Falcons goaltender to pursue coaching opportunity

Published on August 25, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


FRESNO, CALIF. - The Fresno Falcons announced today that goaltender Jake Moreland has announced his retirement from professional hockey. Moreland has accepted a head coaching position with a bantam team in Minnesota.

Moreland signed with the Falcons on November 27, 2007, and appeared in 39 games last season, posting a 22-11-4 record, and a 2.64 goals-against average, which was tied for 11th among ECHL goaltenders. He was selected as the team's Most Valuable Player last season in a vote of teammates and coaches, while also earning ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors for the week ending January 13, and the ECHL Goaltender of the Month award for January.

"This is a major hole to fill this late in the off-season, and it's hard to replace a goalie of Jake's caliber, but we are working hard to do so," Falcons head coach and general manager Matt Thomas said. "Chicago has been great in helping us, and we look forward to having a top-notch goalie signed soon."

In his five-year professional career, Moreland went 74-45-20 with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. In addition to his time with the Falcons, Moreland also suited up with Atlantic City and Stockton in the ECHL, Rockford in the United Hockey League, and with Worcester and Milwaukee in the American Hockey League.

"This was a tough decision for myself and my family, but I had an opportunity present itself which I could not pass up," Moreland said. "The fans in Fresno were great last season, and the team that Matt and Ryan are putting together looks like it will be even stronger than last year. I wish the Falcons the best of luck during the upcoming season."

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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