Former Springfield Thunderbirds forward Greg Meireles has signed a one year deal with the DEL's Nurnberg Ice Tigers, it was confirmed Wednesday.
Drafted by the Florida Panthers in the sixth round of the 2019 NHL Draft, Meireles split this past year between the Thunderbirds and HK Spisska Nova Ves in Slovakia's top pro league. Across eight AHL games, he collected three assists while scoring 12 goals and adding 13 assists for 25 points in 23 games overseas.
Having turned pro during the 2020-21 season, Meireles appeared in 169 career AHL regular season games with the Thunderbirds, Syracuse Crunch, Manitoba Moose and the Iowa Wild. Over that time, he put up 18 goals and 45 assists for 63 points. Meireles also appeared in five AHL playoff games, collecting a goal and two assists.
Prior to turning pro, Meireles was a standout player in the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers, collecting almost a point per game in parts of five seasons with the team.
With Meireles heading to Germany's top league, he should be someone who immediately makes his presence known when the puck drops on 2025-26. Capable of navigating in small areas with the puck, Meireles will have more space to create on the larger ice surface, only adding to his value as a player.