2008 Woodie Awards
Zatkoff signs with Kings, to leave MU
Dan Kukla
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Front Page
The Miami University ice hockey team lost one of its best players to the NHL Thursday.
Junior goalie Jeff Zatkoff signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings. The deal was announced Thursday and per club policy, the details were not revealed.
"This is a really great opportunity for Jeff," head coach Enrico Blasi said. "He really took his time to evaluate both sides, the positives and the negatives of signing. Ultimately he made the decision to leave and do what's best in his opinion for his career."
Zatkoff's departure from Miami provides the team with the unfamiliar challenge of finding a new starting goalie. For the past three seasons the RedHawks have had the luxury of touting two of the nation's premier goaltenders in Zatkoff and Charlie Effinger. With Effinger leaving due to
graduation and now Zatkoff signing with the Kings, the Red and White now have a huge hole to fill on its roster.
"There's no question he was one of the top goaltenders in the country," Blasi said. "It's tough to replace somebody like that."
Just a day before the Kings announced the deal with Zatkoff, Miami signed his potential replacement, Cody Reichard, to a letter of intent to play for the RedHawks.
Reichard, a native of Celina, Ohio, spent the 2007-08 season playing goalie for the North American Hockey League's Fairbanks Ice Dogs. In 51 games, Reichard compiled a record of 33-15-2, earning the most victories by any NAHL goaltender.
Reichard posted a 2.05 goals-against average and .935 saves percentage on the year. Thanks to his stellar season, he was named to the NAHL South Division Top Prospects Team. Prior to joining Fairbanks, Reichard spent the last two years with the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League.
"Cody will come to Miami with a wealth of junior hockey experience," Blasi said. "He has proven himself to be an elite goalie at the junior level and with his skill set and outstanding work ethic; we feel he will become an elite goalie at our level. Cody is a tremendous young man who we are proud to add to our Miami hockey family"
Junior goalie Jeff Zatkoff signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings. The deal was announced Thursday and per club policy, the details were not revealed.
"This is a really great opportunity for Jeff," head coach Enrico Blasi said. "He really took his time to evaluate both sides, the positives and the negatives of signing. Ultimately he made the decision to leave and do what's best in his opinion for his career."
Zatkoff's departure from Miami provides the team with the unfamiliar challenge of finding a new starting goalie. For the past three seasons the RedHawks have had the luxury of touting two of the nation's premier goaltenders in Zatkoff and Charlie Effinger. With Effinger leaving due to
graduation and now Zatkoff signing with the Kings, the Red and White now have a huge hole to fill on its roster.
"There's no question he was one of the top goaltenders in the country," Blasi said. "It's tough to replace somebody like that."
Just a day before the Kings announced the deal with Zatkoff, Miami signed his potential replacement, Cody Reichard, to a letter of intent to play for the RedHawks.
Reichard, a native of Celina, Ohio, spent the 2007-08 season playing goalie for the North American Hockey League's Fairbanks Ice Dogs. In 51 games, Reichard compiled a record of 33-15-2, earning the most victories by any NAHL goaltender.
Reichard posted a 2.05 goals-against average and .935 saves percentage on the year. Thanks to his stellar season, he was named to the NAHL South Division Top Prospects Team. Prior to joining Fairbanks, Reichard spent the last two years with the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League.
"Cody will come to Miami with a wealth of junior hockey experience," Blasi said. "He has proven himself to be an elite goalie at the junior level and with his skill set and outstanding work ethic; we feel he will become an elite goalie at our level. Cody is a tremendous young man who we are proud to add to our Miami hockey family"
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
MU Hockey Fan
posted 4/11/08 @ 11:26 AM EST
I wonder, what ever happened to Whitacre? I'm glad that we have signed two new potentials... but is Whitacre ever going to get his chance?
Post a Comment