The Johnstown Tomahawks and Head Coach Mike Letizia announced the tender signing of John Gelatt. Gelatt was a member of the North Jersey Avalanche U18 program as well as the leading scorer for the Trinity-Pawling prep program out of New York.
While with the Avalanche, the 2001 born native of Middletown, New Jersey racked up 17 goals and 12 assists for 29 points in 20 games within AYHL play and added another 5 points in 9 games during the BEAST series. Additionally, during his prep school season with Trinity-Pawling, Gelatt produced 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points in 25 games.
“We tendered John in late February and added him to our roster as part of the Roster Expansion program,” said Letizia. “We were hoping he would be able to join us after his seasons with the Avs and T-P concluded. Unfortunately, with everything that went on, he could not help his team compete for a National Championship, and could not help us in our pursuit of a Robertson Cup as the 19-20 season was cut short.”
A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft
“John is a well-rounded hard-nosed player that has a load of skill as well,” mentioned Letizia. “He has a nose for the net, great ice awareness, and wins his battles. John has the ability to deliver contact, but also is great at playing through contact. The combination of skill and grit that John possesses is the valuable asset that we regard highly in Johnstown.”
The Tomahawks are coming off a shortened season finishing with a record of 34-13-2-2 and had clinched a playoff spot when the season was shut down. In 2018-2019, Johnstown captured the NAHL Regular Season championship, and appeared in the Robertson Cup Final 4 Championship series.