Lightning sign collegiate goaltender Pat Nagle to 2-year contract

The Bolts signed goaltender Pat Nagle to a two-year entry level contract today, a press releases by the Lightning announced.

Thsi story was going to be front paged, but my mind fixated on the wrong thing regarding the release and instead of focusing on Nagle, and his assets (played for Norfolk Admirals chead coach Jon Cooper in the North American Hockey League; a 2.02 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage this season; 6' 3" in size and 23 years of age)... Well, I focused on where he played.

Ferris State.

Save Ferris.

Save Ferris.

Save Ferris State?

Yes, childish and stupid. But then, so is skipping sharing the news for the sake of keeping movie-quote-earworms at bay.

I have to wonder if this means certain curtains for Lightning goalie prospect Michael Zador? He's unsigned and still playing Junior hockey at this point. It also might be a sign that Jaroslav Janus will get to move up to the AHL full time next year? We'll see..

The full press release from teh Lightning is below:

LIGHTNING SIGN FERRIS STATE GOALTENDER PAT NAGLE

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed undrafted free agent goaltender Pat Nagle to a two-year entry-level contract today, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman said.

Nagle, 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, played in 37 games with the Ferris State (Mich.) Bulldogs this season, posting an 18-14-5 record with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. He ranked fifth in NCAA Division-1 in GAA, tied for ninth for shutouts with three and tied for 10th in save percentage. Nagle also set school records for GAA and was tied for second in save percentage.

A native of Bloomfield, Michigan, Nagle was named to the All-CCHA First Team this past season and was named a Hobey Baker Memorial Award candidate. He received CCHA Preseason Second-Team honors and was also selected to Inside College Hockey.com’s First-Half All-CCHA Team.

Nagle has played in 101 career games with Ferris State from 2007-10. During that time he recorded a 2.32 GAA and a .916 save percentage with a 45-42-11 record with five shutouts. Nagle has improved his GAA in each of the previous three seasons, going from 2.84 in 2008-09 to 2.02 in 2010-11.

Prior to joining the Bulldogs, Nagle played under Norfolk Admirals head coach Jon Cooper with the St. Louis Bandits of the NAHL.

Ferris State Bio: http://www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com/sports/mice/2010-11/bios/nagle