Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings, proud affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks and Manitoba Moose, announce that they have signed forward Olivier Latendresse for the 2009-10 season.Latendresse joins the Salmon Kings after playing the 2008-09 season with the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) and Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL). In 23 games with Cincinnati he scored 33 points (18g-15a) and added 19 minutes in penalties. Latendresse also dressed for 20 games in Hamilton and scored one goal and added 12 assists for 13 points while tallying six penalty minutes.
"We are very excited to have Olivier join our team," General Manager and Head Coach Mark Morrison said. "He is an elite player in this league who will contribute on both ends of the ice. Olivier also brings more championship experience to our locker room."
The 5-10, 195 lb. Latendresse split the 2007-08 season between the AHL (San Antonio Rampage), CHL (Arizona Sundogs), and ECHL (Cincinnati). Latendresse began the 2007-08 and spent the majority of the year with the Sundogs where he scored 52 points (22g-30a) in just 37 games while accruing 30 minutes in penalties. In seven games in the AHL with San Antonio he tallied a goal and two assists for three points with 25 penalty minutes. Latendresse also participated in his first season with Cincinnati in 2007-08 where he dressed for 24 games and scored 35 points (7g-28a) while serving 29 minutes in penalties. Latendresse also played in 22 Kelly Cup Playoff games that spring scoring seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points, as he helped the Cyclones win their first Kelly Cup Championship.
The LaSalle, Quebec turned professional in 2004 when he signed an NHL contract with the Phoenix Coyotes and spent the majority of his first pro season (2006-07) in the Coyotes' farm system (ECHL's Phoenix Roadrunners and AHL's San Antonio Rampage). In 47 games with the Roadrunners he scored 27 points (12g-15a) with 22 minutes in penalties. Latendresse also dressed for 17 games in the AHL with San Antonio where he accumulated four points (1g-3a) and 14 penalty minutes. The Coyotes would trade Latendresse in April 2008 to the Montreal Canadiens where he then began his stint with the Hamilton Bulldog's (Montreal's AHL affiliate).
For his professional career, Latendresse has scored 167 points (62g-105a) in 176 games while collecting 147 minutes in penalties. In 22 career professional post-season games he has scored seven goals and assisted on 12 others for 19 points with 30 minutes in penalties.
The 23-year-old spent his entire four-year junior career in the QMJHL with the Val D'Or Foreurs. His best offensive year came in his last season in junior (2005-06) where he scored 125 points (41g-84a) in just 70 games played with 83 penalty minutes. For his junior career Latendresse played in 246 games amassing 289 points (98g-191a) and 183 minutes in penalties. Latendresse led the Foreurs in scoring in three out of the four years he played for them.
Season tickets for the Salmon Kings 2009-10 season are on sale. The Salmon Kings kick off their home schedule on October 21st when the Bakersfield Condors come to the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Catch all the action by calling 250-220-7889, emailing seasontickets@salmonkings.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by visiting www.salmonkings.com for more information.
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