2017-18 FUEL PERFORMANCE REVIEW: RILEY SWEENEY
#28 | DEFENSEMAN | VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
2017-18 STATS: 52 GP, 2 G, 11 A, 13 PTS, 31 PIM, 1 GWG
(WITH INDY: 46 GP, 2 G, 9 A, 11 PTS, 27 PIM, 1 GWG)
Another one of Bernie John's midseason acquisitons, defenseman Riley Sweeney became a steady presence on the Fuel blue line after joining the team as a free agent in mid-December. Suiting up for six games with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits to start the 2017-18 season, the rookie chipped in 11 points (2g, 9a) in 46 games with Indy while providing reliable minutes in his own end.
Spending time alongside Nolan Descoteaux, Garrett Clarke and Jaynen Rissling throughout the season, Sweeney's stay-at-home style of play helped open up offensive opportunities for his defensive partners. The rookie out of Michigan Tech University had an offensive breakthrough on New Year's Eve in Wheeling, scoring twice to lead the Fuel to a 3-2 win over the Nailers at WesBanco Arena.
"Sweeney kept things simple in his game; moving the puck up the ice and made the simple play. He had some flares of nice offense, where he made some really nice plays, but his game was to keep everything simple, and that's what he did for us." - Head Coach Bernie John
SWEENEY! SWEE-HEE-HEENEY!
The defender's first professional goal has the Fuel on the board. #INDvsWHL pic.twitter.com/DsENrPo5et
— Indy Fuel (@IndyFuel) January 1, 2018
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