BEARS SIGN RILEY GILL, TYLER RUEGSEGGER TO AHL DEALS

August 6, 2013

HERSHEY, Pa. – The Hershey Bears announced today that the club has signed goaltender Riley Gill and forward Tyler Ruegsegger to American Hockey League contracts for the 2013-14 season.  The announcement was made by Bears President/GM Doug Yingst.
 
Gill, 28, spent most of the 2012-13 season with the SPHL’s Louisiana IceGators.  Despite joining the Bears’ ECHL affiliate Reading Royals in February, Gill finished the season as the SPHL leader in shutouts (five) and tied for the league lead in victories (25).
 
The 6-1, 215-pound native of Northfield, Minnesota made an immediate impact in Reading.  In 14 appearances in the Royals net, Gill finished with a mark of 10-3-1 and three shutouts, and became the first Royals goaltender to earn Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks.  He was also selected as the Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Month of March. 
 
The Royals later captured the franchise’s first Kelly Cup championship behind Gill, who went on to earn the ECHL Playoff MVP honor after posting a 13-3-1 playoff mark and four shutouts.
 
Prior to turning pro, Gill played four years of collegiate hockey at Western Michigan University (CCHA).
 
Ruegsegger, 25, spent the 2012-13 season with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat.  In 67 games, he recorded 18 points (11 goals, seven assists) while finishing tied for fifth on the squad in goal scoring.
 
The 6-0, 200-pound native of Lakewood, Colorado has appeared in a total of 87 AHL games with Abbotsford and Bridgeport.
 
Ruegsegger also played two seasons in the ECHL with the Utah Grizzlies (2010-11) and Alaska Aces (2010-11, 2011-12), and was a member of the Aces’ 2011 Kelly Cup Championship team.
 
Prior to turning pro, Ruegsegger had a successful four-year career at the University of Denver (WCHA).  He racked up 123 points (56 goals, 67 assists) in 147 games for the Pioneers, earning Second All-Star Team honors in his senior season. 
 
In 2007-08, Ruegsegger was a member of Team USA at the World Junior Championships, as well as Denver’s WCHA Championship team.  He was originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the sixth round (166^th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
 
Season tickets for the 2013-14 Hershey Bears regular season are on sale now by calling (717) 508-BEAR.  Many different flexible plans are available and start as low as $165.