Gladiators re-sign Datema

Action photo of Brenden Datema of the Atlanta Gladiators

Duluth, Ga. – The Atlanta Gladiators announced that the club has re-signed defenseman Brenden Datema for the 2025-26 season.

Datema re-signs with the Gladiators for his third season in Atlanta, where he has spent his entire professional career since his pro debut in March of 2024. The 26-year-old defenseman first signed with the Gladiators late in the 2023-24 season and played 12 games with the team, notching two assists. Last season, Datema tallied seven points (2g-5a) in 48 games with the Gladiators in his first full season as a pro, scoring his first professional goal on Jan. 5 against Savannah.

The native of Sterling Heights, Michigan played five seasons of college hockey prior to turning pro, spending three at Michigan Tech and two at Canisius College. Datema totaled 23 points (3g-20a in 100 games between the two schools.

Datema was a standout defenseman during his final year of junior hockey with the Amarillo Bulls of the North American Hockey League, leading the league in scoring among defensemen during the 2018-19 season with 60 points (21g-39a) in 58 games.