Late last hockey season, when it became clear the Alaska Aces would miss the ECHL's Kelly Cup playoffs for the second straight season, coach Rob Murray auditioned several new players.
Murray added guys who had recently completed their college or major-junior careers, and aimed to evaluate whether they merited a return for the 2016-17 season.
Defenseman Ryan Trenz on Wednesday became the fourth such short-term Ace to get another shot with the club.
The Aces announced the signing of Trenz and forward Charlie Sampair, bringing to seven the number of players they have revealed for the upcoming season.
Trenz, 24, played seven games for the Aces after closing his career at Northern Michigan University. Trenz didn't score a point and earned a plus-minus rating of even in his short stint, and impressed Murray with his physical play. Plus, he's a right handed-shooting blueliner, which often seem in short supply.
The 6-foot, 190-pounder from St. Louis, Missouri, earned 3-6—9 totals in 37 games with Northern Michigan as a senior, and played 103 career games with the Wildcats.
He joins goaltender Lukas Hafner, forward Kenny Babinski and defenseman Nick Cecere as late additions last season who will return to the Aces.
Trenz still will be considered a rookie under ECHL rules. Five of Alaska's seven players announced as signed rate as rookies.
Sampair, 22, truly is a rookie — if he makes the club, he'll make his pro debut after four seasons at Minnesota-Duluth. Sampair was a speedy depth forward for the Bulldogs, earning 2-2—4 totals in 37 games last season and 5-9—14 totals in 102 career games. He entered Minnesota-Duluth fresh out of Minnesota high school hockey at Hill-Murray in Maplewood, a suburb of St. Paul.
Six of the seven players the Aces have announced are returners — Sampair is the only exception.
The most notable signing was veteran winger Peter Sivak, the first player announced for the upcoming season. He led the Aces in scoring last season, his second go-round with the club, and in 2014 helped Alaska to the third Kelly Cup in franchise history.