The Norfolk Admirals have traded defenseman Justin Fletcher to the Peoria Rivermen for future considerations, it was announced today.
Fletcher, 25, is a 5-foot-11, 185-pound rookie defenseman from Maryville, Ill. He split last season between the Admirals and Rockford IceHogs. In 39 games with Norfolk, Fletcher had one goal and four assists with 37 penalty minutes. In 20 regular season games with Rockford, he had four goals and seven assists with 43 penalty minutes. He also added an assist in 11 Calder Cup Playoff games for the IceHogs.
Fletcher made his professional debut in 2006-07 on an Amateur Tryout Contract with the Springfield Falcons, notching three goals and one assist with four penalty minutes in ten games. In 69 career American Hockey League games between Springfield, Norfolk and Rockford, Fletcher has eight goals and 12 assists with 84 penalty minutes.
Fletcher originally signed a one-year deal with the Admirals’ NHL parent club, the Tampa Bay Lightning, on May 7, 2007. Prior to joining the Falcons, the undrafted blueliner finished his collegiate career with St. Cloud State University in 2006-07.
In his collegiate career, Fletcher amassed 26 goals and 60 assists for 86 points in 143 games over four seasons. He is St. Cloud State’s third-highest scoring defenseman of all time and also holds the school’s career record for most power play goals by a defenseman.
