Utah Grizzlies head coach and General Manager Tim Branham announced Tuesday that the team has signed forward Brenden Walker for the 2015-2016 season.
Walker was acquired by the Grizzlies just prior to the ECHL’s trade deadline on March 9 last season and had nine goals and six assists for 15 points in 13 games with Utah. He had seven points in seven playoff games on three goals and four assists before sustaining a series ending injury in game one of the second round against Ontario on May 2. He was an ECHL All-Star in 2014-2015 and totaled 24 goals and 33 assists for 57 points in 67 games with Utah and Gwinnett.
“Brenden quickly became an impact player for us last year after we acquired him a month before the playoffs,” Branham said. “He’s a goal scorer and likes to make plays with the puck.”
Walker had one of Utah’s two 14-15 hat tricks in his Grizzlies debut March 13 at Bakersfield and set a Utah season high for points in a game with five on three goals and two assists in that contest as well. He was second on the Grizzlies in scoring after being acquired in March and led the team with nine goals. The 23 year old enters his third professional season in October.
The Grizzlies home opening weekend is Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24, against the Allen Americans.