GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Jean-Philippe Lamoureux signed with the Alaska Aces in the East Coast Hockey League last season, knowing that if he wanted an NHL contract, he had to earn it.
That's exactly what the former Grand Forks Central and UND standout did.
After a brilliant season in the ECHL - where Lamoureux was named the league's rookie of the year and goalie of the year - the 2008 Hobey Baker finalist has signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres.
Lamoureux will report to the Sabres' training camp in September and is expected to start with the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the Portland Pirates.
"I'm just trying to pay my dues and work my way up the ladder," Lamoureux said Wednesday night. "I'm trying to prove that I'm on the elite tier as far as goalie prospects go.
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"I'm probably going to start as the fourth goalie in the organization, but I really feel like I can push for starting time in the American League if I play well. I'll have to pay my dues and bide my time."
The organization's top three goaltenders are Ryan Miller, Patrick Lalime and Jhonas Enroth.
Potulny re-signs with Edmonton Oilers
Lamoureux wasn't the only former Grand Forks high school player to sign an NHL contract on Wednesday.
Grand Forks Red River's Ryan Potulny re-signed with the Edmonton Oilers, the organization he played for last season.
Potulny played the first eight games last season with the Oilers before getting sent to the AHL's Springfield Falcons. The former Minnesota Gopher excelled with the Falcons, tallying a career-high 38 goals and 24 assists for 62 points in 70 games. He was picked to play in the AHL All-Star Game.
Potulny has played a total of 52 games in the NHL in his career. He was a restricted free agent this summer.
UND's Rick Wilson hired as coach in Tampa Bay
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In desperate need of improvement on the blue line, the Tampa Bay Lightning have again looked in UND's direction.
After trading for defenseman David Hale and signing defenseman Matt Smaby, the Lightning hired Rick Wilson to help coach the blue liners on Tuesday.
Wilson, a former Sioux player and assistant coach, will be the associate head coach of the Lightning under Rick Tocchet. In a statement, Tocchet said the Lightning want Wilson - who previously served as the associate coach for the Dallas Stars - to work with the young defensive corps.
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