Mele Mania! Tricks ink Tom Mele
The Danbury Hat Tricks officially have their first brotherly duo in franchise history. Tom Mele, brother of recently re-signed player/coach Steve Mele, has signed a contract to join the Hat Tricks for the 2020-21 season.
Mele comes to Danbury with a superb hockey resume. After graduating American International College in 2011, where he played alongside Steve at the D-I level, Mele joined the Fort Wayne Komets in the CHL. He then spent seven seasons at the ECHL level, suiting up for the Alaska Aces, Tulsa Oilers, Norfolk Admirals, Cincinnati Cyclones, Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Kalamazoo Wings and Wichita Thunder. Mele registered 158 points in 333 career games at the ECHL level.
Mele even earned a call-up to the AHL in 2014-15 with the Oklahoma City Barons, affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers. Most recently, he spent 14 games with the Diables Rouges de Briançon in France.
“Tom is another piece of our puzzle that we are excited to add," commented head coach Anthony Bohn. “The amount of experience he brings on and off the ice and his leadership skills are only going to benefit everyone within our organization."
The Mele brothers have not played alongside each other since 2015-16, when Steve was promoted to the ECHL's Norfolk Admirals from the SPHL.