Bats Reunite Top Goalie Tandem
Published on July 7, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release
The Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League today announced the signing of goaltender Peter-Emmanuel Brady to contract for the 2004-05 CHL season. The signing reunites the League's top goaltending tandem from the 2002-03 season.
The 26-year-old Brady, a native of Cap-Rouge, Quebec, got off to a tremendous start with the Ice Bats last season before being sidelined by injury. Allowing just five goals in three starts, he was named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Month for October with a 3-0 record, 1.62 goals-against average and .948 save percentage. But after an injury sustained October 25th against Oklahoma City, Brady underwent knee surgery and was lost for the season.
For the coming season, Brady will be reunited with Matt Barnes, forming the league's most accomplished goaltending duo. In 2002-03, a season in which Barnes was named CHL Outstanding Goaltender, Brady was superb in his own right. Brady finished his rookie pro season among the top four league goalies, with a 13-4 record, 2.29 GAA and .926 save percentage (second in the League behind Barnes). Together, Barnes and Brady led the Ice Bats to their second straight trip to the President's Cup Finals.
Brady was a 9th-round NHL draft selection of the Vancouver Canucks after the 1997 season, during which he was named Most Valuable Player of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League. Brady finished his final year of junior play with a 24-13 record, 2.38 GAA and league-best .931 save percentage, nosing out current NHL star Scott Gomez for the junior league's top honor. Brady played college hockey at the University of Alaska-Anchorage and University of British Columbia, and attended training camp with the Canucks in 2000, before turning pro with the Ice Bats in 2002.
"Peter is a highly-competitive, extremely driven goaltender," said Jeff Greenlaw, Ice Bats Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations. "Before his injury last year, he was destined to be one of the top goalies in our league. But he's a character kid. With an injury that could have been devastating to him, he worked so hard in rehab that he even surprised our doctors with his unbelievable progress. He probably could have played at the end of last season, but it made no sense to throw him in there and risk injury again. Now he's at 100% or better, and is in the best shape of his life."
"Peter had the choice to come back or to go somewhere else and probably be a clear-cut number one goaltender," Greenlaw said. "He chose to come back here, work with Matt Barnes, and put together a successful season. That says a lot about him. Peter and Matt have a great working relationship. They get along so well, but yet push each other competitively."
Greenlaw said the signing affords the Ice Bats a luxury few teams can match.
"I know what both goalies can do," Greenlaw said. "To me, there's no question they're the top two overall goalies in the League. They'll compete against each other for starts, and if one has a bad night, I know the other can come in and do the job. I think it would be great if they wound up splitting the time in net 50-50."
Along with the two goalies, the Ice Bats have also signed forwards Jared Dumba, Mike Olynyk and Brent Gay, and defenseman Brian Pasko for the coming season. Further signings will be announced in the coming weeks.
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The Ice Bats are preparing for their ninth season of play at the Travis County Expo Center. Season tickets and corporate partnerships are currently available for the upcoming season. Once again, free Belfry Club membership is included with all full-season packages, and free parking with all full-season and 16-game ticket plans.
In addition, the team's "RollerBats Asphalt Assault Tour" gears up again this weekend, with the latest in a series of free youth in-line hockey clinics. This weekend's clinic takes place from 10am to noon on Saturday, July 10th, at the Academy Sports and Outdoors location at I-35 and Highway 183. The clinic is open to all children ages 6-13, accompanied by a parent or guardian. Ice Bats players and coaches provide free skills and safety demonstrations, in-line scrimmages and autographs.
Fans may call the Ice Bats ticket office at (512) 927-PUCK, or log onto the team's website at www.icebats.com for more information.
Central Hockey League Stories from July 7, 2004
- Rayz press conference announced - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Bats Reunite Top Goalie Tandem - Austin Ice Bats
- Blacktop Brahmas tour dates rescheduled - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Bucks & Law Out & About - Laredo Bucks
- Blazers Acquire Woodcroft from Topeka - Oklahoma City Blazers
- Thunder add goaltender - Wichita Thunder
- Tarantulas make trade - Topeka Tarantulas
- Topeka Tarantulas sign player - Topeka Tarantulas
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