REID & TAIT COMMIT WITH UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE

Lethbridge – With incumbent and 2009-10 Canada West All-Star Scott Bowles entering his final year of eligibility, Head Coach Greg Gatto felt it was important to solidify the Horns’ goaltending going forward. Today the Horns are excited to announce the signing of a pair of Western Hockey League grads with the commitment of former Spokane Chief James Reid and Lethbridge Hurricane Dylan Tait.

“Bowles has been the backbone for us his entire career but we felt it was important to bring in quality competition and set ourselves up heading into his graduation after this season,” said Gatto.

“The last thing we want to do is go into a season with nothing but true freshmen as starting goalies.”

Reid, a six-foot Calgary native, is coming off an outstanding final season of junior hockey where he was named the Western Conference nominee for the WHL goalie of the year. Reid was beaten out on the award by the WHL Player of the Year and the eventual winner of the CHL goalie of the year, Darcy Kuemper of the Red Deer Rebels.

During his final year of junior hockey, Reid led the Chiefs to the Western Conference final, losing in 6 games to the conference regular season champion Portland Winterhawks. In 50 regular season appearances, his 2.52 goals against average was fourth best in the WHL and he recorded 35 wins, sixth in the league despite missing significant time due to injury.

In three seasons with the Chiefs, Reid made 128 appearances and compiled a 85-30-9 record. He also appeared in 24 post-season games over the past two seasons.

“Reid has been one of the top goaltenders in the WHL the last few seasons and we are really excited to have him join the Horns,” commented Gatto on the addition of Reid. “He will give us a great tandem with Scott Bowles and depth for the continuing seasons.”

Despite coming to a new league and team, Reid will see a pair of familiar faces in the Horns dressing room next season. Former Chief Ryan Letts just completed his first season with the Horns and the recent signing of Hurricanes captain Mike Reddington, who played with Reid for two seasons in Spokane.

Tait, a Lethbridge Athletic Association product, joins the Horns after his lone full season in the WHL with his hometown Lethbridge Hurricanes. Last year, Tait made 27 appearances for the Hurricanes and finished 6-10-1 with a 4.13 goals against average and 0.883 save percentage.

Prior to suiting up with the Hurricanes, Tait played with the Drumheller Dragons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

The Lethbridge native developed in the LAA and was part of the goaltending tandem with the Y’s Men Titans that led the Alberta Midget Hockey League South Division with a 25-4-7 record and surrendered a league low 84 goals. Tait finished with a 11-2-3 record and a 2.91 goals against average.

“It is important for our program to have quality local guys return or stay in Lethbridge,” said Gatto. “Dylan will battle and give us great depth at the goaltending position.”

Tait joins a growing list of southern Alberta products to join the Horns in recent years with the likes of Taylor Gal, Mason Conway, Winston Day Chief and Cam Creighton.

Coach Gatto and the rest of the coaching staff hope to add to the 2011-12 recruiting class before the opening of training camp the first weekend of September. The Horns will see their first conference action September 30th, hosting the Saskatchewan Huskies.