April 4, 2018
Norfolk, VA. – A pair of Admirals were named a part of the ECHL All-Rookie Team the league announced on Wednesday afternoon. Forward Grant Besse and defenseman TJ Melancon were both named to the ECHL All-Rookie squad, becoming the first Admirals since the team rejoined the ECHL to receive the distinction.
Besse, who leads all rookies in goals (30) and points (62), averaged a point per game in his first professional season prior to signing a PTO with the Cleveland Monsters in late March. The forward’s 62 points not only leads all rookies, but ranks 12th best among all ECHL skaters.
Melancon, who is tied for first among all rookie defenders with 15 goals, has skated in 58 games for Norfolk. The defenseman ranks fourth on the team with 43 points (15g, 28a) and has six power play tallies. A native of Oshawa, ON, Melancon ranks second among all rookie blueliners in points.
Melancon and Besse are the first Admirals to be named to an All-Rookie Team since Sami Vatanen was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team after the conclusion of the 2012-13 season.
2017-18 ECHL All-Rookie Team
G – Mitch Gillam, Worcester Railers (40 gp, 22-14-2, 2.18 GAA, .924 save pct.)D – Aaron Irving, Kalamazoo Wings (57 gp, 15g, 32a, 47 pts., +6)D – TJ Melancon, Norfolk Admirals (58 gp, 15g, 28a, 43 pts., -9)F – Grant Besse, Norfolk Admirals (62 gp, 30g, 32a, 62 pts., -3)F – Justin Danforth, Cincinnati Cyclones (44 gp, 28g, 31a, 59 pts., +26)F – Reid Gardiner, Wheeling Nailers (56 gp, 28g, 26a, 54 pts., +11)
Norfolk wraps up the season with a pair of games against Reading this weekend, hosting the Royals on April 6, before hit the road to end the season in Reading on April 7.
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