Meet the newest Texas Brahma

Defenseman Nathan Saunders has signed on for the 2008-09 campaign

Nathan Saunders has signed a contract and will join the Texas Brahmas for the remainder of the 2008-09 season.

Saunders, a 6' 3", 228 pound defenseman from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island was selected by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (round 4, 119th overall) in the 2003 NHL entry draft. Brahmas Greg McConnell and Mark Carragher are also from Charlottetown.

The 23-year-old began his hockey career with the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL). In four seasons (2001-02 to 2004-05), Saunders tallied 87 points (14G, 73 A) and 794 penalty minutes in 261 games played. He was named to Team QMJHL for the RE/MAX Canada/Russia Challenge in 2003. He was team captain for the 2004-05 season.

Saunders played in 20 games with the Portland Pirates (AHL) in the 2005-06 season. He missed a significant amount of time out with a shoulder injury but returned to play nine games in the postseason.

The following season was split between the Pirates and the Augusta Lynx (ECHL). Last season was split between the Providence Bruins (AHL) and the Johnstown Chiefs (ECHL). He began this season in the ECHL, playing four games with the Stockton Thunder and six games with the Charlotte Checkers.

According to the Moncton Wildcats website, Saunders is a big, physical, defensive defenseman. He plays a very good, simple, game and relies on his positioning and strength to interrupt the oppositions offense. His character and determination are top quality and he’s the type of defender that is willing to do whatever it takes to win, including dropping the gloves to stand up for his teammates or challenge anyone who took a run at his goaltender. Offensively he has played on the Moncton powerplay, but this is not his strength despite possessing a good hard shot from the point. Although he is big and strong, Saunders is not a huge bodychecker. He typically will use his strength to stand players up as they try to deke past him or he will pin them against the boards to allow his teammates to recover the puck. Saunders' skating needs some work and he sometimes fights the puck when trying to control it, or keep it in at the blueline. However, as a defensive specialist, this is not a huge concern.

Photo Credit: Moncton Wildcats