Over the next 12 weeks we are going to be taking a look at the players who were released on our protected list for 2023-2024. This weekly series will be a reflection of who these players are, where they have come from, and what makes us excited to bring them back to Macon. With our first drop help us welcome back #26 Garrett Hallford.
Hallford, a 25-year-old from McKinney, Tx, joined the Mayhem on a PTO after the end of his NCAA career. Before attending Trine University however, Garrett already had quite the hockey resume after being drafted in 2014 by the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL entry draft. Despite the draft choice Hallford really began to shine in the NAHL where he played for the Keystone Ice Miners, New Jersey Junior Titans, Shreveport Mudbugs, and Corpus Christi Ice Rays (where he was also named an Assistant Captain.)
After finishing his junior hockey career Garrett went on to Trine University where in a 5 year career at Trine, Hallford racked up an impressive 120 games played with 121 points (57 goals and 64 assists). Joining the Mayhem for only 12 games Garrett wasted no time fitting in scoring 3 points in his first three games in a Macon jersey. Over the course of the 12 games Hallford played he tallied 13 points including four multipoint games all coming against playoff bound teams.
Of the protected list released Garrett is the only player without ECHL service time. The 25-year-old will return to the Mayhem roster in hopes of chasing down a title, a feat that so far through his career has eluded him both in the NCAA and NAHL.
Keep an eye out every Thursday for another look at one of our returning players!