Cleveland Monsters Sign Toledo Walleye Defenseman Grant Gabriele to PTO
On November 7, 2024, the Cleveland Monsters announced the signing of Toledo Walleye defenseman Grant Gabriele to a professional tryout (PTO) contract. In seven games with the Walleye this season, Gabriele posted 2-1-3 with a +3 rating. Last season, he was named the ECHL’s ‘Top Performer’ alongside forward Maxim Andreyev after posting a +34.
According to the guys at the Hockeytown West Podcast, a podcast covering the Walleye and Grand Rapids Griffins, Gabriele is a “solid two way defender that can produce offensively and is defensively responsible. Solid addition for Cleveland. He’s been playing with Jalen Smereck so far this season!”
A 6’2”, 196 lb. right-shooting native of Brighton, MI, Gabriele, 27, posted a -4 rating in seven career AHL appearances for the Providence Bruins, Rochester Americans, and Hartford Wolf Pack spanning parts of two seasons from 2021-22 and 2023-24. In 114 career ECHL appearances for the Maine Mariners and Toledo spanning parts of three seasons from 2022-25, Gabriele registered 12-31-43 with 22 penalty minutes and a +42 rating.
Prior to his professional career, Gabriele logged 13-37-50 with 16 penalty minutes in 124 career NCAA appearances for Ohio State University spanning parts of five seasons from 2017-22. In 2018-19, Gabriele helped the Buckeyes claim the Big Ten Regular-Season Championship and in 2021-22, he claimed the Big Ten’s Sportsmanship Award.
