Heat re-sign Simpson, Gallant, Wilson; add Perepeluk

The Stockton Heat have signed forwards Mark Simpson, Alex Gallant, and Reid Perepeluk and defenceman Koletrane Wilson to AHL contracts, the club announced Thursday morning.

Simpson, 26, is a 6’6″ centre who skated in his first 24 professional games with the Heat in 2020–21. He tallied six points (four goals, two assists) and was a fixture on the club’s fourth line and top penalty-killing unit. The former University of New Brunswick mainstay has a one-year AHL contract to return to the Heat.

Perepeluk, 21, is a right-handed winger who can also take shifts on defence. The Yorkton, SK product wrapped up his four-year Western Hockey League career in 2020–21 playing with the Brandon Wheat Kings, tallying five points (four goals, one assist) and 42 penalty minutes in 21 games. Standing 6’3″ and weighing 214 pounds, Perepeluk will likely rotate in at the bottom of Stockton’s lineup. His AHL deal is for one year.

Gallant, 28, is a feisty left-handed winger who takes a lot of penalties, usually fighting majors. The 6’0″, 185-pound Prince Edward Islander appeared in 18 games with the Heat in 2020–21, missing nearly the entire month of March with a lower-body injury, and recorded two points (one goal, one assist) and 69 penalty minutes. His new contract is a two-year AHL deal; he’ll also be attending Calgary Flames training camp on a professional try-out.

Wilson, 22, joined the Heat for five games last season after spending four years with the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes. The 6’3″, 220-pound right-shot defenceman also appeared in 18 ECHL contests with the Kansas City Mavericks, picking up four assists in the process. Wilson signed a one-year contract with the Heat for 2021–22.