Falcons Sign Number One Goaltender
September 24, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
Fresno, Calif. - The Fresno Falcons have signed goaltender Simon Lajeunesse and defenseman Curtis Sheptak to contracts for the 2004-05 season.
After getting selected by the Ottawa Senators in the 2nd Round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Lajeunesse responded by winning the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Goaltender and Defensive Player of the Year awards in 1999-2000 by posting a 31-15-1 record with a 90.3% save percentage and 2.61 goals against average for the Moncton Wildcats. The fourth-year pro made one appearance in the NHL for the Senators before eventually getting traded to the Florida Panthers organization in March of 2003. He has a record of 21-19-7 in 55 games played in the American Hockey League and a mark of 10-5-3 over 20 appearances in the ECHL.
"During his first two years as a pro, Simon had success in both the AHL and at this level before suffering through a tough season last year due to some injuries," said Falcons General Manager Blaine Moore. "He has the ability to be back in the AHL playing full time some day, but until then, we're confident he is a number one goaltender in our league and that he'll win us some games on his own."
Sheptak, who has been brought on board to aid Head Coach Greg Spenrath as a player assistant coach, was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the 7th Round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft before embarking on an accolade-filled collegiate career at Northern Michigan, where he was a three-year captain and perennial member of his conference's All-Academic Team. Following four years with the Wildcats, he spent a season and a half with three teams in the American and International Hockey Leagues and earned an invitation to play with the Canadian National Team in 1999-2000. Sheptak parlayed that experience into four seasons in the top national leagues in Finland, Germany and Britain before returning to North America at the end of last year's campaign for a post-season run with the Colorado Eagles of the Central Hockey League.
Remarked Moore, "Curtis has played nearly his entire career at a higher level and not only bolsters the back-end but gives us the advantage of being able to both coach and play. His knowledge of the game will be invaluable, and he's a fantastic individual with all the makings of a coach."
The Falcons will battle the Bakersfield Condors in a home-and-home pre-season series on Oct. 15 and 16 before opening the 2004-05 ECHL regular season on Oct. 22 against the Las Vegas Wranglers at Save Mart Center. Full season ticket packages and Flex Packs are on sale beginning as low as $42. For complete ticket information, please visit the Falcons website at www.fresnofalcons.com/tickets.html or call the Falcons front office at (559) 485-PUCK (7825).
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