BASINGSTOKE,UK-The Elite League Basingstoke Bison have signed their starting netminder for the coming campaign in the form of Pittsburgh born Kevin Reiter, who finished the Goalie-of-the-Year last year for the Turner Cup winning Fort Wayne Komets in the IHL.
The American cageman recorded a career high eight shut-outs and had four assists last term, while also posting an impressive 91 per cent save rate from 2,722 shots in between the pipes. As well as being named goalie of the year, Reiter also picked up three netminder monthly awards in the IHL during the season.
The signing of the 26-year-old completes the Bison’s netminding duo for the coming 2008-09 campaign giving it a completely new look following the earlier summer signing of young English goalie Joe White from English Premier League Swindon Wildcats.
The new cageman replaces Ontario native Curtis Cruickshank who has joined the Bison Elite League rivals the Hull Stingrays, while the Herd’s back-up last term Dan Green will not be returning to the Basingstoke Arena, having moved to the Sheffield Steelers.
Last season, Reiter winning the Turner Cup made up for the previous year’s disappointment of being beaten finalists for the Ray Miron President’s Cup when playing for the Laredo Bucks in the CHL, where Reiter recorded two more shut-outs and his best to date 91.5 save percentage.
Reiter has had 15 shut-outs in his pro career in total and the previous five were from his rookie year in the UHL playing for the Missouri River Otters.
“He (Reiter) is a winning goalie and someone who likes to have big defensemen in front which is what he will have this season, he is used to playing as a number one goalie and logging up the minutes so I am sure he will do a good job for he Bison this season,” said Bison Head-coach Ryan Aldridge.
“This is a great opportunity for me to come to Europe for the first time I feel this is the right time and I am very excited,” Reiter said. “Last season was a great year for me and winning the Goalie of the Year was the icing on the cake.” Although coming to Europe for the first time Reiter will not be in unfamiliar company. “I know a few of my teammates this year and I played against Brent (Hughes) in the IHL finals winning this time, that made up for the year before when he beat me playing for Colorado, so hopefully together we can bring some trophies to Basingstoke,” Reiter said.
Reiter had the ideal person to ask about life in the Bison was former Herd man Nick Boucher, was his goalie partner at Fort Wayne.
“Nick is a good friend and told me all about the league, club and area. How the fans are really passionate about their team so I am looking forward to meeting them,” Reiter said. “I am aware I am expected to play every night, but I have done well when playing regularly as I feel it helps you build up a good rhythm.”
Netminding is in the blood of the Reiter family as father Kevin Senior played in that position and his younger brother Kenneth Reiter is currently a netminder at the University of Minnesota. Before becoming a netminder in his early years he played as a defenceman and Reiter is a firm believer that the goalie should be the best skater on the team.
The netminder is a former Pittsburgh Penguins season ticket holder having watched the team when Mario Lemieux was in his prime and one of his heroes is Tom Barrasso part of the Pens Stanley Cup winning team of 1990-91 and 1991-92.
Now Reiter will hope to bring some glory back to the Bison which is long over due . Contact the author at Graham.merry@prohockeynews.com
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