[MIJB#19]

John Aponte leaves Merchantmen for Colonials
Today the Williamsburg Colonials announced the signing of S John Aponte. The experienced and elite zone defender decided to turn down a contract offer from the Maassluis Merchantmen, where he had played all 8 of his IHOF seasons after being one of their 7th round picks in 2106. Aponte had been a starter from day one and leaves the Merchantmen after 131 games, never missing any.


Steve Aber signs with Ospreys
The Outer Banks Ospreys signed DE Steve Aber as a free agent. After 5 seasons with the Maassluis Merchantmen in a backup role, Aber spreads his wings in hopes to finally get a chance to show the football world he's got what it takes to be a premier pass rusher. Aber was a starter in several of the Merchantmen's sensational victories over the last 4 seasons, yet he never won team management over and was active in only 3 regular games in the last 3 seasons.


Merchantmen won't re-sign Sherman Ward and Freddie Burnham
Today the Maassluis Merchantmen have decided to not offer a new contract to free agents RB Sherman Ward and LT Freddie Burnham, while they will make an offer to CB Kent Wodarz. For Ward this ends the stint in Maassluis after 2 seasons as the team's kickoff returner and change of pace ball carrier. Burnham was a late season signing as injuries kept piling up on the Merchantmen offensive line. Wodarz returned to Maassluis late last season after he was a training camp casualty earlier in his second season in Maassluis. Wodarz already turned down a contract offer from the Merchantmen when he still had restricted status, hence it's unclear at the moment whether Wodarz desires to stick around or hope for a bigger contract elsewhere.