Nailers sign Jake Bolton

WHEELING, W.Va. - The Wheeling Nailers, ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, announced the team has signed defenseman Jake Bolton for the 2017-18 season.

Bolton, 25, enters his second full season of professional hockey and third overall, after spending time with the Atlanta Gladiators and Wichita Thunder. He first joined the Gladiators during the final weeks of the 2015-16 campaign, after completing his collegiate career. Bolton returned to Atlanta to begin the 2016-17 season, before being traded to Wichita on Jan. 18. Between the two clubs, he finished the year with 12 points (2g-10a) in 55 contests.

Prior to turning pro, the Ellington, Conn. native attended College of the Holy Cross for four years, where he majored in Philosophy, while playing for the Crusaders. Bolton's best collegiate season came during his junior year of 2014-15, when he set career highs with seven goals and 19 points. Over the course of his time with Holy Cross, Bolton skated in 145 games, tallying 54 points(11g-43a). He also played one season with the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs, capturing an EJHL Championship.