Riese Gaber is staying in the largest city in North Carolina.
The Gilbert Plains star signed a one-year contract with the American Hockey League's Charlotte Checkers for the 2026-27 season. In 42 games this year, Gaber has scored nine times with 21 points.
Across 56 AHL games, all with Charlotte, Gaber has 11 goals and 28 points.
Before turning professional, Gaber played four seasons of NCAA Division 1 hockey with the University of North Dakota. There, he had 64 goals and 129 points in 142 games. Gaber was nominated for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in the 2023-24 season. The Hobey Baker Award is the most prestigious in college hockey. It's presented to the top NCAA men's player.
Previous winners include Macklin Celebrini, Cole Caufield, Cale Makar, Jack Eichel, and Johnny Gaudreau, to name a few.
In the 2019-20 season, Gaber was named the Player of the Year in the United States Hockey League. He led the league with 34 goals. Before that, in the 2017-18 season, Gaber helped Team Canada West win a gold medal at the World Junior A Challenge. He also won a provincial title playing with the Parkland U15 Rangers in the 2013-14 season.
Charlotte currently occupies third place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 37-20-5-0. They've won seven of their past 10. Wearing number 39 in Charlotte, Riese had a goal in the team's 6-2 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Gaber Fun Facts:
Gaber made his debut with the Dauphin Kings in the 2015-16 season and had three points in 10 games.
Returning as a full-time member in the 2016-17 season, he had 32 points in 42 games.
During the 2017-18 season, Riese was off to a great start with 15 goals in 27 games.
He was dealt to the Steinbach Pistons and helped them win the Turnbull Cup.
At the Royal Bank Cup that season, he had one goal and three points in three games.
In his final season of AAA hockey with the U18 Rangers, Riese lit it up with 22 goals and 61 points in 44 games
Riese is also an excellent golfer. In recent years, he has taken home championships at the Tamarack Tournament at the Clear Lake Golf Course.