Rookie left wing Alex Gilmour(6) originally signed with Orlando Solar Bears over the summer after finishing up a COVID playoff crushed 2019/2020 season at St. Lawrence University Saints, but found the club to be weighed down by lots of already pros from up and down leagues, looking for spots and was released after training camp.
The very very big 6’5″ 220 lbs. forward quickly picked up with Birmingham Bulls of the SPHL and got right to work scoring 2 goals in his pro debut, following it up with another goal and a first assist in his next outing.
He finished up just over a month later, potting 4 goals and 3 assists in 10 games before oddly getting released.
The 25-year old found prospects of where to go next fairly limited as most clubs had committed to their rosters going forward.
There is zero doubt he signs on with a new club next season’s fully open campaign and finds more room to score goals, wherever he turns up.
No doubt, he found his room to score in his 1st full frame of pro hockey, grabbing 16 goals and 24 assists in 63 ECHL games with a +14 rating for Tulsa Oilers.
He re-signs to stay in a good spot, hopefully elevate totals and even score himself a loan up to the higher level.
For 2023/2024, he is traded to Savannah Ghost Pirates, who will still need to sign him.
We were able to host our 2nd Twitter player interview with Alex:
cHp: From the looks of it, you were originally signed to an ECHL spc for 2020/2021 by Orlando Solar Bears, but then were released and seemed to hook up fairly quickly with Birmingham Bulls. You only skated for the Bulls for one month though, racking up a quick 7 points in 10 games, including two in your SPHL debut. Did you get injured? Anything you can say why you weren’t able to stick with the Solar Bears? I mean you’re 6’5″ 220 lbs and as I remember from ’19/20 with St. Lawrence you were pretty good out there.
AG: Yeah I signed with Orlando late in the summer and attended training camp. Just a crazy year all around the minor leagues and a very limited amount of spots available. We had a bunch of guys down from the American League that hadn’t started yet, so that made things a little more difficult there. Just seemed like a very tough year to break in with the amount of teams that didn’t play. I had a great run in Birmingham and the team had plans to go in a different direction. Hope to come back stronger, and look forward to more opportunity moving forward! Hopefully next year is a full schedule and all the teams are back on the ice! With Orlando they are a very experienced team this year and have a lot of veteran guys on the roster. Made it very difficult to stick. Obviously have some things to work on to play at that level on my end. They’re having a good year and I hope they make it far in the playoffs!
cHp: Yeah, I know that about Orlando this season; good club fighting for their playoff life. See that about former AHL players or vets from the E crowding space. So, it seems a little strange that you put up so many points with the Bulls but didn’t stick and that no other team picked up your option if they couldn’t keep you. I would think you’re a no brained to receive opportunities next season when our hockey world is fully open.
AG: Exactly! With teams not playing, there were a lot of elite players that needed homes for the year. Hopefully that opens up a bit next year. Hopefully I have some options and I’m optimistic moving forward.
cHp: Why did you only last 10 games at Birmingham scoring 7 points. You said they went in a different direction but that seems insane to me to split with you. So, then the other thing that is driving me crazy is, why didn’t you see if there was another SPHL team to pick up your option. Seems like someone else could have used you.
AG: I was doing really well down there and the team had guys they were looking to bring in from else where and they needed to get rid of guys. I guess I was one of the guys they decided to let go. I was surprised by the decision. There were also only four other teams playing in the league at the time and they all had solid forward rosters set, so they weren’t looking to pick me up.
cHp: I see you played more than a few years in junior hockey, starting in Canada in the OJHL but then left after the start of your 2nd season with Stouffville left for the top junior league in America, the USHL Des Moines Buccaneers, but lasted only 7 games there before going to the CCHL with Pembroke. It looks like you lasted a season and most of the next but then suddenly left to attend school. So, I guess the first question is: what prompted you to come to the U.S. and why didn’t that work? It was Des Moines‘ sucked, wasn’t it. My wife and I have been there. We know. just joking. Then, did you in fact leave the Lumber Kings mid season to attend school and start up with the Saints?
AG: I was drafted by Des Moines in the USHL draft and I felt it would be the best opportunity for me to obtain a D1 scholarship. I was in my third year of juniors and still had some improvements to make in my game, so I started there for a while and ended up getting sent home. I landed in Pembroke and it was the best thing that could’ve happened to me. I was given so much opportunity there. I was the captain in my second season there and St. Lawrence had some injuries and they needed to pick up a body half way through the season. It was a great fit, as I was ready for the jump.
cHp: See, now that’s just a good story you’ve given me. I honestly think you’ll find a good landing spot once we’re out of this mess and into 2021/2022 season. Glad to see a full ECHL calendar was released. Thanks for answering all my questions. It’s definitely a fascinating take. Be on the lookout for the profile piece soon. I’ll always be out there cheering you on.
AG: Glad I could help! I hope I do as well! I’ve had an interesting road for sure! I appreciate the support. Thank you.
