Gorillas Re-Sign Standout Goaltender Shawn Degagne
Published on August 20, 2003 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release
AMARILLO, TX â One of the Amarillo Gorillas key ingredients to advancing to last season's Central Hockey League playoffs is back for another season.
The Gorillas announced today that they have re-signed standout goaltender Shawn Degagne. The North Bay Ontario, native won games in bunches for the Gorillas last season, including five in a row early in the season and then eight of his last nine starts to close the year and get his club to the playoffs.
Overall, Degagne was 19-10-0 with a 2.52 Goals Against Average in 32 games. He was 4-0 in shootouts and allowed just five shootout goals against in those games and had three shutouts. In week 14 of the season, Degagne was selected as the CHL Goaltender-of-the-Week and was selected as the CHL Goaltender-of-the-Month.
"I am very happy that we were able to get Shawn back in an Amarillo uniform," said Gorillas Head Coach Director of Hockey Operations and Assistant General Manager Joe Ferras. "We had a very unique situation last season with two incredible goalies in Shawn and Steve DeBus and this season I have given Shawn the opportunity to play a ton of games as our number one."
In his three professional seasons, Degagne has lowered his Goals Against Average significantly from 3.30 GAA to 2.52.
Degagne spent the 2001-2002 season with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies of the ECHL where he racked up a similar record of 17-10-5 and a 2.67 Goals Against Average in 32 games.
"I believe a big key in a winning team is to be very strong from the back out, and Shawn is a big piece of that puzzle," said Coach Ferras.
The 6 foot, one-inch 190 pound puck stopper began his professional career with the Pensacola Ice Pilots of the ECHL where he went 14-12-4 and a 3.30 goals against average.
"Gag's is a proven goalie and has had a winning record every year since turning pro," said Ferras. " He is very competitive and understands what a great opportunity he has, and I know that he will be one of the elite goalies in the CHL this season."
Degagne spent three of his four years as a junior with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League where he averaged 12 wins in two of those three years, before moving on to his hometown North Bay Centennials where he would have a 13-win season.
Shawn Degagne is the 13th player signed by the Amarillo Gorillas for the 2003-2004 Central Hockey League season.
The Amarillo Gorillas will be moving offices in the coming week. Gorillas fans can look for their new offices at 1934 Civic Circle in the Wolflin Village. The Gorillas Corporate phone and fax numbers will remain the same. There are just 66 days remaining until the Amarillo Gorillas home opener against the expansion Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at The Jungle in the Amarillo Civic Center.
Full and Partial season tickets and various Corporate Advertising packages are available and for further information please call 242-7825.
Central Hockey League Stories from August 20, 2003
- Van Parys Returns to the CHL - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Mudbugs Re-Sign Campbell, Add Bell - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Jeff Blair Is New Jackalopes Goaltender - Odessa Jackalopes
- Gorillas Re-Sign Standout Goaltender Shawn Degagne - Amarillo Gorillas
- Thunder Re-Sign Cunningham - Wichita Thunder
- Bats' "Blood Brothers" to be Unleashed - Austin Ice Bats
- Blazers Ink Forslund - Oklahoma City Blazers
- Kings Sign Dave MacIntyre - Lubbock Cotton Kings
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