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Brandon Wheat Kings

Panthers Sign Tyler Plante

June 1, 2007 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba - The Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings are pleased to announce that goalkeeper Tyler Plante has signed an entry level contract with the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers.

"We are pleased to have come to terms with three of our highly rated draft prospects," Panthers General Manager and Head Coach Jacques Martin said. "Since they have been drafted they all performed very well for their respective clubs and we look forward to their continued development within our organization."

Plante, 20, appeared in 54 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) this season posting a 30-14-9 mark with a 2.71 GAA and a .911 save percentage. During his rookie campaign (2004-05) with Brandon, Plante was awarded the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the top rookie in the WHL, posting a 34-11-2 record. In three full seasons with the Wheat Kings, Plante owns an 89-49-20 mark and has guided Brandon to the WHL playoffs each year, helping his club advance to the WHL finals in 2005. The Brandon product was drafted by Florida with their third choice (32nd overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

A former member of the National Champion AAA Wheat Kings, Plante is Brandon's all time leader with twelve career shutouts.

As well, Plante is second on the club's all time list for games played (164) and minutes played (9,520). Only Washington Capitals' head coach Glen Hanlon has played more - 172 games and 9,805 minutes played - in a Brandon uniform.

Plante was one of three players coming to terms with the Panthers this afternoon. Financial terms of the NHL deal were not disclosed.

Plante becomes the fourth member of last year's team to sign contracts with their respective National League clubs in the past month. Defenceman Dustin Kohn signed with the New York Islanders earlier this week; right-winger Ryan Reaves inked a 3-year deal with the St. Louis Blues two weeks ago and center Codey Burki came to terms with the Colorado Avalanche in early May.

Friday was the deadline for players chosen in the 2005 NHL entry draft to sign with their respective clubs. The only Wheat King not coming to terms so far has been Swiss sniper Juraj Simek. However, Simek was selected in last June's draft meaning the Vancouver Canucks have until June 2008 to sign the Slovakian born right-winger.

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