Gladiators Sign Former Vernon Viper Elser:

The East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) Gwinnett Gladiators have signed former Vernon Vipers forward Brian Elser. Elser recently signed with the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) Huntsville Havoc on December 5th 2013. In five games with the Havoc Elser recorded (1-goal-4-assists-5-points). Elser is joining his third team this season and sixth team in the last two years.

Elser started the season with the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) Mississippi Surge signing on November 1st 2013 playing in just six games collecting (1-goal-3-assists-4-points) before being waived on November 22nd 2013.
 
Elser played with four teams last season. Started the 2012-13 season with the Southern Professional League's (SPHL) Fayetteville FireAntz playing in 22 games collecting (9-8-17) before being waived on March 5th 2013. While playing with the FireAntz Elser was called up to the East Coast Hockey League's (ECHL) Gwinnett Gladiators signing a one game contract on January, 15th 2013 before returning to Fayetteville after playing just one game. Elser then signed with the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) South Carolina Stingrays on February, 6th 2013 before being released on February, 27th 2013. In seven games with the Stingrays Elser collected (1-1-2). Elser then signed with the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) Elmira Jackals on March 6th 2013 before being released on March 22nd 2013. In four games with the Jackals Elser had just one assist.

The Vipers scouted Elser who was 18 at the time, at the U.S. Midget championships in Buffalo. Elser attended the 2008-2009 Vipers training camp making the Vipers opening day roster before being traded on September, 12th 2008 to the AJHL Drayton Valley Thunder for future considerations (cash) and a player to be named next year. In two games with the Vipers Elser collected one assist. Rumor was Elser didnt report to the Thunder and his rights were given back to Vernon. On August, 7th 2009 the Vipers traded Elser and future considerations to Victoria for Jonathan Milhouse.

Brian Elser's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=47131

This is posted on the Gladiators website:

Elser Returns to Gwinnett

Thursday, December 19, 2013

DULUTH, Ga. - The Gwinnett Gladitators announced that the team signed forward Brian Elser to an ECHL contract on Thursday. Elser, 24, has been with the Gladiators organization on two separate occasions in the past year. He played in one game for Gwinnett last season, and was also a part of the team’s training camp before this season. Elser spent most of last season with the Fayetteville FireAntz of the Southern Professional Hockey League, posting nearly a point per game, with 12 goals and 10 assists in 29 contests.

The Hopewell Junction, NY-native also played in 11 other ECHL games with the South Carolina Stingrays and Elmira Jackals last season, and has since played for the Mississippi Surge and Huntsville Havoc of the SPHL this year. Prior to his pro career, Elser played in 47 games over two seasons with Manhattanville College, scoring 19 goals and registering 13 assists.

The Gladiators are members of the ECHL, the nation’s premier "AA" hockey league and are affiliated with the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL. All home games are played at the 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.

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