(Team Press Release) The Tulsa Oilers are happy to have goaltender Kevin St. Pierre join their family. And for St. Pierre, the family feeling is mutual. St. Pierre, a standout goaltender from the United Hockey League, has signed with the Oilers for the 2007-08 season, joining the team from the Fort Wayne Komets.
"Any talk of the top goalies at this level has to include Kevin in the discussion," Oilers coach Butch Kaebel said. St. Pierre has earned his league's top goalie honors three times, starting in the former Western Professional Hockey League with Shreveport Mudbugs in 1997-98. That team is now known as the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs and the WPHL has merged with the CHL. He was named the UHL's most outstanding goalie this season, the second time he won that award. He is one of only two goaltenders to earn that honor twice.
The 32-year old native of Sherbrooke, Quebec, led the UHL in wins with a 42-18-3 record last season. He had a 2.24 goals against average and .926 save percentage. "After four great years there (in Fort Wayne) I just felt it was time for a change for my family," St. Pierre said. "My daughter will be starting school next year and that is important to us."
St. Pierre started his pro career in the Central Hockey League, with the Wichita Thunder in 1995-96. His wife Heather is from Wichita. They have a 12-year old son Jake; a five-year old daughter Abby; and three-year old son Gabriel. "It's kind of ironic that my first year was against Tulsa and now I'll finish my career here. I figure I've got three to four good years left,"
St. Pierre said. "I'm looking forward to a new challenge and hope to part of a great team. I can't do it by myself and hope we can put all the pieces together." St. Pierre holds the UHL career record with 26 shutouts and is second on the all time win list with 177. He's racked up 304 wins in his professional career.
Kevin St. Pierre Highlights
WPHL's Best Goaltender in 1997-98
UHL's MVP in 2004
UHL's Best Goaltender in 2004 and 2007
Team MVP in 2007
Won team's community service award in 2004 and 2006
UHL's career shutout leader with 26
Last season, went 42-18-3 with 2.24 GAA