Estero, FL - Florida Everblades president & general manager Craig Brush, along with head coach Malcolm Cameron announced today that the team has signed forward Mike McLean to a contract for the 2008-09 season.
McLean was acquired by the Everblades in trade with Elmira in November of last season and finished out 2007-08 by scoring 22 points (9g, 13a) in 54 regular season games. McLean also saw action in two Kelly Cup Playoff games.
The 22-year old began the 2007-08 campaign by playing in six games with the Jackals where he registered two assists and two penalty minutes. Last season was McLean's first full professional season after making his professional debut during the playoffs with the Kalamazoo Wings of the now defunct United Hockey League in 2006-07.
"Bringing Mike back to our club was high on our list this off-season." Brush said. "Mike is a hard-working player who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. Just like Jarret Lukin, other players feed off his intensity, and that is something we want on this team."
Prior to turning pro, the Oshawa, Ontario native spent four seasons at the junior level in the Ontario Hockey League with Oshawa and Guelph. His best junior season came in 2006-07 when he notched a career-high 58 points (29g, 29a) as the captain of the Guelph Storm. Overall during his junior career in the OHL McLean tallied 106 points (46g, 60a) in 239 games.
