The Colorado Avalanche have added three new players to the organization. The hockey club announced that goaltender Joe Cannata and forward Scott Kosmachuk each agreed to one-year contracts for the 2018-19 season and the Avalanche also signed forward Sheldon Dries to a one-year entry-level contract.
Joe Cannata:
Cannata went 21-5-2 with the Colorado Eagles last season, posting a 2.22 goals-against average and a league-best .931 save percentage. The 28-year old from Wakefield, Massachussets played a crucial role for the Eagles en route of a second consecutive Kelly Cup Championship with 1.913 save percentage in 24 playoff appearances.
Along with his time with the Eagles, Cannata also played in five games in 2017-18 for the San Antonio Rampage, where he went 3-0-1 with a 1.84 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.
Originally a sixth-round draft selection of the Vancouver Canucks in 2009, Cannata has made 121 career appearances in the American Hockey League, where he has a career record of 57-41-11.
During his time in the AHL, Cannata played for the Chicago Wolves, Utica Comets, Hershey Bears and San Antonio. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound goalkeeper owns a career 2.73 goals-against average and .903 save percentage in the AHL.
Prior to his professional days, Cannata played at Merrimack College from 2008-12 and won a bronze medal with the United States at the 2008 IIHF Under-18 World Championship.
Scott Kosmachuk:
Kosmachuk, 24, spent the 2017-18 season with the the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack. The Richmond Hill, Ontario, native was second on the team with 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists) in 70 games. For his AHL career, Kosmachuk has 134 points (59 goals, 75 assists) in 265 career contests with the Wolf Pack, Manitoba Moose and St. John’s IceCaps.
Kosmachuk was originally taken with the 70th pick of the 2012 NHL Draft by the Winnipeg Jets. The young forward made his NHL debut on March 8, 2016 vs. Nashville and has played in eight total NHL contests. Kosmachuk has not yet registered his first NHL goal but has three assists.
Sheldon Dries:
Dries recently completed his first professional season with the AHL’s Texas Stars. in 70 regular season games, Dries notched 30 points with 19 goals and 11 assists. The Macomb Township, Wisconsin, native also led all rookies in postseason goals with ten in 2017-18.
Before signing with Texas as an undrafted free agent, Dries played at Western Michigan University (2013-16). The 5-foot-9, 185-pound center scored 44 goals and dished out 40 assists in 148 collegiate appearances.
Dries also played two full seasons for the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League from 2011-13.
