anthony Mollica to a standard contract, the activation of forward Aaron Huffnagle from Injured Reserve, and the re-signing of defenseman Carter Poulin to a professional tryout (PTO).
Mollica joins the Thunderbolts following the conclusion of his collegiate career, most recently at Adrian College. At Adrian College between 2024-2026, Mollica scored 5 goals and 20 points along with a +21 rating in 54 regular season games, including 4 goals and 9 points along with a +13 rating this season. Prior to playing at Adrian College at the NCAA D3 level, the native of Jenison, Michigan played two seasons of NCAA D1 hockey at St. Lawrence University between 2022-2024, skating in 17 games and recording 2 assists. Mollica played three seasons of junior hockey in the NAHL between 2019-2022, also playing half a season in the top-tier USHL with the Lincoln Stars in the 2019-20 season, where he scored 1 goal and 4 points and was +2 in 26 regular season games. In 114 regular season games in the NAHL with Maryland and New Jersey, Mollica scored 16 goals and 43 points with a +41 rating, and with New Jersey won the Robertson Cup as NAHL Champions in 2021-22.
In other transaction news, forward Aaron Huffnagle has been activated from the Injured Reserve, defenseman Carter Poulin has been re-signed to a professional tryout (PTO), and forwards Eelis Laaksonen and Isaac Chapman have been placed on 14-Day Injured Reserve.