BEARS RETURN GAZLEY TO READING

April 22, 2014

HERSHEY, Pa. – The Hershey Bears announced today that the club has returned forward Dustin Gazley to the ECHL’s Reading Royals.  The announcement was made by Bears President/GM Doug Yingst.
 
Gazley, 25, appeared in 42 games with the Bears, recording 15 points (eight goals, seven assists).  Four of his eight goals were game-winning tallies, a statistic which tied for second among his teammates.  Prior to joining Hershey in December, Gazley put up 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 25 games with Reading.  He is expected to join the Royals for Game Three of the ECHL’s Eastern Conference Quarterfinals – a series being played against the Fort Wayne Komets and tied at one game each – as the Bears’ ECHL affiliate has begun its defense of the 2013 Kelly Cup Championship.
 
The 5-9, 154-pound native of Novi, Michigan began 2012-13 with the ECHL’s Elmira Jackals and piled up 49 points (14 goals, 35 assists) in just 37 games played, holding the league scoring lead at the time of his first AHL recall.  He went on to record nine points (four goals, five assists) in 29 games with the AHL’s Binghamton Senators.
 
Gazley became the fifth rookie in ECHL history to lead the league in scoring when he posted 85 points (25 goals, 60 assists) in all 72 regular-season games with Elmira in 2011-12.  Prior to turning pro, Gazley played four years of collegiate hockey with Michigan State University (CCHA), where he totaled 73 points (30 goals, 43 assists) in 153 career games.
 
Gazley was signed by Hershey to a one-year contract on August 7, 2013.