​PEORIA — The Peoria Rivermen re-signed a forward and brought in a true rookie defenseman from the college ranks on Tuesday as the buildup to the 2026-27 SPHL season continued.Peoria brought back forward Carson Riddle, who made his pro debut with the Rivermen in a nine-game regular-season stint last spring. He made the postseason roster and appeared in one game.The Rivermen also signed college blueliner Pearce Baker. That puts the offseason roster at 13 players for the defending regular-season points champions.Riddle played NCAA Div.-III hockey for two seasons with Aurora University and parts of three seasons with University of Wisconsin-Superior before joining the league-leading Peoria team last spring.He notched a goal and added two assists in nine outings with Peoria. His first pro goal came on a breakaway against Roanoke on April 3 in Carver Arena.The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Holly, Mich., native had 18 goals with 20 assists in 87 career college games.Baker on the wayBaker, 25, played the last four seasons for NCAA Div.-III Anna Maria College, where he scored 13 goals and added 49 assists in 104 college games.He was part of Anna Maria’s MASCAC championship team last season, and earned earned first-team All-MASCAC honors.The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder is a native of King, Ontario.Here is a look at the players signed by the Rivermen so far:◾Goaltenders: Connor McAnanama◾Defense: Tyler Ryder, Kylar Fenton, Gunner Moore, Pearce Baker.◾Forwards: Alec Baer, Cayden Cahill, Cooper Board, Braydon Barker, Will Redick, T.J. Koufis, Michael McChesney, Carson Riddle.Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports editor. He has covered the Peoria Rivermen, Bradley Braves men’s basketball, Peoria Chiefs and more during 42 years with the newspaper. Reach him via email at deminian@pjstar.com and follow him on X @icetimecleve.This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria Rivermen add young tandem at forward and defense for 2026-27 SPHL season