Mariners re-sign Kallen

PORTLAND, Maine – Defenseman Nate Kallen will return for his third season with the Maine Mariners. The 2021-22 season was Kallen’s first full campaign in the ECHL, although he has been a Mariner since early 2020.

Originally from San Diego, California, Kallen first came to the Mariners out of Ferris State University late in the 2019-20 season. Kallen was named to the program’s All-Decade Team, which was revealed in December of 2019, becoming the only active player to be honored. In 146 career games at Ferris State, Kallen put up 64 points (20g-44a) and served as team captain in his senior season.

Kallen joined the Mariners in March of 2020, just weeks before the pandemic shut down the season and appeared in three games without registering a point. He was slated to return for 2020-21, but when the Mariners did not have a season, he signed with the Rapid City Rush. Kallen played in four games for the Rush before heading to the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Macon Mayhem, where he spent the remainder of the season.

Returning to the Mariners for 2021-22, Kallen played in 46 regular-season games and all six playoff contests. He scored his first ECHL goal at Adirondack on Nov. 27 and totaled 22 points (6g-16a).