GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Road Warriors announced today that they have signed defensemen Wes Cunningham, T.J. Fast, and Jeff Caister for the 2011-12 season.
In Cunningham, the Road Warriors bring back an All-ECHL First-Team defender and runner-up for the Defenseman of the Year Award from the 2010-11 season. The 24-year-old from Dresden, Ontario finished second among ECHL defensemen, and set a career high, with 36 assists in 69 games last season. He also chipped in six goals and racked up 77 penalty minutes. T.J. Reynolds was the only Road Warriors defenseman to play more games (71) than Cunningham last season. At 5-11, 180 pounds Cunningham has never played fewer than 69 games in a professional season and entering his fourth pro campaign has logged 210 games between the Road Warriors, Elmira Jackals, and Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League. His next assist will be his 100th in the ECHL.
Fast, 24, is a former second round draft pick (#60 overall) of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He split last season between the Cincinnati Cyclones and the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans. With the Cyclones Fast earned 27 points (9G, 18A) in 58 games and two points (1G, 1A) in 13 games with Rochester. The 6-0, 195-pound rearguard has played 190 professional games between the ECHL and AHL over three seasons. He was most productive in 2009-10 with the Alaska Aces as he posted 31 points (10G, 21A) in 46 games. Prior to turning pro, Fast played one and a half seasons at the University of Denver (58 games, 1G, 10A, 40 PIMs) and one and a half seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Tri-City Americans (97 games, 20G, 56A, 122 PIMs).
Caister, 26, is coming off of a rookie season that saw him share time with the South Carolina Stingrays and Victoria Salmon Kings in the ECHL. After eight games with the Stingrays, Caister headed west to Victoria where he put up 21 points (10G, 11A) in 41 games. The 6-2, 185-pounder from Mississauga, Ontario also led Salmon King defensemen with eight points (4G, 4A) in 12 playoff games as Victoria reached the Western Conference Final. Caister turned professional after four seasons of NCAA hockey split between Wayne State University and Saint Lawrence University. At Wayne State he earned 47 points (5G, 42A) in 73 games, and at Saint Lawrence he earned 27 points (8G, 19A) in 79 games.
“Cunningham, Fast, and Caister all bring a veteran presence to our defense corp this season, which is important. All three also play a solid, two-way game which will help us on the defensive and offensive side of the puck,” said Road Warriors head coach Dean Stork.
Wes Cunningham Player Profile
T.J. Fast Player Profile
Jeff Caister Player Profile
Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors open the season at the BI-LO Center on October 14 at 7:35 p.m. against the Wheeling Nailers. Don’t miss a minute of action with the Road Warriors this season! 2011-12 season ticket packages and half-season ticket packages are on sale right now. Fans can call 864-674-PUCK (7825) to speak to a Road Warriors ticket representative. Season tickets start as low as $300 and can be reserved with a deposit of just $100.
Related
Mitch Beck
Related posts
Top picks
WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at…
PRE-GAME: WOLF PACK CAN CLOSE OUT BRUINS TONIGHT
PRE-GAME REPORT: WOLF PACK LOOK TO CLOSE OUT SERIES AGAINST BRUINS AT XL CENTER By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack welcome the Providence Bruins to town tonight for Game 4 of their Atlantic Division Semifinals series. Thanks to…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK GET 3-PT NIGHT FROM PITLICK IN GM 1 WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – Tyler Pitlick picked up three points on Wednesday night as the Hartford Wolf Pack marched into the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and took Game 1 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack…
ORLANDO ENDS SWAMP RABBITS SEASON
Swamp Rabbits show life late, but Orlando pulls away to win the series BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC– Jaydon Dureau’s two-goal night spearheaded a 5-1 Orlando Solar Bears win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Tuesday to win the South Division Semifinals…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…