Gorillas announce affiliation with Carolina Hurricanes and re-assigning of goaltender Boisclair

Published on February 2, 2005 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release


AMARILLO, TX – The Amarillo Gorillas of the Central Hockey League are please to announce another first in Amarillo Professional Hockey History.

The Gorillas have signed an affiliation agreement with the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. The agreement covers the remainder of the 2004-2005 season and allowed the Gorillas to pick up another goaltender.

The Hurricanes reassigned goaltender Daniel Boisclair (Bwa-clair) to the Gorillas this week. The St. Augustine, Quebec native, was in uniform for the Gorillas in their 4-3 overtime win over Odessa on Tuesday night but did not play. He comes from the province of Quebec that has produced some outstanding NHL goaltenders over the years including Patrick Roy of the Colorado Avalanche, Jean-Sebastien Giguere of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, and Roberto Luongo of the Florida Panthers.

Boisclair began the season with the Memphis RiverKings of the Central Hockey League where he had a record of 2-5-1 and 3.63 Goals Against Average and a save percentage of .899 in 13 games.

"We are fortunate to get a player of Daniel's abilities and this is a great opportunity for the Gorillas organization, "said Gorillas Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations and Assistant General Manager Joe Ferras. "It is very important that we have a quality goalie to back up Shawn Degagne heading into the final portion of the regular season."

Boisclair was a sixth round (181st overall) draft pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2001 National Hockey League Draft. He played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League where he was a member of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and the Victoriaville Tigres (Tigers). In the 2001-2002 season, Boisclair backstopped the Tigers to the QMJHL championship and a trip to the Memorial Cup Canadian Major Junior Hockey Championship Tournament in Guelph, Ontario. The Tigers were beaten in the championship game by the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League.

In 116 career junior games, Boisclair had a 37-52 record and a goals against average of near 3.5 per game.

The Amarillo Gorillas host the San Angelo Saints tomorrow night (Thursday) at 7 p.m. at The Jungle in the Amarillo Civic Center. It's KAMR-NBC 4 Night and also the weekday-warrior special is in effect. When fans buy one ticket, they will receive a second free.

Gorillas tickets can be purchased at the hockey office located at 1934 Civic Circle; Civic Center Box Office and at Panhandle Tickets including Randy's Music, the WT Event Center in Canyon and United Supermarkets. Fans can charge by phone at 378-3096 or 242-7825.

The broadcast will be aired live on 1440 AM The Score, beginning with the Farmer's Insurance Group Warm Up Show at 6:40 p.m. Amarillo Gorillas Hockey Presented by Bank of America follows at 7 p.m. the game is also available on the world wide web at www.amarillogorillas.com and www.chltv.com.

The Gorillas conclude their weekend of play with two road games as on Friday night they will take on the New Mexico Scorpions at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque at 7 p.m. MST or 8 p.m. CST. Amarillo then will take on the Lubbock Cotton Kings on Saturday night also at 7 p.m. CST at Lubbock Municipal Coliseum. Friday's game will air on 1550 Am the Zone, while Saturday's game is back on 1440 Am The Score.

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Central Hockey League Stories from February 2, 2005


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