Rockers Sign Nick Papandrea and Ryan Rotondi, Release Devon Fields

As the FPHL season heads towards the final month of play, the Motor City Rockers are making moves today with the signing of defensemen Nick Papandrea and Ryan Rotondi. To make room for the new additions to the blueline, the team released Devon Fields on waivers. 

Papandrea comes home to join the Rock Show after spending time with three other FPHL teams this season, as well as a brief stint with the Quad City Storm of the SPHL. The Chesterfield Township native spent time with Carolina, Elmira and Watertown in the Fed this season, playing 23 games total between the three teams with no goals and three assists. Last year Nick spent time with both Quad City and Vermilion County of the SPHL playing in 37 total games, so this is another player joining Motor City with considerable time at what is considered a higher level than The Fed.

Ryan Rotondi returns to the Rockers for the third time this season. The Port Huron native spent the majority of the early part of the season with Motor City, appearing in 24 games, scoring one goal and adding three assists. He also racked up 41 penalty minutes so he is not afraid of the physical part of the game. He was released in early February when Cody Oakes was signed, then brought back a week later before being released again when Nicholas Magill-Diaz returned from his loan to Quad City of the SPHL. 

Fields' run as a Rocker comes to an end after appearing unofficially in five games, tallying three assists. I say unofficially because I know for a fact Fields not only played in another game on February 4th in Elmira, he also scored a goal in that game. I watched the live stream and, for some reason, Fields was wearing number 73, Ryan Rotondi's jersey no less, and scored a goal, but the official scoresheet credited Rotondi with the goal and the FPHL stats are still incorrect. So Devon, if you happen to read this, the official league stats robbed you of your first professional goal, hopefully it gets sorted out. 

These moves come on the eve of a three game home stand this weekend in Fraser for Motor City as they host the top team in the FPHL currently, the Columbus River Dragons at Big Boy Arena.