PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Plymouth State University men's ice hockey senior Ethan Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Newfoundland) has signed a professional contract with the Fayetteville Marksmen of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) late last week.
 
Stuckless is set to make his professional debut on Wednesday (Mar. 12) when the Marksmen host the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs at Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C.
 
The Marksmen currently sit in a tie for fifth place in the ten-team SPHL, with the top eight teams advancing to the postseason. Fayetteville has 50 points, just one point behind the Birmingham Bulls. The league's top three teams have already secured postseason berths.
 
Now in its 21st season, the SPHL is the fourth-highest level of professional ice hockey in North America. The league, headquartered in Huntersville, N.C., consists of teams based in Pelham, Ala., Evansville, Ind., Huntsville, Ala., Knoxville, Tenn., Macon, Ga., Pensacola, Fla., Peoria, Ill., Moline, Ill., Roanoke, Va., and Fayetteville.
 
Stuckless, a 6-0 forward, served as a captain for the Panthers this season, finishing with 28 points on 15 goals and 13 assists. He boasted a +17 rating while recording five power play goals, one short-handed goal, and one game-winner. He was also outstanding in the faceoff circle, winning 135 of 229 draws (58.9%).
 
A milestone performer, Stuckless became the 18th player in program history to reach the 100-point threshold, finishing his career with 101 points to tie for 15th-place on PSU's all-time scoring list.
 
Plymouth State secured its eighth-straight MASCAC regular season title but was upset in the MASCAC Tournament quarterfinals, closing the season with a 19-7-0 record.