Matt Vernon Named to All-ECHL Second Team

JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Jacksonville Icemen, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres and the AHL’s Rochester Americans along with the ECHL announced on Thursday that goaltender Matt Vernon has been named to the 2023-24 All-ECHL Second Team as determined in a vote of ECHL coaches, broadcasters, media relations directors and media, who were asked to select a goaltender, two defensemen and three forwards. 

2023-24 All-ECHL First Team

G – Taylor Gauthier, Wheeling Nailers (42 gp, 24-16-2, 2.23 GAA, .923 save pct.)
D – Patrick Kudla, Idaho Steelheads (58 gp, 10g, 50a, 60 pts.)
D – Jalen Smereck, Cincinnati Cyclones (66 gp, 8g, 44a, 52 pts.) 
F – Patrick Curry, Kansas City Mavericks (67 gp, 50g, 56a, 106 pts.) 
F – Brandon Hawkins, Toledo Walleye (69 gp, 40g, 52a, 92 pts.)
F – Alex Kile, Maine Mariners (57 gp, 23g, 64a, 87 pts.)

The ECHL will announce the Community Service Award and Sportsmanship Award winners on Friday. 

Taylor Gauthier of the Wheeling Nailers is 24-16-2 this season and ranks second in the ECHL with 42 appearances and 2,477 minutes played. Gauthier’s four shutouts and .923 save percentage are tied for the league lead while he leads all goaltenders with a 2.23 goals-against average while ranking fifth with 1,104 saves.

Patrick Kudla of the Idaho Steelheads is third among defensemen with 50 assists and 60 points while he is tied for 10th in plus-minus at +21.

Jalen Smereck of the Cincinnati Cyclones leads ECHL defensemen with 56 assists and 70 points while his 14 goals are tied for fifth. Smereck leads all players in the league with 28 power-play assists while his 32 power-play points are tops among defensemen and second overall.

Patrick Curry of the Kansas City Mavericks is second in the league with 37 goals and 84 points, is tied for second with a +32 rating and is fourth with 247 shots on goal. His eight game-winning goals are tied for the league lead. 

Brandon Hawkins of the Toledo Walleye earns All-ECHL First Team honors for the second consecutive season. He leads the league with 40 goals, 92 points, 34 power-play points and 335 shots on goal while he is tied for the top spot with 15 power-play goals and ranks fifth with 52 assists.

Alex Kile of the Maine Mariners is tied for third in the ECHL with 34 goals, is fourth with 78 points and is eighth with 226 shots on goal.

2023-24 All-ECHL Second Team

G – Matt Vernon, Jacksonville Icemen (36 gp, 27-9-1, 2.59 GAA, .919 save pct.) 
D – Kyle Mayhew, Utah Grizzlies (69 gp, 15g, 41a, 56 pts.) 
D – Matt Register, Idaho Steelheads (69 gp, 10g, 51a, 61 pts.) 
F – Erik Bradford, Kalamazoo Wings (68 gp, 36g, 60a, 96 pts.) 
F – Jack Dugan, Fort Wayne Komets (65 gp, 25g, 56a, 81 pts.)
F – Austin Magera, South Carolina Stingrays (68 gp, 29g, 45a, 74 pts.) 

Matt Vernon of the Jacksonville Icemen, who was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team yesterday, is tied for the league lead with 25 wins, is third with a 2.59 goals-against average and is sixth with a .919 save percentage.

Kyle Mayhew of the Utah Grizzlies earns All-ECHL honors for the second consecutive day after being named to the All-Rookie Team yesterday. He leads rookie defensemen with 15 goals, 41 assists and 56 points. His 15 goals are tied for second among all blueliners while his 56 points are tied for fourth.

Matt Register of the Idaho Steelheads earns All-ECHL honors for the eighth time in his career after previously being named to the All-ECHL First Team in 2013-14, 2014-15, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2022-23 and the Second Team in 2018-19 and 2020-21. He is second among defensemen with 51 assists and 61 points and is tied for fourth with 23 power-play points.

Erik Bradford of the Kalamazoo Wings is tied for third in the league with 53 assists while ranking third with 82 points. His 82 points this season are the most by a K-Wing since the team joined the ECHL for the 2009-10 season. 

Jack Dugan of the Fort Wayne Komets is tied for the league lead with 56 assists and is fifth with 76 points. Dugan is third with 23 power-play assists and tied for sixth with 26 power-play points.

Austin Magera of the South Carolina Stingrays, who was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team yesterday, tops all rookies with 74 points, is tied for second with 29 goals and third with 45 assists. Magera’s 74 points rank seventh overall in the league while his 14 power-play assists are fifth among first-year players and his 21 power-play points are tied for fifth.

The Icemen close out the 2023-24 regular season at home this weekend beginning on Friday against Savannah at 7:00 p.m., while facing Atlanta on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and again on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. 

Icemen full and partial ticket packages for the 2024-25 Season are currently on sale! Payment plans are also available. Contact the Icemen office at 904-602-7825, or visit www.jacksonvilleicemen.com for more information. 

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