Falcons sign player

Falcons sign new defenseman

The Springfield Falcons in conjunction with the team's National Hockey League affiliate, the Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning, announced the signing of defenseman Brad Tiley. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Tiley returns to the Falcons after spending the previous two seasons with the Milwaukee Admirals. During the 2003-04 campaign, Tiley helped lead the Admirals to a 2003-04 Calder Cup Championship ranking second among all Milwaukee defensemen in scoring collecting 13 goals and 34 assists for 47 points in 75 games, including a team-leading 10 power play goals.

"One of the biggest problems we had last year was on the power play" said Falcons president and general manager Bruce Landon. "With all of the one goal losses we had, a big goal or a big play on the power play would have turned a lot of those games around. When Tampa Bay general manager Jay Feaster and I looked at available free agents it was one of the first things we wanted to try and address."

Prior to his time in Milwaukee, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound native of Markdale, Ontario spent three seasons with the Philadelphia Phantoms from 2000-2003. During the 2000-01 campaign, Tiley was named the Barry Ashbee Award winner presented annually to the Phantoms' top defenseman.

"Brad Tiley has consistently put up good offensive numbers from the blueline positions," said Landon. "He is a solid character veteran player who will also be good for our young defensemen. Both Tampa and Springfield are thrilled to have this former AHL All Star back in a Falcons' uniform.

During Tiley's first tour of duty with Springfield from 1997-2000, the blueliner earned the Eddie Shore Award as AHL's Outstanding Defenseman in 2000. During the 1999-00 season, Tiley ranked second among all AHL defensemen in scoring collecting 14 goals and 54 assist for 68 points in 80 games played. Tiley was also named a starter at the 2000 AHL All-Star Game.

Tiley was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fourth round (84th overall) in the 1991 National Hockey League Entry Draft. In 209 career games with the Falcons, Tiley has registered 33 goals and 120 assists for 153 points, ranking fifth on the team's all-time scoring list. During 14 professional seasons, Tiley has totaled 538 points in 969 career games. Tiley has played in 11 career NHL games, nine with the Phoenix Coyotes and two with the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Falcons will open their 12th American Hockey League season on Oct. 8 when they host the Portland Pirates at the newly renovated MassMutual Center. Season and group packages are now available, including Flex Packs and our new exclusive Club Seats. For more info, contact the Falcons team office at 739-3344.