Thiessen signs with NHL's Penguins
April 3, 2009
Boston, Mass.
Huskies goalie Brad Thiessen has signed with the PittsburghPenguins, the team announced on Friday. Thiessen is a Hobey Hat Trickfinalist and led Northeastern to one of its greatest seasons in2008-09, with his 25-12-4 record, 2.12 goals against average and .931save percentage. He will forgo his senior season with the Huskies topursue his professional hockey career.
“I want to say thanks to everybody at Northeastern,” said Thiessen onFriday evening. “I really enjoyed the last three years here.Northeastern will always be a special place for me and it did a lot tohelp me further my goal of playing in the NHL.”
Thiessen was assigned to the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins of theAmerican Hockey League (AHL). He joins Husky senior Joe Vitale, who wasofficially signed by the AHL Penguins on Thursday. Vitale was aseventh-round draft pick of the Penguins in 2005.
Thiessen will attend the Hobey Baker Award announcement on Friday,April 10, at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The 29th annualannouncement will be aired live on ESPNU at 7 p.m.
Thiessen is Northeastern's second-ever Hobey Hat Trick finalist as atop-three selection for the Hobey Baker Award, which honors collegehockey's top player. Jim Fahey was the other in 2002. Thiessen wasalready named New England MVP, Hockey East Player of the Year and was aunanimous selection to the Hockey East All-Star team and New EnglandAll-Star team. He also was Hockey East ITECH Goaltending Champion andearned the Three Stars Award.
Thiessen set Northeastern's season records in every major category in2008-09: wins (25), goals against average (2.12), save percentage(.931), saves (1195), games (41) and minutes (2495:44). Thiessen isNortheastern's career leader in goals against average (2.40), savepercentage (.922) and shutouts (nine). He ranks second all-time insaves (3166) and third in games (111) and minutes (6661:23).
Thiessen played every minute in net for Northeastern this season. Goinginto the NCAA Tournament, he led the nation in minutes and saves.Northeastern's 25 wins tied the program record and the Huskies advancedto the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994. In 2008-09,Thiessen had three shutouts, 16 games allowing one goal or less, and 24games allowing two goals or less. Northeastern was 19-1-4 in thosegames.
“I want to say thanks to everybody at Northeastern,” said Thiessen onFriday evening. “I really enjoyed the last three years here.Northeastern will always be a special place for me and it did a lot tohelp me further my goal of playing in the NHL.”
Thiessen was assigned to the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins of theAmerican Hockey League (AHL). He joins Husky senior Joe Vitale, who wasofficially signed by the AHL Penguins on Thursday. Vitale was aseventh-round draft pick of the Penguins in 2005.
Thiessen will attend the Hobey Baker Award announcement on Friday,April 10, at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The 29th annualannouncement will be aired live on ESPNU at 7 p.m.
Thiessen is Northeastern's second-ever Hobey Hat Trick finalist as atop-three selection for the Hobey Baker Award, which honors collegehockey's top player. Jim Fahey was the other in 2002. Thiessen wasalready named New England MVP, Hockey East Player of the Year and was aunanimous selection to the Hockey East All-Star team and New EnglandAll-Star team. He also was Hockey East ITECH Goaltending Champion andearned the Three Stars Award.
Thiessen set Northeastern's season records in every major category in2008-09: wins (25), goals against average (2.12), save percentage(.931), saves (1195), games (41) and minutes (2495:44). Thiessen isNortheastern's career leader in goals against average (2.40), savepercentage (.922) and shutouts (nine). He ranks second all-time insaves (3166) and third in games (111) and minutes (6661:23).
Thiessen played every minute in net for Northeastern this season. Goinginto the NCAA Tournament, he led the nation in minutes and saves.Northeastern's 25 wins tied the program record and the Huskies advancedto the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994. In 2008-09,Thiessen had three shutouts, 16 games allowing one goal or less, and 24games allowing two goals or less. Northeastern was 19-1-4 in thosegames.
