Bucks Re-Sign Goaltending Ace Pelletier

LAREDO, TX- The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League announced Tuesday that they have re-signed goaltender Pier Pelletier for the 2010-11 season. Pelletier is the first player to ink with the Bucks for next season.
 
As a rookie last season the 23-year-old Pelletier (pronounced PELL-tea-eh) went 9-4-3 for the Bucks with a 2.88 G.A.A and a .915 sv.%, including finishing the regular season with an 11-game unbeaten streak (9-0-2). In the 2010 Playoffs Pelletier played in all seven games against Allen in the Southern Conference semifinals posting a 3-4 record with a 2.88 G.A.A and a .920 sv.%.
 
“Bringing Pier back was one of our top priorities for this season,” said Bucks President/General Manager and Head Coach Terry Ruskowski. “He played so well for us down the stretch and into the playoffs that it was a no-brainer to bring him back.”
 
In 24 combined regular and postseason games last season Pelletier stopped 30 or more shots 10 different times (three in playoffs) and set aside 40 or more shots four separate times (two in playoffs). Pelletier allowed two goals or less nine different times, including allowing just one goal four different times (one in playoffs).
 
“Pier has the ability to be a top goaltender is this league and we hope he can build off of last year’s success,” Ruskowski said.
 
Last season Pelletier signed with the Bucks on December 29th and began the campaign 0-4-1. From February 5th to March 17th Pelletier went 9-0-2, with six wins coming on the road and three wins coming in road shootouts.
 
Pelletier became just the second Bucks goaltender in franchise history to start and win all three games of a three games in three nights stretch when he went 3-0 from March 12-14.  Pelletier, a native of St. Louis, Quebec, earned CHL goaltender of the week as well as performance of the week honors during that period. David Guerrera was the first Bucks goaltender to accomplish that feat from January 9-11, 2004 when he went 3-0 in a three-in-three.
 
Pelletier is just the third Bucks goaltender to re-sign with the team in back-to-back seasons joining Guerrera (’03-04-’04-05) and Michael Dilorenzo (’05-06-’06-07). Guerrera is the only Bucks goaltender to play two complete seasons in Laredo.

Pelletier began is rookie campaign last season by playing in three games for Elmira (ECHL) posting a 1-2 record, to go along with a 3.65 G.A.A and a .869 sv. %.

Pelletier was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in the second round (#59 overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Pelletier attended Coyotes training camp in both the 2005 and 2006 season as well as attended training camp with Detroit in 2007.

Prior to turning pro Pelletier played four years of juniors in the QMJHL where he had a combined record of 78-62-9. Pelletier had back-to-back 20 win seasons posting 29 in 2006-07 and 24 in 2007-08. Pelletier played in a total of 103 games in those two seasons.

Pelletier spent the 2008-09 season playing college hockey with the University of Waterloo (CIS) where he was a member of the OUA West All Rookie Team.

In 2005 Pelletier played for Team Canada as a member of the U18 National team, while in 2006 he attended Team Canada's World Junior training camp.