Fuel add two more to 2018-19 roster

(Photos courtesy of Mike Wolforth Photography/Rapid City Rush and Whiteshark Photography)

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indy Fuel, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks and the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs, announced Friday that they signed forward Anthony Collins and defenseman Chris Rygus to ECHL contracts for the 2018-19 season.

Collins, 28, is entering his seventh professional season and his sixth in the ECHL, spending the previous two years with the Rapid City Rush. The 6-foot-4, 216-pound forward tallied three goals, five assists and 74 penalty minutes in 47 games with the Rush in 2017-18, following a milestone 2016-17 campaign where he set personal high marks with eight goals, 14 points and 134 penalty minutes.

A native of Langley, British Columbia, Collins has seen action in 246 total ECHL games split between Rapid City, Quad City and South Carolina recording 42 points (19g, 23a) and 562 penalty minutes. The rugged forward made his professional debut in 2012-13 with the Southern Professional Hockey League's (SPHL) Mississippi Surge, recording two goals, four assists and 130 penalty minutes in 35 contests.

Rygus, 24, is set for his first full professional season after joining the Fuel on an emergency basis in the 2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs. The 6-foot-3, 209-pound defenseman made his pro debut in Game 2 of the Central Division Semifinals against the Toledo Walleye, and recorded a pair of penalty minutes over three playoff games.

A 2018 graduate of St. Norbert College (NCAA Div. III), Rygus helped the Green Knights to the Division III National Championship this spring. The native of Mississaugua, Ontario marked a career high 11 points (2g, 9a) in 32 games in 2017-18, finishing his collegiate career with eight goals and 19 assists in 117 total contests. Prior to his time at school, Rygus spent two seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), where he compiled 32 points (7g, 25a) in 110 games split between the Penticton Vees and Nainamo Clippers.

With the additions of Collins and Rygus, the Fuel's 2018-19 roster stands at six players, consisting of five forwards and one defenseman. To view the full roster, click here.

Ticket Plans for the Fuel's fifth anniversary season are now on sale! Lock up your seat for every second of the action in 2018-19 at Indiana Farmers Coliseum by heading to IndyFuelHockey.com or by calling the Fuel front office at 317-925-FUEL. Don't forget to follow the Fuel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (IndyFuel) for news, updates, contests and much more throughout the offseason.

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