Arnold, Guptill return to Monarchs

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Manchester Monarchs Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Rich Seeley announced that the team has signed Derek Arnold and Alex Guptill to contracts for the 2016-17 season.

The Monarchs are the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Los Angeles Kings and the American Hockey League’s Ontario Reign.

Arnold, 26, returns to the Monarchs for a second season after posting 30 points (16g-14a) in 42 games with the club last season. He also saw 14 games of AHL time with the Reign, Portland Pirates and Charlotte Checkers. He ranked third amongst ECHL rookies with an 18% shooting percentage over the course of the season, and appeared in all five Kelly Cup Playoff games for the Monarchs, adding two assists.

Prior to the 2015-16 campaign, Arnold spent one season with Lillehammer in Norway, and recorded 45 points (21g-34a) in 45 games. Arnold, a graduate of UMass-Lowell, played in 154 collegiate games, scoring 98 points (43g-55a), was named to the 2010-11 Hockey East All-Academic Team and won a Hockey East championship during the 2012-13 season.

Guptill, 24, also makes his return to Manchester after tallying 10 points (5g-5a) in 14 games with the club last season. He also saw time with the Evansville IceMen, as well as the AHL's Binghamton Senators and Rochester Americans.

The native of Newmarket, Ontario has played in 89 career AHL games with the Texas Stars, Senators and Americans over parts of the last three seasons picking up 29 points (12g-17a).

Prior to turning pro, Guptill attended the University of Michigan, and played in 110 games in three years, scoring 94 points (44g-50a). Guptill was voted the 2011-12 CCHA Rookie of the Year while at Michigan, and was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the third round (77th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.