Maine goaltender Ben Bishop has signed a pro contract with the NHL’s St. Louis Blues and will forego his senior season, team president John Davidson announced Tuesday. Bishop will join the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen for the remainder of the season.
The 6-7, 210-pound netminder recorded a 13-18-3 record along with a 2.43 goals against average and a .920 save percentage in 2007-08 for Maine, which is done for the season after missing the Hockey East playoffs.
He was named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week three times this season, while being named Hockey East Goalie of the Month for the month of October.
Bishop, a native of Des Peres, Mo., led the Black Bears to the Frozen Four last season, compiling a 21-9-2 record along with a 2.14 goals against average and a .923 save percentage.
For his three-year career, Bishop registered a 55-34-7 record. He ranks third all-time in school history in games played (99), second in saves (2,399), fifth in wins (55) and is fourth with a 2.29 goals against average.
He was St. Louis’ third-round selection (85th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Bishop spent three years at Chaminade High School in St. Louis before joining the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League following his junior year.
