NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk Admirals have signed forward Matt Fornataro to a one-year American Hockey League Standard Player’s Contract, Admirals General Manager Julien BriseBois announced today.
Fornataro, 25, a 6-foot-0, 190-pound forward from Calgary, Alberta, appeared in 45 games for the Admirals last season, scoring 11 goals and 18 points. He also appeared in one game with the Houston Aeros to start the season and was scoreless. Despite appearing in only 46 AHL games last season, Fornataro’s 11 goals were an AHL career high.
Fornataro originally signed a Professional Tryout Contract with Norfolk on January 2. He then signed an AHL Standard Player’s Contract with the Admirals on February 3. The second-year pro has appeared in 98 career AHL games between Norfolk, Houston, the Worcester Sharks and the Syracuse Crunch, scoring 22 goals and 44 points.
Last season, Fornataro also appeared with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. In 33 games, he had 18 goals and 36 points, leading the Stingrays in both categories at the time he signed with the Admirals. He also ranked fifth in ECHL points and was tied for second in goals when signed by Norfolk. In 54 career ECHL games between the Stingrays and Phoenix RoadRunners, Fornataro has 28 goals and 61 points.
Fornataro appeared in 156 games in a four-year collegiate hockey career with the University of New Hampshire scoring 44 goals and 118 points.
Don’t miss a minute of Admirals action by purchasing your 2010-11 season tickets today. Stop by the Admirals’ Administrative Offices at Scope, call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or visit norfolkadmirals.com anytime!
