Laredo Bucks Sign Former NHL Draftee
The Bucks picked up a goalie with some significant pro experience today. The club announced they had signed former Anaheim Ducks draft pick Jean-Philippe Levasseur for the upcoming season. Levasseur was drafted in the 7th round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, but only saw pre-season action with the big club. He has played several years at the ECHL and AHL level, though, and should bring great depth to the position for Bucks’ GM and head coach Terry Ruskowski. The Bucks also announced they had released two other players – Ryan Salvis and Josef Fojtik, to trim their roster to the maximum 19 players allowed by tomorrow’s CHL deadline. Read on for the press release and stats for “J.P.”
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LAREDO, TX – The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League announced Wednesday that they have signed former NHL draft pick Jean-Philippe (J.P) Levasseur for the 2009-10 season. The Bucks also announced that they have released forwards Ryan Salvis and Josef Fojtik, finalizing the opening day roster.
The 22-year-old Levassuer (pronounced LEV-a-sir) was drafted in the seventh round (#197 overall) by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, and spent parts of the last two seasons in the AHL.
“Levassuer is a very solid and highly sought goaltender that’s for sure,” said Bucks President/General Manager and Head Coach Terry Ruskowski. “He’s got quite a bit of talent, and we expect him to play very well here.”
Levasseur has played in 51 career AHL games, posting a combined record of 17-22-5 with the Portland Pirates (’07-08) and Iowa Chops (’08-09).
Last season Levassuer, a native of Victoriaville, Quebec, went 13-18-4 for Iowa, with a 3.11 G.A.A and a .890 sv. %.
“He has over 50 AHL games played, he’s played in NHL preseason, his resume speaks for itself,” Ruskowski said. “We are very pleased to pick him up at this stage in the game.”
In 2007-08 the 6’0’’, 200 pound Levassuer split time with Portland (AHL) Augusta (ECHL). With Portland Levassuer went 4-5-1 with a 2.50 G.A.A and a .866 sv. %, while spending the majority of the season with Augusta going 10-11-2 (2.99 G.A.A, .900 sv. %).
Levassuer spent his entire four-year junior career in the QMJHL with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, where he had a combined record of 74-56-4.