Walleye sign two veteran forwards to roster
9/24/2013The Toledo Walleye added instant experience to its roster today, signing two veteran forwards.
The organization agreed to terms with forwards John Vigilante and Joey Sides.
Vigilante, 28, spent the last three seasons overseas playing in Europe. Sides, 27, played for the Colorado Eagles of the ECHL last season.
Vigilante, a native of Dearborn, Mich., collected 26 points (nine goals and 17 assists) in 52 games last year while playing with Oskarshamn in Sweden.
Prior to heading to Europe, Vigilante appeared in 290 games over four season in the American Hockey League with Milwaukee, Syracuse, Quad City, and Grand Rapids. His AHL totals include 48 goals and 80 assists. Viglante's last AHL season was 2009-10 with Grand Rapids when the 6-foot, 200 pound forward collected 11 goals and 14 assists in 79 contests.
“John is an experienced, proven producer at many levels,” Walleye coach Nick Vitucci said. “He will bring a consistent veteran presence and scoring to our team.”
Sides, a native of Sun Valley, Idaho, posted 21 goals and 19 assists in 44 contests with Colorado last season. In 2011-12, he appeared in 29 games for the Eagles and collected a point per game with 29 points (15 G, 14 A).
“Joey has a scorer's touch,” Vitucci said. “The last two years he has proven to be an excellent finisher at our level. Teams will have to game plan to stop his scoring.”