Men's Hockey 3/22/2016 4:35:00 PM Ashley Chase

Friedmann and Gibson Sign With ECHL Teams

Colonials high-scoring seniors cap careers, continue in professional hockey

Pittsburgh, Pa. – Robert Morris University men's hockey is pleased to announce that a duo of seniors have signed amateur tryout agreements (ATO) in the East Coast Hockey League. Forwards Greg Gibson and David Friedmann join clubs this week, Gibson with the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades, and Friedmann with the NHL's Colorado Avalanche ECHL affiliate, Fort Wayne Komets.

Gibson finished the 2015-16 season with 29 goals and 22 assists, scoring 51 points in 39 games, seventh in the NCAA. A first-team all-conference selection, Gibson led Atlantic Hockey conference in goal scoring and notched a pair of hat tricks, two five-point weekends and a six-point series performance in conference play this season. Gibson was tied for the team lead in power play goals with eight, part of the Robert Morris power play that was ranked first in NCAA hockey for much of the season.

The Burlington, Ontario native finishes his Robert Morris career with 117 points (66g 51a) good enough for fifth all-time at RMU. Gibson's 66 goals are third in Colonials history. Gibson played 150 games for the Colonials and ranked fourth all-time in plus/minus with a +43 rating, averaging 3.3 shots per game over the course of his career.

The 2015-16 campaign for Gibson was the best of his career, more than doubling his point total from 25 points his junior year to 51 points in his senior season. Gibson was one of three Colonials nominated for the Hobey Baker Award.

"I'm very excited to move on to the next level and see that caliber of hockey," said Gibson. "It's going to be a big step but in the last four years, I think I learned the amount of hard work that has to be put in every day to make it at the next level."

"Gibson has the ability to produce offense and that is something that makes him very appealing to the Florida Everblades," said Colonials head coach Derek Schooley.

Gibson follows Adam Brace, Cody Crichton, Chris Kushneriuk and Jeff Jones to Fort Myers from Robert Morris as the fifth Colonials player to suit up for the Everblades.

"I am very happy that Greg has this opportunity in a premier organization that knows the kind of player the Colonials produce."

Friedmann was the Colonials third leading scorer in 2015-16, reaching a career-high 42 points on 12 goals and a team-high 30 assists. The Toronto, Ontario native was seventh in NCAA hockey in power play points with 19 and part of a Robert Morris power play that was ranked first in the nation for most of the 2015-16 campaign.

Friedmann is just the eighth Robert Morris player to eclipse the 100-point barrier, finishing his collegiate career with 103 points and an all-tournament team performance in the Atlantic Hockey conference championship. Friedmann was among the nation's best in faceoff percentage this season, ranking in the top 15, winning more than 52 percent of his draws.

Off the ice, Friedmann was one of 18 NCAA hockey players, across Division I, III and both men's and women's hockey, to be nominated for the Hockey Humanitarian Award, for his efforts in building relationships and community.

"It's something I have always wanted to do since I was a little kid," said Friedmann, of playing professional hockey. "I am very excited for the opportunity in front of me."
"David has worked hard over the past four years on his game," said Colonials head coach Derek Schooley.

"Each year he has gotten better and improved his production which leads me to believe he is ready for the challenge of professional hockey," Schooley continued. "He was young when he came to Robert Morris and still has more growth in his game."

"RMU has helped me on so many different levels, too many to list them all out," said Friedmann. "My four years here has prepared me for everything, whether it is hockey or the real world."

Friedmann will wear #14 for Fort Wayne is expected to be in the lineup when the Komets host the Wheeling Nailers on Wednesday at 7:30pm. Wheeling is home to Robert Morris alum Cody Wydo '15 who is one of the team's leading scorers.

Gibson and Friedmann are among the Colonials nine seniors that compiled 87 victories, the most wins by any class in program history. The Class of 2016 won two Three Rivers Classic championships, two Atlantic Hockey regular season titles and one Atlantic Hockey conference tournament championship, securing the program's first NCAA berth in 2014.

There have been at least 37 former Robert Morris players to play for an ECHL team.

Stay up to date with all the Colonials in the Pros with our Signing Tracker, updated with each player to join a professional team as it becomes official.

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Players Mentioned

#23 Cody Wydo: F; 5' 11"; Senior; Sr.

#11 Jeff Jones: F; 5' 9"; Senior; Sr.

#9 David Friedmann: F; 5' 11"; Senior; Sr.

#16 Greg Gibson: F; 5' 10"; Senior; Sr.

Players Mentioned

#23 Cody Wydo
: 5' 11"; Senior; Sr.
: F

#11 Jeff Jones
: 5' 9"; Senior; Sr.
: F

#9 David Friedmann
: 5' 11"; Senior; Sr.
: F

#16 Greg Gibson
: 5' 10"; Senior; Sr.
: F