Colton Yellow Horn will return to the Elite League in 2022-23, but not with the same club.
The 35-year-old forward will suit up for the Coventry Blaze next term, ending his association with the Glasgow Clan.
“Getting Colton here next season was big for us,” said Coventry head coach Danny Stewart. “He played centre last year, but can also play [on] the wing, and we have seen time and time again the importance of that versatility. He is a point producer plain and simple.
“He has played a big part offensively everywhere that he has gone and we expect the same from him next season. We liked his hockey head. A guy that sees the ice, reads plays and is one step ahead. He can distribute but also score, and he will play a huge part for us five on five and on the powerplay.”
Yellow Horn made his Elite League debut last season, amassing 55 points (11 goals, 44 assists) in 54 regular-season appearances for the Clan.
He also made an impact for Glasgow in the playoffs, notching two assists in their heart-breaking quarter-final loss to the Cardiff Devils.
Yellow Horn, now approaching his fifteenth season as a professional, has played in many of Europe’s top leagues, including the Czech and Slovak Extraligas.
In 2015-16, he was named as the Austrian EBEL’s Most Valuable Player, leading the postseason in points (29) and assists (21) for Orli Znojmo.
Before moving to Europe in 2013-14, Yellow Horn featured in the Western Hockey League (Junior), ECHL, Central Hockey League, and American Hockey League (Senior).
Analysis: Colton Yellow Horn Joins Coventry Blaze
Yellow Horn’s decision to stay in the Elite League speaks volumes about the competition. He was a leading figure last season and arrives in Coventry with plenty of fuel left in the tank.
It’s also quite the coup for the Blaze, who lost star forward Luke Ferrara to the Nottingham Panthers earlier this offseason.
As noted by Stewart, Yellow Horn is comfortable playing through the centre or on the flank – though his winning face-off record from last season (586 v 583) implies central usage may be on the cards.
At 5-foot-9, he isn’t the most physically imposing player on Coventry’s roster but is set to make a major impact next season.
Securing Yellow Horn’s signature is a major win for the Blaze.
