Thursday, March 7, 2013

Ducks Sign Gagne to Three-Year Entry-Level Contract

Press Release

The Ducks have signed defenseman Kevin Gagne to a three-year entry-level contract. Per club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Gagne, 20 (4/14/92), has appeared in 294 career Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) games, scoring 39-130=169 points with a +129 rating and 136 penalty minutes (PIM). Gagne played his first four-plus seasons with Saint John from 2008-12, becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in games played among defensemen (269). He has also played 45 career QMJHL Playoff games with Saint John, earning 4-19=23 points with eight PIM. Gagne helped lead the Sea Dogs to back-to-back QMJHL President’s Cups in 2011 and 2012, scoring 2-5=7 points in 19 games and 2-13=15 points in 17 games, respectively. In addition, Gagne and Saint John made consecutive trips to the Memorial Cup in 2011 and 2012, winning the championship series vs. Mississauga in their first appearance.

A native of Edmundston, New Brunswick, Gagne began the 2012-13 season with Saint John before being acquired by Rimouski on Dec. 21, 2012. He has appeared in 56 games with Saint John and Rimouski this season, earning 17-50=67 points with a +16 rating and 32 PIM. He ranks tied for second among all Canadian Hockey League (CHL) defensemen in scoring and co-leads QMJHL blueliners in points, goals and assists with Rouyn-Noranda’s Mathieu Brisebois. Gagne posted a season-high 10-game point streak (8-9=10) from Nov. 18-Dec. 14, 2012, tied for the longest scoring streak by a QMJHL defenseman this season. He has set career highs in almost all offensive categories in 2012-13, including goals, assists and points.

(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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