On Monday August 24th, the Maine Mariners re-signed their leading scorer, American forward, Alex Kile. Kile led the team in scoring during the 2019-20 regular season. He did so, scoring 51 points. This will be the left-winger’s third season playing with the Mariners hockey club.
Kile, a left-handed shooter, spent three seasons in collegiate hockey where he skated with the Michigan Wolverines. He did so from 2013 until his senior year in 2017. Speaking of which, that would be when he was named as team captain.
He then made his pro debut with the Rochester Americans of the AHL. The winger spent time with the Cyclones in 2017-18 and joined Maine the following season. He signed with the team as a free agent back in June of 2018.
In doing so, Kile became the first signed player in Mariners history. During his first season with the hockey club, Kile only played 22 games, having also split time between three AHL teams. (Utica, Hartford and Laval). In a statement from the left-handed shooter upon signing his contract on Monday afternoon, he said, he’s “really looking forward to being back in Portland. I feel like it’s a top destination in the ECHL. I also believe this will be our best season yet with the players we have returning and the talent we have coming in.”
As a Mariner, Kile has 71 points, third in franchise history behind Terrence Wallin and Michael McNicholas. In a statement from head coach Riley Armstrong with regards to the forward staying put with the Mariners, he said, “I think last year he kind of established himself as an offensive threat. Just being in one spot, he really was able to establish himself as that point producer. I think heading into this year now I think he’s going to have more chances with the AHL calling again, it’s just going to be up to him what the number one fit is for Alex Kile.”
The anticipated season start for the ECHL is the fourth of December. Stay safe and stay healthy and hopefully we’ll see the Mariners make waves.