Same Underhill?

Just curious if this is Cornell's Matt Underhill? Pretty sure he was a senior this year.

Pee Dee Pride (ECHL)-- Signed goaltenders Ron Vogel and Matt Underhill.

Yes. It is him.

[q]Underhill will be entering his first professional season after completing a standout collegiate career at Cornell University which included being named a first-team All-American last season. A sixth round pick (#170 overall) of the Calgary Flames in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Underhill played in 88 games over four years with the Big Red. The 6'2" 210-pounder posted a 42-31-9 record with a goals against average of 2.32 and a .913 save percentage. Last season, he finished third nationally with a 1.80 goals against average and fourth in the nation in save percentage at .922. He became the first Cornell goaltender since the 1969-70 season to post a goals against average of under 2.00, and was just the fourth to do so in school history.
"Matt is a kid we are really excited to be able to bring on board," Payne said. "He comes highly regarded and has the potential to be an outstanding goalie at the pro level. We've had our eyes on him since the college season ended. He was highly sought after, and we are excited that he chose to sign with us.
[/q]

I'm glad that he signed with the Pride, but disappointed that the Flames didn't sign him and assign him to a minor league affiliate.

Of course, and I don't mean to cross threads, I expect someone to say that by not signing with the Flames within two years of being drafted, he became a free agent. Yes? Even if that is the case, I would have thought that he would have been pursued after his fantastic last two years at Cornell and signed at a higher level than the ECHL.

Best of luck, Undy.

Big Red Apple, although the excerpt I lifted from the Central Scouting Service and pasted onto the Player Progression thread didn't say it, I believe NHL teams retain the draft rights to players who stay in college. I don't know the specifics regarding the post-graduation deadlines NHL teams have for signing former college players before the players become free agents.

I heard that he was trying to become a free agent because the Flames depth chart at Goalie was pretty long. I guess he's planning to work hard and hopefully get some other team to sign him up to a higher level.

hey all.

am not sure if anyone mentioned this and i haven't kept up on the comings and goings of the ECHL to know if this has since changed- but on last year's Pee Dee Pride roster is a guy that the faithful have taunted many times in the past - Harvard's very own - JR Prestifilippo. So, it looks like Undy is in with the enemy now.

wow. betcha that will lead for some interesting conversations those first few days.