LaFontaine named top 3 finalist for Richter Award
Penticton Vees alumnus Jack LaFontaine has been named a top-3 finalist for the Mike Richter Award, handed out to college hockey's top goaltender.https://t.co/l7khRqks2B pic.twitter.com/MytYowGx0y
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) March 26, 2021
University of Minnesota netminder Jack LaFontaine (30-13-1, 2.19 GAA, .923 SV%, and 3 shutouts in 45 games with Penticton in 2018-19) is one of three finalists for the 2021 Mike Richter Award as the top goaltender in NCAA Division I hockey.
The 23-year-old Carolina Hurricanes draft pick finished the season with a 20-6 record along with a 1.65 goals-against-average, a .937 save percentage and five shutouts.
Gauthier moves from Alaska to New York
I would like to thank @UAAHockey for the opportunity to start my college career. With that being said, I am thrilled to announce that I will be continuing my education and hockey career with @NiagaraMHKY. #purpleeagles🦅 pic.twitter.com/iV16cEapMf
— Oli Gauthier (@oligau7) March 26, 2021
Forward Olivier Gauthier (30 goals, 39 assists in 116 games with Cowichan Valley from 2018-20) has transferred from the University of Alaska-Anchorage to Niagara University for 2021-22.
The 21-year-old product of Ferme-Neuve, Quebec committed to the Seawolves in Nov. 2019, but UAA hasn’t played this season due to COVID-19.
Petan re-ups to play next season in Hungary
Extension: Alex Petan (F) | Fehérvár AV19 -> Fehérvár AV19 | https://t.co/pZmEztUksr #ICEHL
— EP Transfers (@ep_transfers) March 26, 2021
Forward Alex Petan (54 goals, 74 assists in 155 games with Burnaby/Coquitlam from 2009-12) has signed a contract extension throught the 2021-22 season with Fehérvár AV19 of the ICE Hockey League, which is the top pro league based in Austria.
Petan, 28, had 18 goals and 43 points in 48 games with Fehérvár AV19 this season, his fourth in Europe after also having stints in Italy and Germany.
Defiel released by Rapid City after medical emergency
This note regarding G Gordon Defiel's release by @RapidCityRush. You may recall he suffered a medical emergency on the bench during last Saturday's game. As a result, he has been released so he may pursue medical evaluation and treatment at his home in Minnesota.
— ECHL Week (@ECHLWeek) March 26, 2021
Goaltender Gordon Defiel (20-20-0, 3.64 GAA, .888 SV% in 44 games with Coquitlam in 2013-14) was released the Rapid City Rush of the ECHL on Thursday.
The 28-year-old was signed by the Rush in January and has a 4-4-1 record along with a 3.80 goals-against-average and an .889 save percentage in nine games in Rapid City.
As the tweet above notes, Defiel suffered a medical emergency while on the bench during a game last Saturday. His release on Thursday was so he can get medical treatment at home in Minnesota.
Mighty Ducks TV series has some BCHL ties
Game on. #TheMightyDucksGameChangers, an Original Series, starts streaming March 26 on #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/yOVNOzAq5n
— Disney+ (@disneyplus) February 24, 2021
Dylan Playfair (one assist in 40 games with Merritt in 2010-11) is one of the stars of The Mighty Ducks Game Changers, which started streaming on Disney+ on Friday.
Playfair, 28, plays Coach T, who is the Mighty Ducks new coach in the series.
Meanwhile, Dave Tomlinson (91 goals, 105 assists in 103 games with Summerland and Richmond from 1985-87) is the hockey coordinator/choreographer for the show.
