Rivermen Sign Defenseman Fortman
October 18, 2017 - 06:00 pm
Photo Credit: NAHL
Rivermen Sign Defenseman Fortman
Blueliner spent two junior seasons with CSH-owned Amarillo Bulls
Peoria, IL – The Peoria Rivermen announced late Wednesday afternoon that the team has signed defenseman Geoff Fortman to a contract prior to the team’s 2017-18 season opener. He becomes the first player to sign with a professional team under the Consolidated Sports Holdings International LLC umbrella after spending his two-year junior career with the CSH-owned Amarillo Bulls of the NAHL.
Fortman, 24, finished his four-year collegiate career with D-1 Canisius College, and turned pro with the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush, posting four goals and four assists in nine games. The Crystal Lake, IL native skated in 137 games for Canisius, notching three goals and 24 assists while earning team captaincy as a senior last season.
“We’re excited to bring Geoff into our defensive unit,” said Rivermen head coach Jean-Guy Trudel. “He’s a complete defenseman that will bring some puck movement and offensive instincts to our group.”
Prior to his college career, Fortman spent a pair of seasons in the NAHL with the Amarillo Bulls, where he helped the team to a Robertson Cup title during the 2012-13 campaign, during which he amassed 28 points in 56 regular-season games, adding a goal and three assists in 7 postseason tilts.
Fortman and the rest of the Rivermen are set to begin their fifth SPHL regular season Saturday, October 21 at 7:15 in the Ford Center in Evansville, IN against the Thunderbolts, before another matchup in Southern Indiana Tuesday morning, October 24 at 10 AM. Peoria will kick off its home schedule October 27 & 28 against the expansion Birmingham Bulls, with both games scheduled to begin at 7:15 in Carver Arena. Tickets for both games against Birmingham start at 2 for $20, with more information about single-game, group, and season tickets available by calling the Rivermen at (309)-676-1040.
Single-game, group, and season tickets for Peoria's 36th season of professional hockey, presented by Midwest Orthopaedic Center, are on sale at the Rivermen office in the Peoria Civic Center, located at 201 S.W. Jefferson Street, or over the phone at (309) 676-1040. For the latest Rivermen news and notes, follow online at www.rivermen.net or through Facebook (www.facebook.com/PeoriaRivermen) - Twitter(https://twitter.com/Peoria_Rivermen) – Instagram (https://instagram.com/peo_rivermen)
