Atlanta Glads resign Hall, and Forney

The Atlanta Gladiators announced the re-signing of 28-year-old defensemen from Schaumburg Rob Hall and 25-year-old defenseman from Thief River Falls, Minnesota Chris Forney for the 2020-2021 ECHL season today.

“Rob Hall is a versatile, two-way defenseman that played some forward for us last year,” said Gladiators head coach Jeff Pyle. “He is a great teammate and an amazing presence in the locker room. Rob works hard and competes for every puck. I am looking for a big year from him.”

Coach Pyle said that Chris Forney was a “big part of why we were so good in the defensive zone last year.” The Gladiators coach sees Forney’s role growing in the upcoming here, saying the defenseman “will be expected to take a big leadership role this year.”

Rob outlined his excitement to re-join the team, saying “the organization is second to none in treating its players well. It is an honor to come back to this team for another year.” Hall also cited close relationships, noting his previous experience with Coach Pyle in Evansville and “making life-long friends in my first season here.” Like most returning players, he is excited to see how the team can kick off the campaign. “The last couple months of last season is when we clicked as a whole unit. It was a joy coming to the rink each day.”

Chris pointed out some of the main reasons he is returning to Atlanta, noting “how well the organization is run and how much support we get from our fans. Coach Pyle has done a great job of building a championship-caliber team, and I am excited to be a part of it.”

“Our group of defensemen played a big role in the momentum built at the end of last season,” said Atlanta team president Jerry James. “Both Rob and Chris were important contributors in that group. We are excited to welcome them both back and build continuity on our roster.”

Stay tuned for updates on the Atlanta Gladiators 2020-2021 ECHL regular season. Learn more about the Infinite Energy Arena’s guidelines and procedures here. 

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