Rochester Americans General Manager Jody Gage announced today that the club has signed forward Ross Carlson to a 25-game professional tryout (PTO).

Ross, 26, arrives in Rochester after spending the first-half of the 2008-09 season with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL, where he registered 22 points (10+12) along with 14 penalty minutes (PIM) in 27 games. He started the season with the American Hockey League’s Peoria Rivermen, appearing in three games and scoring one goal.

A native of Duluth, Minnesota, Carlson spent last season with three different teams, but recorded his best year as a pro en route to capturing a career best in goals (18), assists (20) and points (38) in 49 contests with the Texas Wildcatters (ECHL). In 26 career AHL games with the Providence, Rockford, Houston and Peoria, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound forward has three goals and four assists for seven points, while also skating in four postseason games.

Prior to turning pro, Carlson had an illustrious four-year (2003-07) collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin, notching 34 goals and 58 assists for 92 points in 133 games. He posted his best season during his sophomore campaign, collecting highs with 12 goals and 29 points for the Badgers.