Saints fill netminder hole with addition of James Prigione
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Goalies are supposed to rotate during the season and not in the off-season.
For the fourth time this off-season the Selkirk Saints added a netminder.
The Saints announced the playing commitment from goaltender James Prigione (Guelph, ON) to attend Selkirk College and compete for the Saints beginning in the 2013/14 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League season.
Prigione fills a hole created when Myles Hovdebo decided skip Selkirk for a chance to play at the University of Calgary.
“Myles had a great opportunity to compete at the CIS level that he couldn’t turn down,” said Saints skipper Jeff Dubois.
“We’re very pleased for him, and also glad that we were able to bring James on board to fill a very important role with our team.”
Former Nelson Leafs goalie Marcus Beasley also decided not to attend Selkirk after agreeing to a letter of commitment.
The 22-year old Prigione closed out his junior career in 2012 with the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Oakville Blades, posting a 17-7-2 record in 28 regular season games.
He led all OJHL netminders with a 2.04 goals-against average and .932 save-percentage and won the league’s Top Goaltender award for the 2011/12 season.
Prigione’s strong play carried over into the playoffs, where he once again topped the OJHL with a 1.91 GAA and .940 SV% over 11 starts while leading the Blades to a berth in the West Division finals.
Prigione has also made a trio of Major Junior appearances with his hometown Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League, picking up a pair of wins and recording a 2.09 GAA and .918 SV% during the 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons.
“We’re very excited to add a goaltender of James’ ability and experience level to our team,” said Dubois.
“James is an athletic goaltender who put together a tremendous season as a 20-year old in Oakville. I expect him to step in to our line-up and be a big contributor in the BCIHL.”
Prigione plans to study Business Administration at Selkirk College.
“I’m excited to continue my education out west and have the opportunity to play for such a successful hockey program,” said Prigione, who describes himself as an athletic goaltender with quick foot speed and strong positional play.
“I’m also looking forward to meeting my new teammates and spending time with family in the area. I love the idea of playing in a region so rich in hockey tradition, and hopefully contributing to another BCIHL championship at Selkirk.”
Prigione is the second goaltender and 10th player overall to commit to the Saints for the 2013/14 season. He joins forwards Darnell Dyck (Langley, BCHL), Markus McCrea (Youngstown, USHL) and Garrett Kucher (Osoyoos, KIJHL), blueliners Stefan Gonzales (Aldergrove, PJHL), David Mead (Wenatchee Wild, NAHL), Arie Postmus (Beaver Valley, KIJHL), Ryan Procyshyn (Delta, PJHL) and Tanner Lenting (North Delta, PJHL) and goaltender Aaron Oakley (Abbotsford, PJHL).
