On Thursday, the Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes announced several transactions, led by the signing of defenseman Adam Pilotte and the return of goaltender Cole Ceci from call-up with the ECHL's Worcester Railers.
Pilotte joins the Thunderbolts following 6 seasons of college hockey with McGill University, tallying 8 assists in 54 games between 2018-2024, recently concluding with a bronze medal victory at the U Sports Men's Hockey National Championships in Toronto. The native ofChâteauguay, Quebec previously played two seasons of junior hockey with the BCHL's Nanaimo Clippers between 2015-2017, scoring 4 goals and 20 points in 89 games, followed by a season split between the CCHL's Carleton Place Canadians and the MJAHL's Yarmouth Mariners, posting a combined 6 goals and 33 points in 41 games in 2017-18, his final junior season before entering McGill University.
Ceci returns to Evansville following a call-up with the ECHL's Worcester Railers, having played 4 games with the Railers in his second call-up of the season. So far this season with the Thunderbolts, Ceci has posted a 12-5-1 record in 18 games, with a .923 save percentage (3rd best amongst SPHL goaltenders) and a 2.48 goals-against average (T-4th best amongst SPHL goaltenders).
In additional transaction news, defenseman Benjamin Lindberg has been placed on 14-Day Injured Reserve, and goaltender Brendahn Brawley has been placed on 30-Day Injured Reserve.