Coventry Blades have announced the signing of Canadian forward Jackson Cressey for the 2024/25 Elite League season.
The 28-year-old joins the Blades after two seasons in Germany's DEL2, playing for EHC Freiburg and more recently Bietigheim Steelers.
Cressey served as the Steelers' alternate captain last season and was second on the team with 44 points (21 goals, 23 assists) in 55 games.
“Jackson is a very intelligent hockey player who knows how to get into dirty areas and score goals,” Blades head coach Kevin Moore said.
“He's great on the faceoff dot and knows how to get the puck and get his teammates to make plays.”
“We are excited to have Jackson join our group and bring his consistent work ethic and leadership skills.”
Prior to joining the Steelers, the 6-foot-tall faceoff winner played a total of 55 games with Freiburg, recording 26 points (17 goals, nine assists).
Germany will be Cressey's second European experience, having spent part of the 2020/21 season with Swedish Hockey Etang's Tillinge SoSS, where he collected 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 21 games.
Cressey also spent a season in the ECHL, appearing in 67 games with the Reading Royals in 2021/22, racking up 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists).
Before turning professional, the West Vancouver native enjoyed a successful NCAA career at Princeton University, where he was an NCAA (ECAC) champion in 2017-18.
During his four years at Princeton, Cressey accumulated 116 points (32 goals, 84 assists) in 132 games and assumed the role of co-captain during his senior year.
He was an All-Ivy Honorable Mention selection and was named to the ECAC All-Academic Team in 2019-20 and was an ECAC Rookie of the Year Finalist and ECAC All-Rookie Team in 2016-17.
Cressey also had an impressive BCHL career, racking up 129 points (57 goals, 72 assists) in 198 games and winning the 2014 BCHL Championship with the Coquitlam Express.
He was named the team's Most Valuable Player twice and won the Community Contribution Award twice, as well as winning the team's Most Valuable Player, Top Forward, Three Star and Most Popular Player awards.
The 2024/25 Elite League season begins in September.
