Former All-Star Defenceman is back after 4 years away
Gleason Fournier is officially a Devil once again.
The former EIHL Defenceman of the Year inked a deal a few weeks ago to stay in Cardiff for at least the next two years.
Fournier originally joined the Devils midway through the 2015-16 season, moving from the Alaska Aces of the ECHL in North America. Over the next 4 seasons as a Devil, he grew into one of the best defencemen in the history of the team.
In 2016-17 he scored 13 goals and 33 assists in 69 games, winning the league and the Challenge Cup along the way. The following year, Fournier scored 16 goals and 42 assists in 68 games while the Devils repeated as league champions and added their first playoff title in 19 years.
His best season statistically as a Devil came in 2018-19 when he led all EIHL defencemen in goals, assists and points putting up 27 goals and 54 assists for 81 points in 72 games. He was voted onto the EIHL’s First All-Star Team and was picked as the EIHL Defenceman of the Year. The Devils also won their second straight Playoff Championship on the game winning goal he scored with an incredible end-to-end rush in the dying minutes of the game.
He finished his first stint with the Devils in 2019-20, the season cut short by Covid, playing in 59 games, scoring 15 goals and 41 assists for 56 points. He also was selected onto the EIHL’s First All-Star Team for the second season in a row.
He left the Devils ahead of the 2020-21 season after finding out that the EIHL would not be playing due to the pandemic, joining HC Bolzano in the IceHL. The following season, he moved to Fehervar AV19 in the same league where he spent the last 3 seasons.
His return the Devils was always something that he planned for; Fournier explained:
“I always knew I wanted to come back here eventually, and I am happy that the team wanted me back and we could make it happen.
“I am looking forward to playing in front of the fans again, I have missed them, the atmosphere here and being a Devil. I can’t wait to get started.”
