Swamp Rabbits acquire Pelech, Howe

Greenville, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits announced that the club has acquired forwards Michael Pelech and Travis Howe from the Utah Grizzlies in exchange for the rights to forward Caleb Herbert.   Pelech, 28, has played over 600 professional hockey games including 570 ECHL contests that span his nine-year career. The veteran skater has collected 423 points (135g-288a) and 985 penalty minutes in the ECHL. Last season with Utah, Pelech ranked third on the team with 49 points (18g-31a) and 114 penalty minutes. He also brings 52 postseason appearances with 33 points (12g-21a).  The Toronto, Ontario native turned pro in 2009 and has skated for 12 different organizations, playing the majority of his career in Utah. Pelech ranks fifth in Grizzlies history with 189 points and 72 goals. The He has been named an alternate captain twice in his career, for Cincinnati in 2012-13 and also in Norfolk during the 2015-16 season. 

Howe, 24, has played two full ECHL seasons for the Grizzlies and ranked among the top eight in the ECHL in penalty minutes both seasons. He has played 94 ECHL games, earning 14 points (7g-7a) and 429 penalty minutes. The enforcer played for the Macon Mayhem in the 2015-16 season in the Southern Professional Hockey League and was fifth in the league in penalty minutes. 

The Hull, Massachusetts native began his career in the Federal Hockey League with the Berlin River Drivers before earning a call up to the SPHL’s Mississippi River Kings. Before turning pro, he skated with the Corpus Christi Ice Rays and led the North American Hockey League with 10 points (2g-7a) and 246 penalty minutes in 50.