After a stellar season between the pipes for the Bulldogs, senior goalie Pat Nagle will take his talents to the NHL after signing a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 22.
“I have enjoyed every part of hockey thus far and I am just looking forward to the next experience,” said Nagle. “But I still have a long ways to go until I have a chance to play in the NHL.”
The 2010-11 All-CCHA First-Team selection and Hobey Baker Award nominee Nagle registered a 2.02 goals against average in 37 contests this season. Nagle’s goal against average was the fifth-best in the nation and 12th in save percentage at .923.
The signing was announced by Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman in a press release and Yzerman personally called Nagle with the news.
“Yzerman was very nice and sincere. It was a pretty cool way to get things started being from Detroit and that I grew up idolizing him,” said Nagle.
Nagle is the third Ferris player to ink a deal with a professonial team, as seniors Mike Embach and Scott Wietecha both signed with affiliate teams of the NHL’s Dallas Stars and the Ottawa Senators, respectively. n