2017-18 FUEL PERFORMANCE REVIEW: JAYNEN RISSLING
#23 | DEFENSEMAN | EDMONTON, ALBERTA
2017-18 STATS: 62 GP, 7 G, 23 A, 30 PTS, +3, 43 PIM, 3 PPG
(WITH INDY: 21 GP, 3 G, 11 A, 14 PTS, +7, 23 PIM)
Picked up in a deal just prior to the trade deadline from the Wheeling Nailers, defenseman Jaynen Rissling was a mainstay in the Fuel blue line during the home stretch of the 2017-18 season and into the Central Division Semifinals. Acquired in exchange for defenseman Nolan Descoteaux and forward Andrew Schmit, Rissling picked up 14 points and was a +7 in 21 games with Indy, adding another assist during the club's first round series with Toledo.
Starting the season with the Allen Americans, the 6-foot-4 blueliner picked up three points in five games before heading to Wheeling, where he logged three goals and 10 assists in 36 contests. In his Fuel debut on Feb. 22, Rissling tallied a season-high three points to help his new club to a wild 8-7 victory over Quad City.
Playing with a variety of defensive partners during his time in the Circle City, Rissling recorded three of his five multi-point games in 2017-18 with the Fuel, including a two-goal performance in Toledo on March 11.
"I liked Riss a lot. We tried to get him in the summer but unfortunately he went to Allen. Finally were were able to pick him up from Wheeling, and you can see why - he's a big guy, he's sneaky skilled. He's not the fastest guy up the ice but he's got slick hands that he can use to make plays. He's real good on the power play, he's poised in the back end, and he's pretty tough too." - Head Coach Bernie John
The guy hasn't even changed his forwarding address and he's out here scoring goals.
Rissling's first in a Fuel uniform has Indy on the board. #QCvsIND pic.twitter.com/beSySts2Pa
— Indy Fuel (@IndyFuel) February 23, 2018