Bats Sign Goalie, Scoring Forward
September 3, 2003 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release
The Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League today announced the signings of goaltender Peter Brady and winger Joey Bastien to contract for the 2003-04 season. With the signings, the Bats now have nine players officially under contract for the coming season.
The 25-year-old Brady, a native of Cap-Rouge, Quebec, returns to the Ice Bats for his second season of professional hockey. Brady was a 9th-round NHL draft selection of the Vancouver Canucks in 1997, after recording a 24-13 record and league-best .931 save percentage with Powell of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League. Brady was named BCHL Most Valuable Player for the 1996-97 season, nosing out current New Jersey Devil Scott Gomez for MVP honors.
After two seasons at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, Brady attended NHL training camp with the Canucks in 2000. He then transferred to the University of British Columbia, but sat out much of his two seasons there to injury.
As a rookie pro, Brady finished among the top four CHL goalies, earning a 13-4 record and 2.29 goals-against average. His .926 save percentage ranked him second in the league, behind only teammate Matt Barnes. Brady also had three call-ups to the AAA-level American League, stopping 16 of 18 San Antonio shots in his AHL debut March 11th with Houston.
Because he appeared in just 18 games last season, Brady still qualifies as a rookie under CHL rules. Under league rules, all CHL teams must have at least three players who have appeared in no more than 25 professional games.
"Peter had a very good first year for us," said Jeff Greenlaw, Ice Bats Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations. "Because he was young and was just getting back to playing regularly, we picked our spots with him. But late in the season, we gave him tougher assignments, and he stood up to the test. He kept us in games and won us some games. He's a sound fundamental goaltender who works very hard and never complains. And we're fortunate he's still considered a rookie. He'll compete for the number-one job."
Bastien, 23, from Edmonton, Alberta, will enter his third pro season. A four-year junior performer in the Western Hockey League, he scored 37 goals and 36 assists in 69 games with Regina in 1999-2000.
Bastien has spent both of his professional seasons in the United Hockey League, scoring a combined 24 goals and 43 assists with Missouri and Rockford last season.
"We have a few guys who played against Joey in the Western League, and they all attest to what a good player he is," Greenlaw said. "His numbers last year bear that out. He's a natural scorer who will pick up some slack offensively for us. He's a good skater and a creative playmaker.
Along with Brady and Bastien, the Bats have signed veteran forwards Kelly Smart, Shawn Legault and Kris Waltze, winger Tab Lardner and defensemen Darryl McArthur, Pat Brownlee and Daniel Tetrault.
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The Ice Bats begin their eighth season of play on Saturday, October 18th, against the New Mexico Scorpions at the Travis County Expo Center. Two-time defending Southeast Division and Southern Conference champions, the Ice Bats also won the Governors' Cup with the League's top regular season record last year.
Season tickets for the upcoming season are on sale now at the Ice Bats office, in full-, half-season, or 10-game plans. Free Belfry Club membership is still included for all new full season packages, as well as free parking for all full-season and half-season plans.
For more information, fans may call the Ice Bats Ticket Office at (512) 927-PUCK, or log onto the team's website at www.icebats.com.
Central Hockey League Stories from September 3, 2003
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- Ice Announce Schedule Adjustments, Promos - Indianapolis Ice
- Scorpions re-sign Gorewich and Alcombrack - New Mexico Scorpions
- Cotton Quickies - Lubbock Cotton Kings
- Bats Sign Goalie, Scoring Forward - Austin Ice Bats
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