For Immediate Release:
December 9, 2017
MATT ZENZOLA SIGNED, JOHN GUSTAFSSON ACQUIRED
Ryan de Melo placed on waivers, Paul Russell traded to Macon
ROANOKE, VA – The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs announced a series of roster moves on Monday. Goaltender Matt Zenzola has been signed to a contract, forward Paul Russell has been traded to the Macon Mayhem in exchange for forward John Gustafsson and goaltender Ryan de Melo has been placed on waivers.
Zenzola opened the season with the Fayetteville Marksmen where he had gone 2-2-0 with a 4.85 GAA and .845 save percentage before being released on Wednesday. He spent the majority of the two previous seasons with the Pensacola Ice Flyers where he was a combined 26-15-9 with a 2.50 GAA and save percentage of .913. The 2015-16 Ice Flyers swept their way through the postseason en route to a President’s Cup championship and Zenzola was named the MVP of the postseason after going 7-0-0 with a 2.14 GAA and .903 save percentage. A 24-year old native of San Diego, the netminder is in his fifth professional season.
Gustafsson joins the Dawgs after playing in 15 games for the Mayhem to open the season where he had netted five goals along with three assists. The Swedish-born forward turned pro for the 2016-17 season following four years of NCAA Division I hockey at Merrimack college. In his rookie season with Pensacola he scored 11 goals and dished out 12 assists over 46 games played.
In his second season with Roanoke, de Melo was 2-4-2 with a 4.17 GAA and .892 save percentage. Russell had appeared in 15 games for Roanoke and put up one goal and one assist. The winger is in his first professional season out of Norwich University.
Roanoke returns to action on Thursday night at home against the Birmingham Bulls. Puck drop at the Berglund Center is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
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