Rookie defenseman Malatesta joins Gladiators

DULUTH, Ga. – The Atlanta Gladiators have agreed to terms with defenseman Zach Malatesta for the 2017-18 season.

The Gladiators are the ECHL affiliate of the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League.

Malatesta spent the last three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League posting 92 points (25g-67a) and a +18 rating in 191 games with the Moncton Wildcats and Acadie-Bathurst Titan. In his final year of major junior hockey, the Boston, Mass. native started the season in Moncton earning eight points (3g-5a) before being dealt near the trade deadline to Acadie-Bathurst. Malatesta then produced the best numbers of his career ending the campaign with 28 points (8g-20a) and a +27 rating in 33 games. The defender added eight points (1g-7a) in 11 playoff games for the Titan.