Nottingham Panthers have signed American forward Mitch Fossier for the remainder of the 2024/25 Elite League season.
The 27-year-old, who flew into the UK on Tuesday morning, joins the Panthers following extensive ECHL experience, where he has scored at over a point per game.
Fossier is capable of playing in all three forward positions and tallied 128 points (38+90) during four seasons at college in the NCAA at the University of Maine.
His performances in the NCAA attracted the attention of AHL side Rockford, and he signed his first professional contract with the IceHogs ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.
After a free-scoring season in Slovakia with HC Banska Bystrica, Fossier returned to North America with Maine Mariners in 2022/23, where he amassed 57 points (21+36) in 47 regular season matches.
He finished second in scoring for Maine and played on the same team as current Panthers forwards Tim Doherty and Reid Stefanson.
Last season, he scored 33 points for Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL, and during the past two years he has had AHL call-ups to Providence Bruins and San Jose Barracuda.
On Fossier’s arrival, Nottingham Panthers head coach Danny Stewart said: “The signing of Mitch will add to offence on the team.
“He’s a quality player in all three zones and will contribute five-on-five and on our powerplay.
“We are hoping this move will bring us more firepower at a time where we haven’t scored consistently enough to close-out and win games.”
Panthers CEO Omar Pacha said: “We are thrilled to have Mitch join us here in Nottingham.
“Mitch had prior commitments in North America, so we were able to reach a deal a number of weeks ago that he would join the club once those had been fulfilled.
“We had intended for Mitch to be an extra addition to the roster, so with the departure of Adam Berg, we will still be looking at adding a further player to the roster in the near future.”
Fossier will wear the #18 jersey for the Panthers.
The club say he will go into contention to make his debut in this weekend’s home double-header against Belfast Giants and Manchester Storm.
Featured photo credit: Nottingham Panthers
