Sdao returns for second season with Thunder

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. – The Adirondack Thunder, ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils, announced that they have signed defenseman Michael Sdaoto a contract for the 2019-20 season.

Sdao, 30, returns to Adirondack after playing in 31 games last season, recording seven points (3g-4a) while racking up 69 penalty minutes.

Sdao’s previous ECHL experience includes time with the Rapid City Rush in 2017-18 and Colorado Eagles in 2016-17. The Bloomington, Minnesota native posted professional career-highs of 13 points (9g-4a) and 177 penalty minutes in his season with Colorado and the Eagles won a Kelly Cup championship.

Sdao was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the seventh round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and made the transition into pro hockey with the American Hockey League’s Binghamton Senators. He notched 18 points (9g-9a) and 306 penalty minutes in parts of four seasons with Binghamton. In addition to games with the Senators, he saw AHL action with the Rochester Americans and Iowa Wild.

Sdao played college hockey at Princeton University, posting 54 points (26g-28a) and 236 penalty minutes in 118 games over his four-year collegiate career. He led all Princeton blueliners in scoring during his junior and senior seasons.