Falcons Agree to Terms with Goaltender Ryan Nie
August 28, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
FRESNO, CALIF. - The Fresno Falcons announced today that the team has agreed to terms with goaltender Ryan Nie for the 2008-09 season.
The third-year pro from Nanticoke, Ontario has had an impressive start to his pro career, posting a 49-20-8 record, 10 shutouts, a 2.49 goals-against average, and a .910 save percentage in 85 appearances.
Last season, the 23-year-old went 29-12-4 with the ECHL's Johnstown Chiefs, while also appearing in one game with the American Hockey League's Providence Bruins. His 29 wins last season were the most wins in a single season in Johnstown's 20-year ECHL history. On two occasions last season, Nie was honored as ECHL Goaltender of the Week.
During his rookie season in 2006-07, Nie appeared in 35 games for the Kalamazoo Wings of the United Hockey League, going 20-8-4 with seven shutouts, a league-record 2.02 goals-against average, and a .929 save percentage. Nie received both the UHL Goaltender of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards, while also being named to the league's All-Rookie Team. He helped lead the Wings to the Colonial Cup Finals, where they lost to the Rockford IceHogs in seven games.
Prior to turning pro, Nie played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with Plymouth, Sarnia, and Toronto St. Michael's. He appeared in 130 career OHL games, going 51-54-15 with a 2.93 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.
"We are excited to get a goalie of Ryan's caliber," Falcons head coach and general manager Matt Thomas said. "He's a goaltender who will give us a chance to win every single night and he is arguably one of the best young netminders in the league."
"I've heard nothing but good things about Fresno, and it seems to be a good fit for me," Nie said. "The new affiliation with Chicago and Rockford is a definite plus, and I am looking forward to getting the season started."
Opening Night 2008 at Selland Arena is set for Friday, October 24, when the Falcons host their arch-rivals, the Bakersfield Condors, at 7:35 p.m. Season Ticket packages start at just $432, and are now available by calling the Falcons at (559) 485-7825.
Began in 1988-89 with five teams playing in four states, the Premier 'AA' Hockey League has grown into a coast-to-coast league that will have 23 teams in 16 states and British Columbia playing 828 games from Oct. 17, 2008 to Apr. 4, 2009. Eighteen of the 23 teams have played at least five years in their current city.
The third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the ECHL averaged 4,174 per game last season, marking the fourth year in row and the 16th time in the last 18 years that the league has averaged over 4,000 fans. The league has drawn over four million fans each of the last five years and 11 times in the past 12 seasons.
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ECHL Stories from August 28, 2008
- Wranglers Individual Game Tickets go on Sale Tomorrow - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Blades Holding Individual Game Ticket On-Sale Event - Florida Everblades
- Falcons Agree to Terms with Goaltender Ryan Nie - Fresno Falcons
- Lynx Sign AHL Veteran Thompson - Augusta Lynx
- Royals Sign Defensemen Patrick Wellar and Tyson Marsh - Reading Royals
- Pink Show Kicks off on Labor Day for Paint the Town Pink/Sept 20th at Bentley's - Fresno Falcons
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