The Coachella Valley Firebirds have signed four new players, all with impressive track records, a release this week on the team's website said.
Bringing experience from all over the country and Canada are Jeremy McKenna from the Newfoundland Growlers, Tristan Mullin from the Cleveland Monsters, Jake McLaughlin from the Florida Everblades and Callum Booth from the Maine Mariners.
"McKenna joins the Firebirds after spending the majority of last season with the Newfoundland Growlers in the ECHL [formerly East Coast Hockey League]," the website said.
McKenna, 23, finished his year with the Growlers with 44 points, 20 goals and 24 assists in 43 games. He also has played 44 games for the American Hockey League's (AHL) Toronto Marlies over the past two seasons. A native of Canmore, Alberta, Canada, McKenna played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the Moncton Wildcats, scoring 282 points in 259 games (137 goals, 145 assists).
Mullin comes to the Firebirds after two years with the Cleveland Monsters, during which he skated in 68 AHL games, the release said. He is from Cartwright, Manitoba, Canada, and spent three seasons at Cornell University before his senior year at the University of Vermont. Mullins helped lead the Big Red to two Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) regular season championships.
McLaughlin joins the Firebirds after winning the Kelly Cup with the ECHL's Florida Everblades last season. He is from Hinsdale, Ill., and skated in 49 games with the Everblades, amassing a total of 33 points—five goals, 28 assists. Following his senior year at the University of Massachusetts, McLaughlin signed with the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights and played 28 games. Last season, he also skated 13 games for the Milwaukee Admirals.
Rounding out the new arrivals is Booth, who spent the majority of last season with the ECHL's Maine Mariners, the release said. He posted a record of 8-10-12, with a 2.73 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. He has also contributed to other ECHL teams, including the Atlanta Gladiators, Florida Everblades, Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Jacksonville Icemen and Reading Royals. A native of Montreal, Quebec, Booth has played 17 AHL games—in Charlotte and Providence—over his five-year career.