FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.- The Fayetteville Marksmen, proud members of the Southern Professional Hockey League, have agreed to terms with free agent Joey Huot prior to tonight’s game. 

Huot, a Marksmen front office staff member, has not appeared in a professional contest and last skated in an office free-skate in mid-January. His pro hockey experience has been limited to front office duties over the last 20 months. 

“Joey’s someone who deserves this chance,” said president Alex Wall, “he’s given us his all and now this is where he can best help our team.”

Huot leads the SPHL in phone calls answered at 11,273 and has a 77 percent phone-to-ticket conversion rating. He is currently the leading candidate to win SPHL second-season salesperson of the year.

“Our team has struggled for goals this season. Joey’s got the drive and is already out-producing most of the league in hitting goals and we need him to come score for us,” said head coach Cory Melkert. 

In March, Huot led all Marksmen staffers with 4,902 bananas placed in School Day Game lunches and has appeared on the jumbotron in every game this season, tying play-by-play voice Drew Blevins in in-game appearances.

From Roseville, Mich., Huot is a 5-9 workhorse. He helped lead his Central Michigan University floor hockey team to an intramural title run though he was injured in the playoffs. 

“I really want to go out there and hustle for the boys,” said Huot. 

Huot has been credited with zero organized games-played with no goals or assists in any discoverable league. He remains the Marksmen team leader in jokes cracked and has set an SPHL single-week record with 126 obscure WWE references.

“I’m not afraid to go out that and use my upstairs knowledge to produce on-ice results. If I score, I score. If I fight, I fight. I mean… we’ll see,” the new superstar chided. 

Huot will wear 69 and is expected to appear tonight vs. Quad City. His game-used Star Wars jersey will be auctioned off after the game with other Marksmen game-worn jerseys from the night. 

Tickets for tonight’s game are still available at marksmenhockey.com.