INDIANAPOLIS – The Indy Fuel, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Chicago Blackhawks and the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs, announced that they have signed defensemen Alex Brooks and Robert Powers to contracts for the 2018-19 season.
Brooks was acquired earlier this month in a trade with the Kansas City Mavericks in exchange for defenseman Riley Sweeney. The 27-year-old skated in 67 games for the Mavericks last season, registering 20 points (4g-16a) along with four penalty minutes. Entering his third professional season, Brooks has posted 40 points (7g-33a) in 114 total ECHL contests with Kansas City and the South Carolina Stingrays.
A four-year product of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Brooks made his pro debut at the end of the 2015-16 season with a three-game stint with the Fayetteville FireAntz in the Southern Professional Hockey League, where he tallied five assists. The native of Walker, Michigan split his rookie season between the SPHL and ECHL, marking six points (1g-5a) in 12 games with Fayetteville in addition to call-ups with South Carolina and the then-Missouri Mavericks.
At UW-Stevens Point, Brooks helped lead the Pointers to the 2016 Division III National title, scoring the game-winning goal in his team’s 5-1 win over St. Norbert in the National Championship game, while earning a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament Team. Brooks’ 30 points (7g-23a) in 31 games as a senior ranked third in the nation among defensemen, garnering him First Team All-American and All-WIAC honors. In 114 career college games, the defenseman compiled 104 points (18g-86a).
Powers made his professional debut last spring with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, finishing with two penalty minutes and a +2 rating in eight games following the conclusion of his NCAA career at Robert Morris University. In four seasons with the Colonials, the 24-year-old appeared in 84 games, tallying 17 points (2g-15a), helping his team to Atlantic Hockey Conference regular-season titles in both 2015 and 2016.
A native of Ajax, Ontario, Powers enjoyed a breakout senior season in 2017-18, ranking second in team defensemen scoring with 14 points (2g-12a) while appearing in all 41 games.
Prior to his collegiate career, Powers spent three seasons in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, marking 83 points (21g-62a) in 132 total games with the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots, the Stouffville Spirit and the Toronto Jr. Canadiens.