DULUTH, Ga. - The Atlanta Gladiators have agreed to terms with forward Justin Buzzeo and defenseman Blake Kessel for the 2016-17 season.
The Gladiators are the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins and the American Hockey League's Providence Bruins.
Buzzeo returns for a second full season with the Gladiators after appearing in 63 games with Atlanta in 2015-16. The Windsor, Ontario native tallied 27 points (11g-16a) over the course of last year, adding on to four points (1g-3a) amassed in seven games with the Gladiators in 2014-15. The 26-year-old joined the organization following the completion of his collegiate career with Ferris State University where he notched 68 points (29g-39a) in 122 career games.
Drafted by the New York Islanders in the sixth Round (166th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Kessel joins the Gladiators from the Augsburg Panthers of the DEL. The Madison, Wisc. native joined the Panthers late in the 2015-16 season, earning three assists in six games. Prior to his time with Augsburg, Kessel tallied 10 points (3g-7a) in 41 games with the Ilves Tampere of the Finnish Elite League. Kessel has also appeared in 77 career American Hockey League games, amassing 25 points (3g-22a).
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