On Tuesday August 25th, the Jacksonville Icemen announced the signing of Croatian American forward Nathan Perkovich. This will be his first season with the Jacksonville Icemen and third in the league. During the 2019-20 season, Perkovich tallied 46 points in 58 games with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. He reached career high totals in goals, assists and points during the 2019-20 season.
The 6’5, 215-pound right winger played in 117 games in the ECHL combined between Florida and Greenville. During this time, he amassed 41 goals along with 39 assists for a total of 80 points. He also added a +15 rating as well as 165 penalty minutes.
Perkovich, 34, spent seven years in the KHL, playing for Zagreb Medvescak before returning to the states. Prior to his stint in the KHL, the Canton, Michigan native played three seasons in the AHL. He did so between 2009 and 2012 with the Albany and Lowell Devils. Nathan was an eighth-round draft pick of the New Jersey Devils back in 2004.
When asked about joining the Icemen upon signing his contract on Tuesday afternoon, Perkovich said, “Every game that I’ve played against them (the Icemen) in the past couple of years, they bring it every night. I’d really like to be a part of a team like that.”
Both his size and experience are a welcomed addition to the hockey club in Jacksonville. With a home located in south Florida, Nathan, along with his wife and three-year-old, are excited to be close to home while playing in Jacksonville. They also want to check out a Jaguars football game, whenever the virus allows for fans to return.
So far this offseason, the Icemen have already signed forward Abbott Girduckis (Toledo) and defensemen Jarod Hilderman (University of Minnesota-Duluth), while resigning forwards Adam Dauda, Ian McKinnon and All-Star Brendan Warren. Jacksonville also acquired defenseman Kevin McKernan from Kansas City in exchange for the rights to forward Pierre-Luc Mercier. This recent transaction brings Jacksonville’s total up to seven players signed for next season.