Pelech re-signs with Gladiators

DULUTH, Ga. – The Atlanta Gladiators announced that the team has re-signed veteran forward Mike Pelech for the 2022-23 season.

Pelech will be entering his 14th professional season and his second with the Gladiators. Last year with Atlanta, the 33-year-old amassed 36 points (11g-25a) in 46 games before sustaining a season-ending upper-body injury on Feb. 12. 

First appearing with the Ontario Reign in 2009, Pelech has skated in 813 ECHL games with 11 different teams. The Toronto, Ontario native could very well become the new all-time leader in ECHL games played this season after leapfrogging ECHL Hall of Famer and Gladiators legend Cam Brown for second place during the 2021-22 campaign. He needs to skate in 47 games this season to overtake another former Gladiator, Sam Ftorek, for the top spot. 

Pelech has compiled 611 points (190g-421a) over the course of his ECHL career. His 421 helpers rank third all-time in ECHL history, and he needs 40 more to pass Chris Valicevic for the second all-time spot.  He also ranks tied for fifth all-time with 611 points, which is 23 points behind Trevor Jobe for fourth place.