ITHACA, N.Y. — Senior goaltender Mitch Gillam has signed an amateur tryout contract to play the remainder of the 2016-17 season with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears, the team announced Tuesday afternoon.
A three-year starter for the Big Red, Gillam posted a 47-28-17 record, 2.15 goals against average and .918 save percentage over 97 games. He ended his career on East Hill with 11 shutouts — the fourth-most for a Cornell goalie in the program’s celebrated history.
Gillam was named to the All-Ivy League second team in both his sophomore (2014-15) and senior seasons (2016-2017), and he was given the team’s Nicky Bawlf Award for most valuable player after his junior campaign (2015-16). He had one of the most memorable collegiate debuts imaginable, becoming just the third Division I goalie in history to shoot a puck into the opposing net for a goal Nov. 26, 2013 against Niagara. Never shy with the puck, Gillam also had four assists in his collegiate career.
Originally from Peterborough, Ontario, Gillam has joined the Solar Bears in Glens Falls and is eligible to play in the team’s game tonight against the Adirondack Thunder.
Gillam is the second member of this year’s senior class to sign on with a professional team, with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins announcing the addition of defenseman Patrick McCarron earlier this afternoon.
