For Immediate Release:
March 24, 2017
DE MELO ACTIVATED, TWO DEFENSEMEN SIGNED
Riley Spraggs and Phil Tesoriero placed on IR
ROANOKE, VA – The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs have announced a series of player transactions in advance of Friday night’s game against the Columbus Cottonmouths. Goaltender Ryan de Melo has been activated from injured reserve, defenseman Alex Vazquez has been signed to a contract, defenseman Justin Stevens has been signed to a three-game tryout contract, defenseman Phil Tesoriero has been placed on season-ending injured reserve and winger Riley Spraggs has been placed on 14-day injured reserved.
de Melo returns to the active roster after missing nine games with an injury. He last appeared on February 18 against the Pensacola Ice Flyers and exited after two periods. In 26 games played for the Dawgs, de Melo is 9-11-3 with a 3.15 goals against average and a .916 save percentage.
Both Vazquez and Stevens will make their professional debuts when they don the Roanoke sweater. Vazquez spent his college years playing ACHA hockey for the University of Arizona and Ohio University. He completed his college career with two goals and four assists during the 2016-17 season for Ohio as the Bobcats finished as the runner-ups at the ACHA D1 national championships. Stevens split his collegiate hockey between the NCAA at Mercyhurst University and in Canada at Carleton University.
Tesoriero and Spraggs were each injured during Roanoke’s 6-4 win over the Peoria Rivermen on Saturday. Tesoriero’s season ends with one goal, eight assists and 39 penalty minutes over 40 games played. Spraggs heads to injured reserve with 20 goals and 19 assists over 47 games, including one goal and three assists in eight games as a Rail Yard Dawg.
The Dawgs hit the ice for the first of back-to-back games against the Columbus Cottonmouths on Friday night. Roanoke currently trails Columbus by one point for the eighth and final playoff spot in the SPHL. Puck drop is set for 7:05 PM at the Berglund Center.
2017-18 Rail Yard Dawgs season tickets are on sale now! Seats can be reserved by visiting the Rail Yard Dawgs office inside of the Berglund Center or over the phone at 540-344-3294.
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