Mitchell, Fortunus and Cloutier return to Louisiana
April 21, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Lafayette, LA â The Louisiana IceGators announced today that Kevin Mitchell, Maxime Fortunus and Frederic Cloutier have rejoined the IceGators from the AHL's Houston Aeros. The three are expected to join the Gators in Duluth, GA for games three and four of the Central Division Finals against the Gwinnett Gladiators.
Mitchell, 23, (6/5/80) was last called up to Houston on January 17, 2004. The defenseman played 50 regular season games with the Aeros, posting 23 points (7g â 16a), with four goals coming on the power play. The 5-11, 200-lb Bronx, NY native scored all three of his goals for Louisiana with the man-advantage, putting up 17 points (3g â 14a) in 19 games with the IceGators. In two playoff games for the Aeros, Mitchell finished with 10 PIMs and a â5 rating.
Fortunus, a 6-1, 190-lb defenseman, played a total of 12 regular season games in four call-ups with Houston. In the AHL, Fortunus posted 2 assists and a +1 rating. The 20-year-old from La Prairie, Que. dressed for one Aero's post-season game before Houston was eliminated from the Calder Cup Playoffs. As an IceGator, Fortunus collected 18 points (3g â 15a) in 64 games with the IceGators.
Cloutier, 22, (5/14/81) has a 20-8-2 record, a 2.31 goals against average and a .920 save percentage in 32 games for the IceGators. The 6-foot, 180-pound native of Ste. Honore, Quebec, was 4-3-2 with a 2.46 goals against average in 12 appearances last season for Houston before a wrist injury ended his campaign. Cloutier was the 2001-02 ECHL Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year and Goaltender of the Year.
Cloutier appeared in six games with Houston during the regular season, going 1-2-2 with a 2.84 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. In the post-season, Cloutier played two games, going 0-2 against the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, posting a 4.12 goals-against average and a .867 save percentage.
The Louisiana IceGators are in Duluth, GA for games three and four of the Central Division Finals against the Gwinnett Gladiators. The away games will be broadcast on 105.1 KPEL at 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21 and Friday, April 23. The IceGators split games one and two at the Cajundome. If the best-of-five series goes to five games, the deciding game will be Sunday, April 25 at 4:05 p.m. at the Cajundome.
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