Pierce joins Admirals

NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk Admirals announced that the team has signed defenseman Ian Pierce to a contract for the 2026-27 season.

Pierce enters his first season with the Norfolk Admirals and his second full season in the ECHL. He spent the first two seasons of his professional career with three teams, including the Adirondack Thunder (2024-25), Fort Wayne Komets (2025-26) and Rapid City Rush (2025-26).

He joined the Thunder in the late stages of the 2024-25 season, where he had six points (2g-4a) in six games. He re-signed with the Thunder the following season before being acquired by the Fort Wayne Komets. There, he skated in 15 games and had three assists. In January of the same season, he was a part of a future considerations trade that sent him to the Rapid City Rush, where he played in 22 contests and added seven assists.

The Edgewater, New York native played junior hockey for four seasons from 2017-21 with the United States Hockey League's Dubuque Fighting Saints, notching 23 points (8g-15a) in 92 games, including eight goals and a +12 in his final season. His eight goals tied for first among defensemen, and his +12 rating was second on the team.

Pierce then played at Dartmouth College. He skated in 100 games with the Big Green, scoring 40 points (9g-31a).