

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indy Fuel announced on Tuesday that defenseman Samuel Thibault would be the first player to return to Indy for the 2019-20 season.

Thibault, 23, joined Indy last year in January in a three-team trade with the Toledo Walleye and the Atlanta Gladiators. The Fuel initially sent forward Avery Peterson to Atlanta for future considerations. Thibault fulfilled those considerations after he was dealt to Atlanta by Toledo. In the same trade, Daniel Leavens was sent to the Gladiators for defenseman Ben Danford.

Last season, Thibault racked up eight points, including his first two professional goals in a 25-game stint with Indy. Before joining the Fuel, the defenseman participated in 38 games with the Walleye, recording eight assists.

The Quebec native began his professional career in 2017-18 with the Wichita Thunder, tallying nine assists and a +10 rating in 43 games. In that same season, Thibault was called up the AHL, where he played in two games with the Bakersfield Condors.

During his tenure with the Thunder, Thibault also participated in four of the Thunder’s six playoff games, where he tallied two assists and an even rating in that span.

Before turning pro, Thibault spent three years in the QMJHL with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. He recorded ten goals, 50 points, 284 penalty minutes, and a +5 rating in 207 games in the junior league. In his second season with the Drakkar, he was named an assistant captain, and in his final year, he was named captain of the club.

Thibault now joins fellow defenseman Tim Shoup and forward Brendan Warren as the only players under contract for the Fuel for the 2019-20 season.

Keep track of all the signings and movement during the 2019 ECHL offseason by visiting our ECHL Transactions page!

