The Chicago Wolves announced that defenseman Josh Atkinson and goaltender C.J. Motte have signed professional tryout contracts with the club.
Both come to the Wolves from the ECHL. The 24-year-old Atkinson has been skating for the Atlanta Gladiators while the 25-year-old Motte has been backstopping the Quad City Mallards.
This season, Motte has appeared in 29 games and amassed a 17-10-0 record along with a 2.53 goals-against average and .919 save percentage. He also dressed for two AHL games with the Charlotte Checkers, posting a 1-0-0 record, .976 save percentage and 0.75 goals-against average.
Atkinson has appeared in 50 games and collected 39 points (8G, 31A) this season for Atlanta as part of his first full professional campaign.
Prior to the 2016-17 season, Atkinson skated four years at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and collected 48 points (8G, 40A) through 144 games. Atkinson made his pro debut at the end of the 2015-16 season with the Gladiators and appeared in five games.
Motte, whose younger brother, Tyler, plays for the Rockford IceHogs, concluded a four-year collegiate career with Ferris State University in 2015. He made his professional debut the same year, backstopping the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) in four contests.
The St. Clair, Michigan, native played with the Elmira Jackals (ECHL) in 2015-16. Motte collected a 15-22-2 record along with a 2.83 goals-against average and .910 save percentage through 42 games.
Atkinson, Motte and center Brad Malone – loaned to the Wolves by the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 28 – join Chicago as it continues a six-game homestand on Saturday, March 4, against the reigning Calder Cup champion Cleveland Monsters. Puck drop for American Girl Night is set for 7 p.m., and the first 5,000 children inside Allstate Arena receive a doll outfit. The contest will be broadcast on CW50 in the Chicago area. For complete ticket or schedule information, visit ChicagoWolves.com.
