Courtesy of Amerks.com
ROCHESTER, N.Y. –- Rochester Americans General Manager Jason Karmanos announced today that the team has signed forwards Kohen Olischefski and Josh Passolt and defenseman Zachary Berzolla and goaltender Beck Warm all to one-year American Hockey League contracts for the 2022-23 season.
Olischefski returns to the organization finishing the 2021-22 campaign on an amateur tryout with Rochester, where he appeared in three games.
Before signing with the Amerks, Olischefski completed a five-year collegiate career between the University of Denver (NCHC) and Providence College (H-East) from 2017-22. Prior to transferring to Providence for the 2021-22 season, the 24-year-old forward registered 53 points (22+31) in 134 career games with the Denver from 2017-2021.
As a graduate student with the Friars in 2021-22, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound forward finished sixth amongst the team’s forwards in assists (10) and seventh in 18 points while skating in all 38 games.
Before attending Denver and Providence, Olischefski, an Abbotsford, B.C. native, skated in four seasons in the USHL, tallying 125 points (38+87) in 125 games with the Chilliwack Chiefs from 2013-2017.
Passolt joins the organization after appearing in six games with the Cincinnati Cyclones last season, where he scored his first professional point with a second-period tally on April 15 against Indy. Additionally, the 26-year-old forward skated in four contests during the Kelly Cup Playoffs with the Cyclones in 2022.
Prior to turning pro, the Maple Grove, Minn., native completed a five-year collegiate career at Western Michigan (NCHC), totaling 108 points on 44 goals and 64 assists in 166 career games. Passolt earned NCHC Academic All-Conference honors all five seasons and was twice named a NCHC Distinguished Scholar.
Passolt’s best season as a member of the Broncos came during his sophomore season in 2018-19 when he set career-highs in goals (16) and points (34) in 36 contests. In his final campaign at Western Michigan, Passolt tallied 28 points on eight goals and a career-high 20 assists en route to helping the Broncos to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship game as well as earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot, 195-pound forward also helped WMU earn the program’s first NCAA Tournament win with a 2-1 victory in overtime over Northeastern on March 25.
Warm, 23, comes to Rochester after spending the majority of 2021-22 campaign with the Norfolk Admirals (ECHL), where he posted a 7-10-1 record and one shutout in 18 games. Additionally, he appeared skated in one contest with the Chicago Wolves (AHL).
The 6-foot, 175-pound netminder began his pro career in 2020-21 when he showed an 8-4-1 mark in 14 games with the Wolves. He also posted a pair of shutouts to go along with a 2.74 goals against average and .914 save percentage.
Before to turning pro, the Whistler, B.C., native spent five seasons in the WHL between the Tri-City Americans and Edmonton Oil Kings, combining for a 71-56-15 record and five shutouts in 150 games from 2014-20.
Berzolla, 24, joins Rochester after spending the majority of 2021-22 campaign with the Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL), where he registered three goals to go with a career-high 17 assists and 20 points in 51. Additionally, he appeared in eight contests with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL), where he notched his first AHL goal during his debut on Dec. 29 against Bridgeport.
The 6-foot-2, 196-pound defenseman began his pro career in 2020-21 as he totaled one goal, two assists for three points in 15 games with the Florida Everblades (ECHL). He also added an assist in four post-season contests.
Prior to turning pro, the Howell, New Jersey native completed a four-year collegiate career at Colorado College (NCHC), totaling 23 points on four goals and 19 assists in 133 career games. While serving as co-captain with the Tigers in 2020-21, Berzolla led the National Collegiate Hockey Conference and finished fourth in the country with 68 blocked shots.
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