BASINGSTOKE,U.K.-The blue line of the Elite League Basingstoke Bison has just gotten a whole lot bigger with the signing of 6`5″ 245 pounder Jason Goulet. The stay at home defenseman is new to the British game and has flown the nest of the ECHL’s Bakersfield Condor to be part of this year’s stampede.
The native of Winnipeg last season was an early trade from the Dayton Bombers but soon made his mark at the Condors, ending the campaign with six points including one goal, as well as 160 minutes in penalties.
The previous year Goulet had eight games in the AHL with Bridgeport Sound Tigers, while also spending time playing in the ECHL for Pensacola Ice Pilots and Cincinnati Cyclones. In a total of 66 games Goulet amassed 10 points on seven assists as well as 170 PIMs.
Goulet’s best year as a pro for points came in the 2005-06 campaign with the CHL’s Oklahoma City Blazers, where he scored four times in a 10 point haul as well as collecting 248 minutes in penalties for a career high.
At Bakersfield, Goulet had the ideal person in one of the coach’s on the team, former Herd netminder Scot Hay to talk about his move to England.
“I am very excited about coming to Europe to play as this will be my first time outside of North America, having spoken to Scott (Hay) I know what to expect of the league and country so can’t wait to get there,” Goulet said. “I am a pretty gritty player, I will move the bodies away from the net and I like to hit. I play strong defence and I am not afraid to stick up for my team mates,” Goulet said. “I have led my team for fights for a defenseman every year since I turned pro. Last year I should have scored more than one goal as I went close a lot of time.”
The first three members of the Bison blue line brigade signed so far this summer have a great deal of ECHL experience and Goulet has played against the other new Bison D-men Curtiss Patrick and Trevor Read.
“I have played against both of them and they are good players, I know I will be expected to log up a lot more ice time in England but for me, the more ice time I get the better I play,” Goulet said.
Goulet is the third six foot plus defenseman to sign for the Bison so the Basingstoke Arena is certainly not going to be place you will be able to hide.
Head coach Ryan Aldridge thinks very highly of his latest signing. “This is another great signing for the Herd and I have only had good reports about Jason, I spoke to Scott Hay at Bakersfield and he said he is a beast out on the ice and a great player who is a solid defensive defenseman who clears the net well,” Aldridge said. “He can play the first pass out the zone, hits like a truck and is not afraid to drop his gloves for his team mates.”
Aldridge concluded. “He is a real policeman out on the ice taking care of his team mates, but he will not just fight for the sake of it, I think he will be a big hit with the Bison fans.” Contact the author at Graham.merry@prohockeynews.com
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