Fuel agree to terms with Colantone and Rupert

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indy Fuel, ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks and the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, announced that forwards Michael Colantone and Matt Rupert have agreed to terms for the 2016-17 season.

Colantone finished fifth in Fuel rookie scoring last season with 17 points (9g-8a) in 40 games after arriving in late December. The 24-year-old made his professional debut on Dec. 27 after spending the first half of the season with the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. In 73 career NCAA games with the River Hawks, Colantone recorded 26 points (13g-13a), helping the club win Hockey East regular season and playoff titles in 2013.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Colantone spent parts of three seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League prior to college, racking up 109 points (46g-63a) in 118 games between the Prince George Spruce Kings and Victoria Grizzlies.

The 22-year-old Rupert picked up 19 points (11g-8a) and 45 penalty minutes in 53 contests with the Orlando Solar Bears in 2015-16, while under a two-way contract with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. He saw his first pro action at the end of the 2014-15 campaign when he skated in two games for the Marlies.

Before turning pro, Rupert played parts of five seasons with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. In addition to finishing his major junior career with 223 points (105g-128a) in 240 contests, the London native helped his hometown team to back-to-back OHL championships in 2012 and 2013. In 12 total Memorial Cup games, Rupert posted five points (1g-4a).