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ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies Sign Goaltender Parker Van Buskirk

August 24, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


West Valley City, Utah - Utah Grizzlies Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin Colley announced today that the team has signed goaltender Parker Van Buskirk for the 2009-2010 season.

Van Buskirk will begin his first full pro season in October after joining the Stockton Thunder following an injury in last year's playoffs. With the Thunder, advancing to the seventh game of the conference semi-finals, the 21-year-old went 6-4-1 with a 3.01 goals-against-average and a .907 save percentage. He also played two regular season games with the ECHL's Charlotte Checkers at the end of the 2008-2009 season.

"Parker had a great playoff run last year with Stockton as he joined the team cold in the middle of the first round," said Colley. "He was a strong goaltender throughout his junior career and adding him makes us strong in that department immediately."

"While I am a rookie, I got some great experience last year in Stockton," said Van Buskirk. "I look forward to facing some of the same teams I saw in the playoffs and am excited to come to Utah and returning to the ECHL."

Playing junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League, Van Buskirk was named the MVP for Kitchener in 2008-2009 after leading Belleville to the prestigious Memorial Cup Tournament in 2007-2008.

The Grizzlies open the 2009-2010 season Friday, October 16 in Las Vegas with the home opening E-Center weekend being Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 when they will host Idaho.

Utah enters their fifth year in the ECHL and their third-straight season as an affiliate of the New York Islanders. Head Coach Kevin Colley returns to the Utah bench this upcoming season after signing a multi-year contract extension on April 20, 2009. Colley, who at the age of 30 is the youngest coach in the ECHL, led the Grizzlies to the playoffs for the third time in four years during his rookie head coaching campaign.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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