INDIANAPOLIS - The Indy Fuel, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks and the AHL's Rockford IceHogs, announced Friday that they have received defenseman Samuel Thibault in a trade from the Atlanta Gladiators. Part of a three-team deal, Thibault and forward Dan Leavens were originally dealt from the Toledo Walleye to Atlanta in exchange for defenseman Ben Danford, with Thibault being sent by the Gladiators to Indy to fulfill the future considerations owed for the Avery Peterson deal on Jan. 16.
Additionally, the Fuel announced that defensemen Guillaume Naud and Brandon Rumble have been released from their ECHL contracts.
Thibault, 22, has skated in 38 games for the Walleye this season, recording eight assists and 34 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1, 192-pound defenseman most recently chipped in an assist in Toledo's 3-2 win over Cincinnati on Friday night. Thibault made his ECHL debut last season with the Wichita Thunder, collecting nine assists and a +10 rating in 43 games, in addition to seeing action in a pair of AHL contests with the Bakersfield Condors. Prior to turning pro, the native of Ste-Martine, Quebec spent three years in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with Baie-Comeau Drakkar, amassing 10 goals, 40 assists and 284 penalty minutes in 207 QMJHL contests.
The Fuel are back in action this Friday as they head to WesBanco Arena to take on the Wheeling Nailers in a Central Division showdown. Indy returns to Indiana Farmers Coliseum next Friday to take on the Kalamazoo Wings.
Single-game tickets are now on sale for the Fuel's 5th anniversary season at Indiana Farmers Coliseum! Lock up your seat for every second of the action at Indiana Farmers Coliseum with a Fuel Ticket Plan - grab yours 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 2018-19 season.
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