Friesen inks deal with Gladiators

Duluth, Ga. - The Atlanta Gladiators, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators and the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals, announced that the team has signed forward Colton Friesen for the 2026-27 season.

Friesen, 24, enters his first season of professional hockey following three seasons at Augustana University. He recorded 27 points (12g-15a) in 37 games in his final season – career highs in all categories. Friesen finished second in points, third in goals and tied for second in assists among Vikings skaters in the 2025-26 season.

The native of Winnipeg, Manitoba began his collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin-Superior in the 2022-23 season, where he scored 22 points (11g-11a) in 29 games to lead the team in scoring. Friesen then made the leap to the NCAA Division I level joining Augustana University for the 2023-24 season. He went on to play the next three seasons with the Vikings, improving his goal, assist, point and games played totals year over year, amassing 55 points (22g-33a) in 93 games.

Prior to his collegiate career, Friesen played in the North American Hockey League with the Anchorage Wolverines in the 2021-22 season, scoring 36 points (11g-25a) in 60 games and was named an NAHL Top-Team All-Star and to the 2022 NAHL Robertson Cup All-Tournament Team.