Thursday, May 24, 2012

GOALTENDER BECOMES FIRST ICEMAN TO SIGN UP WITH PROVIDENCE COLLEGE

My Maine Hockey Journal Story

Press Release

INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana Ice announced today that goaltender Jon Gillies has committed to playing collegiate hockey this fall for the Providence College Friars, an NCAA Division I member of the Hockey East Association.

Gillies nearly rewrote the franchise record book in his second season with Indy as the native of South Portland, Maine set the new benchmark for career games (78), wins (46) and shutouts (6). He also logged more minutes in net (4412:18) and faced more shots (2339) than any other goaltender in team history.

During the 2011-2012 campaign, Gillies finished the season first among USHL goaltenders in wins (31) and minutes (2967:01) while finishing fourth in save percentage (.915). He also capped off the season as the top-rated USHL goaltender (6th overall) on the NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings.

“Jon realizes that as a recent graduate of Cathedral High School here in Indy, there is plenty of time after two solid years in the USHL to continue his six-year plan and the next phase in his academic/athletic career,” said CEO Paul Skjodt. “We feel confident he will do the same thing in college over time and look forward to joining him and our other prospects in Pittsburgh next month. ”

Indiana Ice training partner St.Vincent Sports Performance has been preparing Gillies and fellow teammate Robbie Baillargeon who will join Boo Nieves at the NHL Scouting Combine in Toronto, ON next week. The combine features the top 100 North American prospects for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and is an opportunity for players to meet and interview with teams while participating in off-ice testing drills.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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