Seabass... WHERE ARE YOU......??

Eagles Net Two Goalies With AHL Experience

WINDSOR, Colo. – The Colorado Eagles announced today that they’ve signed two goaltenders with AHL experience on their resumes for the upcoming season. Both Morgan Cey (pronounced: Say) (6-foot-3-inch, 174 pounds) and Andrew Penner (6-foot-3-inches, 212 pounds) have spent their entire professional careers playing in the ECHL and AHL after signing NHL contracts.

2008-09 CHL Off-Season Transactions

“These are two very established goaltenders,” said Goaltending Coach Ryan Bach. “What you want in a goalie is someone that plays with a great deal of desire, determination and confidence, and they both possess plenty of that. These two goalies are both very capable of being Number One goalies on any team and we’re fortunate to have them both.”

Cey, a left-handed catching goaltender, is entering his fourth professional season after spending four years at the University of Notre Dame (2001-02 thru 2004-05). Upon leaving the Fighting Irish, Cey owned career records for save percentage (.912), GAA (2.79) and shutouts (6) and became one of four goalies in CCHA history to record back-to-back playoff shutouts. Those accomplishments helped earn the netminder a multi-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL. Cey spent his first two pro season in the ECHL with the Johnstown Chiefs, moving on to the AHL for a pair of games at the tail end of 2005-06 with the Springfield Falcons. The Wilkie, Saskatchewan native spent one game with the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals last season before playing the balance of the season with the Mississippi Sea Wolves of the ECHL.

Penner, who also catches with his left hand, will be a sixth-year pro after spending four years in the Ontario Hockey League (1999-00 thru 2002-03). After playing the entire 2003-04 season with the Dayton Bombers of the ECHL, Penner split the next three seasons between the ECHL and AHL (with the Bombers, Syracuse Crunch, Wheeling Nailers and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins). During the 2005-06 season, Penner also spent three weeks in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Last year, Penner signed with the Colorado Avalanche and participated in their training camp before playing the entire season with the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL – filling the void created when his new teammate, Cey, left as the Chief’s netminder after the 2006-07 season.

Cey only has three games in the A in his three years in the E, but Penner has 100 in the E and 91 in the A. Penner must draw a serious salary, and one would guess that signing these two would make the Eagles have the highest combined goalie salary in the league. (Bugs had to have some serious goalie bucks last year too.) I guess they'll have to skimp on their forwards to be able to stay under the cap.