ATLANTA GLADIATORS RELEASE | BESINGER INTRODUCES HIMSELF TO GLADIATOR FANS

BEVERLY, Mass. — Former Endicott men's ice hockey student-athlete Tommy Besinger '19 (Milton, Mass.) has signed a professional contract with the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL.

Besinger's deal comes on the heels of a 35-point campaign (20 goals/15 assists) in France's Synerglace Ligue Magnus for Scorpions de Mulhouse in 2019. 

Besinger, who is the all-time points per game leader in program history (1.46 ppg, 71 games, 33g, 71a, 104p), has now inked deals in three different professional hockey leagues (SPHL, France, ECHL).

Atlanta Gladiators' head coach Jeff Pyle described Besinger as a "hard-working, two-way player that can score" when asked about adding Besinger to the roster. He also referenced Besinger's record as a "top scorer at Endicott College with great vision and hands and would be a good fit for our system."

At the time of his graduation from Endicott, Besinger ranked third all-time in points, fifth in goals, sixth in goals per game (0.46), tied for second in game-winning goals (6), tied for third in power play goals, second all-time in assists, and first overall in assists per game (1.00), along with his points per game record which still stands.

Besinger's name is still firmly supplanted in the record books in the categories previously mentioned. As of now, Besinger ranks fourth in points, first in points per game, sixth in goals, eighth in goals per game, second in game-winning goals, fourth in power play goals, third in assists, and first in assists per game.

Meanwhile, Endicott men's ice hockey head coach R.J. Tolan's quote from Besinger's first-ever pro signing with the Evansville Thunderbolts still rings true.

"The most loyal and fierce competitor I've had the privilege to coach in a long time," said Tolan. "Tommy will find a way to be successful in hockey and beyond. I'm so excited to have him represent Endicott College in professional hockey."

NOTES

• Endicott's first NCAA varsity season was in 2015-16.
• The Gulls have won two Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) championships, including the first in conference history.
• Endicott has advanced as far as the NCAA Quarterfinals in its brief five-year history as a program.
• The Gulls have produced eight professional hockey players in program history.
• The highest professional level of hockey reached by an Endicott student-athlete is the American Hockey League (Logan Day, Bakersfield Condors).

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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)

(quotes courtesy of the Atlanta Gladiators)