Flames Swap Lalande For Keetley

February 10, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


Las Vegas, NV - The Las Vegas Wranglers® announced today that goalie Kevin Lalande has been recalled to the Quad City Flames of the American Hockey League. In return, the Flames have assigned goalie Matt Keetley to Las Vegas.

Keetley joins the Wranglers and is expected to make his ECHL debut this week. The second-year goalie played in 30 games for the Flames this season, going 7-17-4 with a 2.70 goals against average and a.899 save percentage. As a rookie in 2007-08 with the Flames, Keetley posted a 10-8-3 record with a 2.33 goals against average and a .912 save percentage.

The Calgary Flames drafted the Medicine Hat, AB native in the fifth round (#158 overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Keetley played junior hockey with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League from 2003-07. In four seasons with the Tigers, Keetley posted a 105-28-5 record with 18 shutouts, a 2.05 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.

Lalande returns to the Flames where he played in one game for Quad City in late January of this season. In his only appearance with the Flames this year, Lalande made 24 saves for his first career AHL shutout in a 5-0 win at Houston. In 21 games with Las Vegas this season, Lalande posted a 9-8-2 record with a 2.39 goals against average and a .925 save percentage. The Calgary Flames prospect won his last three starts with the Wranglers.

As a rookie goalie in 2007-08, Lalande posted a 17-5-4 mark in 27 appearances with Las Vegas. The Kingston, ON native also set a team high with a 2.05 goals against average and a .932 save percentage. Lalande led Las Vegas to the 2008 Kelly Cup Finals last June. In 20 playoff games, the 21-year old went 13-6-1 with a 2.52 goals against average and a .908 save percentage. Lalande had three shutouts in the playoffs, including two in the Kelly Cup Finals against Cincinnati. Last season, Lalande made seven appearances for Quad City, going 2-3-0 with a 3.34 goals against average and a .888 save percentage.

The Calgary Flames drafted Lalande in the fifth round (#128 overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to turning pro, Lalande posted a 67-46-12 record in Belleville. Lalande had a 3.02 goals against average and a .916 save percentage in four years with the Bulls.

The Wranglers return home to host Phoenix tonight at 7:30 PM. Las Vegas will then travel to Ontario for a 7:00 PM game on Wednesday, February 11th and second game at 7:00 PM on Saturday, February 14th against the Reign. Las Vegas will return home to host Utah at 2:05 PM on Sunday, February 15th. The Wranglers will play their last home game of February on Monday, February 16th at 2:05 PM against Phoenix.



ECHL Stories from February 10, 2009


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