Individual News
31st of July 2008
The Basingstoke Bison are delighted to announce the signing of American netminder Kevin Reiter.
The brand new shot stopper to Britain was voted the top goalie in the International Hockey League last season, as he helped the Fort Wayne Komets to Championship glory.
The Pittsburgh native recorded a career high eight shut-outs last term on his way to an impressive 91 per cent save rate from 2,722 minutes between the pipes.
The previous year, the 26-year-old just missed on the Central Hockey League crown when his team the Laredo Bucks were beaten in the final, with Reiter again in good form posting a 91.5 save percentage.
Bison head coach Ryan Aldridge believes his new cage man will be a great success guarding the Herd net.
Aldridge said: "He is winning goalie and someone who likes to have big defencemen 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 sure he will do a good job for he Bison this season."
Talking from his home in Pittsburgh, Reiter said: "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 excitied."
The latest addition to the Herd had an ideal person in former Bison netminder Nick Boucher, his goalie partner at Fort Wayne, to ask about Basingstoke and the Elite League
Reiter added: "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.
"Last season was a great year for me and winning the Goalie of the Year was the icing on the cake. I know a few of my team mates 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 so trophies to Basingstoke."
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 goalie at the University of Minnesota.
The Bison new boy is ready for the challenge of the Elite League and 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."
The brand new shot stopper to Britain was voted the top goalie in the International Hockey League last season, as he helped the Fort Wayne Komets to Championship glory.
The Pittsburgh native recorded a career high eight shut-outs last term on his way to an impressive 91 per cent save rate from 2,722 minutes between the pipes.
The previous year, the 26-year-old just missed on the Central Hockey League crown when his team the Laredo Bucks were beaten in the final, with Reiter again in good form posting a 91.5 save percentage.
Bison head coach Ryan Aldridge believes his new cage man will be a great success guarding the Herd net.
Aldridge said: "He is winning goalie and someone who likes to have big defencemen 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 sure he will do a good job for he Bison this season."
Talking from his home in Pittsburgh, Reiter said: "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 excitied."
The latest addition to the Herd had an ideal person in former Bison netminder Nick Boucher, his goalie partner at Fort Wayne, to ask about Basingstoke and the Elite League
Reiter added: "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.
"Last season was a great year for me and winning the Goalie of the Year was the icing on the cake. I know a few of my team mates 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 so trophies to Basingstoke."
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 goalie at the University of Minnesota.
The Bison new boy is ready for the challenge of the Elite League and 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."