Collin Circelli in action against the Arizona Sundogs last season. Circelli was one of two centers the Odessa Jackalopes announced has signed for the upcoming season on Thursday. (photo credit: Kevin Buehler|Odessa American)
The Jackalopes have signed two players today – Collin Circelli, a scoring center who was with the team last year, and Kyle McAllister who played in the ECHL previously. Here is the press release and career stats for both players:
(Odessa, TX) – The Odessa Jackalopes announced today that centermen Collin Circelli and Kyle McAllister have signed with the team for the upcoming 2009-2010 Central Hockey League season. Circelli returns for his third season in the Permian Basin. It will be the first for McAllister.
Circelli had a career year last season, scoring a personal-best 26 goals in 63 games. He finished the season with 49 points overall.
“(Circelli) was very good for us last season,” said Jacks head coach Paul Gillis. “He was great in even strength and power play situations. He was great in the faceoff circle. And he also made plays and put up points for us.”
In his second year in Odessa, Circelli’s production on the ice quadrupled from his rookie campaign with the Jacks. Before his 49 points last season, Circelli finished the 2007-08 year with 11 points in 31 games. The Oshawa, Ontario, native also played five seasons at St. Francis Xavier University of the CIS where he registered 67 points (21 goals, 46 assists) in 102 career games.
The 6’2”, 190-pound McAllister spent the last two seasons in the ECHL with the Mississippi Sea Wolves and Florida Everblades, putting up 55 points in 115 games during that span. Prior to turning pro, the centerman was a five-year player at St. Thomas University of the CIS, accumulating 156 points in 131 games as a teammate of Jacks’ forward Jean Bourbeau.
“(McAllister) is a solid, all-around centerman,” said Gillis. “He’s a very good two-way player. He has skill. He sees the ice well and can make plays. But he’s also good defensively.”
McAllister developed his skills in the Ontario Hockey League, including stints with the Ottawa 67s and Owen Sound. He averaged over a point a game in his final two seasons.
