The Calgary Flames announced the signing of Providence junior goaltender Jon Gillies on Wednesday.
Gillies, who recently was named the Most Outstanding Player at the Frozen Four and a CCM All-America East Second Team nod, tallied a career-high 49 saves against Boston University in the national championship game to lead the Friars to the program’s first national title with a 4-3 win over the Terriers on April 11.
“We are excited and proud that Jon has earned this opportunity,” PC coach Nate Leaman said in a statement. “He’s had a great three years as a Friar, culminating in Saturday night’s NCAA Championship game. We know he will represent Providence College well and we look forward to seeing Jon back on campus in the future as he continues to work toward his Providence College degree.”
“It has been an indescribable honor to wear the Friar jersey and represent Providence College for the past three years,” Gillies added. “I am forever a Friar and that makes me one of the luckiest people in the world.”
Gillies went 24-13-2 during the 2014-15 season and posted the second-best GAA in program history (2.01). He finished the season with the nation’s seventh-best save percentage (.930), while his GAA ranked 12th in the country. Gillies made 1,029 saves on the season, which ranks sixth all-time at Providence. In 38 starts this year, he allowed two or fewer goals on 29 occasions.
In Hockey East, Gillies was selected to the Hockey East First Team. He also earned that honor in 2012-13 to become just the fifth goaltender in Hockey East history to earn multiple First-Team honors.
During the 2014-15 regular-season conference schedule, Gillies posted the sixth-best GAA (1.74) and the fifth-best save percentage (.939) in league history. He posted four shutouts this season, including a 43-save effort in Providence’s 1-0 win against Boston College on Nov. 29.
Gillies is Providence’s all-time leader in shutouts (13) and career GAA (2.08). He owns three of the top-four lowest single-season GAAs in Friar history (2.08, 2.16 and 1.95).
This season, Gillies moved into second place in career wins at Providence (60-34-13). He ranks second at Providence in career saves (3,000) and fourth in goaltender appearances (108).
In the NCAA tournament this year, Gillies made 52 saves in the East Regional and stopped 23 of the 24 shots he faced against Denver in the regional final to earn All-East Regional Team honors. Gillies then helped Providence clinch a spot in the Frozen Four championship after a 25-save performance during the Friars’ 4-1 win over Omaha in the national semifinal April 9.
