Ohioan Franck signed for goal

The Lakewood native has played for the Wheeling Nailers.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown SteelHounds solidified their goaltending position Tuesday with the signing of Lakewood native Andy Franck.

Franck, 26, enters his third season as a pro. In two seasons with the Wheeling Nailers of the East Coast Hockey League, he compiled a 60-41-9 record with eight shutouts, a 2.76 goals against average and an impressive .912 save percentage.

SteelHounds coach Kevin Kaminski said Franck’s signing may be the team’s biggest of the offseason.

“Andy is the number one goalie we’ve been looking for,” Kaminski said. “Every coach and general manager I’ve talked to have had nothing but good things to say about this kid. His numbers speak for them self.

“We look for Andy to take charge and be a leader between the pipes and in the locker room,” Kaminski said. “This will give us a very strong 1-2 punch [in goal].”

Monday, the SteelHounds re-signed goalie Brad Roberts, who is entering his second season with the club.

All-Star

In his rookie season with the Nailers, Franck (6-foot-1, 195 pounds) was an ECHL All-Star and named to the All-ECHL rookie team.

Franck was also named ECHL goaltender of the month for February 2006 as he led the Nailers to the playoffs that season.

Franck becomes the third player from Mercyhurst College to be signed by the SteelHounds this season, joining forward Erik Johnson and defenseman Denis Kirstein. Franck also teamed with fellow SteelHound and Canfield native Paul DeJoe for two seasons at St. Edward High School in Lakewood.

The SteelHounds also made a front office move, naming Jim Brylewski assistant general manager.

Brylewski, a graduate of Michigan State, was with Sharks Minor Holdings (Worcester Sharks and Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League). Brylewski assisted the Sharks organization in the relocation of the business operations of the Cleveland AHL franchise to Worcester, Mass. In Cleveland Brylewski served as the Barons vice president of marketing and sales.

Brylewski has also worked for the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles.