Peoria Rivermen get a high-powered veteran winger, while another announces retirement

PEORIA — The Peoria Rivermen probably thought they were preparing for life after Mike Gelatt in the 2026-27 SPHL season.

But the big, skilled veteran winger became a late returnee Tuesday when he arrived from the ECHL to sign with the Rivermen for a fifth season.

A 6-foot-2, 210-pound right wing, Gelatt is a top six forward in the SPHL, and when healthy and on the ice creates a challenge for opponents to stop in the attacking zone.

"Mike is one of our older guys, you lean on him for leadership, he wants to play the Rivermen way and win games and help his teammates be better," Rivermen head coach Jean-Guy Trudel said. "Any day Mike Gelatt walks into your locker room is a good day. And this is a good day. He understands our culture, he's part of our history and he knows what the goals are here."

Gelatt, 29, is from Middletown, N.J., and was in ECHL Trenton's camp this fall with his younger brother, John.

Mike Gelatt knows that class-AA level well, spending 24 games in the ECHL last season on a call-up with Utah.

He's been an elite player with the Rivermen, playing 90 regular-season games in parts of four seasons, with 38 goals, 43 assists and a +38 rating.

He has played another 28 games for Peoria in SPHL postseason, with seven goals and 14 assists.

Gelatt played junior hockey in the NAHL for parts of three seasons with New Jersey and Wilkes-Barre.

He went on to a college career, playing 63 games with 20 goals and 21 assists for NCAA Div.-III Skidmore College.

He finished his collegiate career with a fifth season, at University of Wisconsin-River Falls, in 2022-23, before turning pro with the Rivermen in the spring.

In 2023-24, his first full pro season, he helped the Rivermen win the SPHL President's Cup championship, netting 11 goals and 16 assists in just 34 games.

The Rivermen have signed rookie forward Everett Pietila .

The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder from Howell, Mich., spent the last two seasons playing NCAA Div.-I hockey for Lake Superior State.

He spent two seasons before that playing junior hockey in the NAHL with Wisconsin.

Fast fact: He is one of nine children in his family.

Popular Rivermen winger Jordan Ernst has announced his retirement from pro hockey, on social media. The popular Rivermen star played 214 regular-season games, with 106 goals, in parts of six seasons. He poured on another 17 goals in 38 playoff games, and was part of the Rivermen President's Cup championship teams in the SPHL in 2021-22 and 2023.24. … The Rivermen released two players from their camp roster Tuesday, including left wing Bohdan Zinchenko and forward Joowon "Timothy" Kim .

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports editor, and sports columnist. Reach him via email at deminian@pjstar.com or follow him on X @icetimecleve.