Elmira, NY - The Elmira Jackals,
proud member of the ECHL, announced today that they have agreed to
terms with Brett Pilkington, Mike Gaulthier, Rob McVicar and Kevin
Desfosses.
Forward Brett Pilkington, a native of Calgary,
Alberta, will return to Elmira after sporting silver, red and navy for
50 games in 2007-2008. Traded from the Mississippi Sea Wolves,
Pilkington scored eight goals and added 35 assist to go along with 52
minutes in penalties for the North Divisions second place club.
"Brett
moves the puck well and has a great ability to find open players. He is
coming into camp in top shape." Said Jackals Head Coach Steve Martinson.
On
the blue line the Jackals have added gritty Canadian defenseman Mike
Gaulthier. The 6'4'' 205 pound native of North Vancouver, British
Columbia, finished 8th in the Western Hockey League (WHL) in penalty minutes last season. Selected by the St. Louis Blues as the 169th pick overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Gaulthier will add toughness to the defensive core.
"
Mike is a very aggressive player. I like having a physical defenseman
that can play and it's always a bonus when you have one." Martinson
stated.
The Jackals have also found the missing pieces of
their goaltending puzzle with the additions of Rob McVicar and Kevin
Desfosses. McVicar the native of Brandon, Manitoba has spent some time
in the National Hockey League. He started his professional career
during the 2003-2004 season were he tended goal for the Manitoba Moose
of the AHL. Along the way, the 151st overall draft pick of the
Vancouver Canucks
(2002 NHL Entry Draft), has made stops in Columbia (ECHL), Vancouver
(NHL), Victoria (ECHL), Utah (ECHL) and Arizona (Central Hockey
League). Most recently McVicar was named the CHL playoff MVP, posting
an 11-1 record with an impressive .945 save percentage with the Ray
Miron President Cup Champion Arizona Sundogs.
The Jackals
also agreed to terms with rookie goaltender Kevin Desfosses. The 5'11''
175 pound native of Beauport, Quebec will make his first appearance in
professional hockey after an impressive junior career in the Quebec
Major Junior Hockey League. Last season Desfosses posted a .908 save
percentage and a 2.97 goals against average in 59 games played for the
Quebec Ramparts. Desfosses will be attending the Ottawa Senators rookie camp in late September.
"I
am looking forward to watching both of our goaltenders. McVicar is a
veteran goaltender that knows his way around the crease. He is a big
stand up goalie with big game experience. Desfosses came to us highly
recommended by the Ottawa Senators and we look for big things out of
both of them." Martinson Said.