ROANOKE, VA. – The Rail Yard Dawgs announced on Monday that rookie forward Gustav Müller has been called up by the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder. Additionally, the team has lifted its suspension of forward Austen Swankler, and Swankler has rejoined the team in Roanoke.
Müller is in his first professional season in Roanoke after playing four years of NCAA hockey, including three seasons with Long Island University (NCAA-DI). The rookie centerman has been outstanding for Roanoke this season, ranking among the top four players on the team for goals (10), assists (15), and points (25). Müller also ranks within the top four among all SPHL rookies in each of those scoring categories. Last year, the Hudiksvall, Sweden native finished his collegiate career at Albertus Magnus College (NCAA-DIII), tallying four goals, seven assists, a plus-three rating, and 20 penalty minutes in 22 games played. In his three seasons at Long Island, the six-foot-one forward notched six goals, 11 assists, and 14 penalty minutes over the span of 49 games played. Müller also played one season in the USHL with the Madison Capitals during the 2019-2020 season after developing in his home country of Sweden prior to moving to North America.
Swankler is in his first professional season, beginning this year in the ECHL. The 23-year-old started the year with the Fort Wayne Komets, and was traded to the Worcester Railers on November 10 before the Railers then moved him to the Cincinnati Cyclones on November 11. Swankler recorded three goals, one assist, 12 penalty minutes, and a plus-three rating in nine combined games with the Komets and Cyclones. Swankler signed with Roanoke back on December 11, but was placed on team suspension on December 13 due to personal reasons before he could make his debut for the Dawgs. Before turning pro, Swankler played three seasons of college hockey (NCAA-DI) with Bowling Green State University and Michigan Tech. The left-shot forward recorded 27 goals, 46 assists, 67 penalty minutes, and a plus-one rating in 81 career college games, with his best season coming in 2022-2023 for Bowling Green as he racked up 19 goals and 25 assists in just 35 games played. The North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania native played high-level junior hockey, suiting up in a full season in both the OHL (Erie) and USHL (Waterloo and Sioux) prior to sitting out the 2020-2021 COVID-impacted season.
Roanoke head coach Dan Bremner made the following statement about Swankler’s suspension back in December: “Austen has a private situation back home that needs to be taken care of, and he made the mature decision to take care of that before continuing his hockey career.”
The Rail Yard Dawgs are on the road this weekend starting on Friday, January 31 against the Pensacola Ice Flyers at the Pensacola Bay Center Puck drop is slated for 8:05 P.M. EST in Florida. Single game tickets for the season are on sale now online and at Berglund Center box office.
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