Eurolanche

Avalanche signs 3 goaltender prospects

“Our organization is excited to be signing three of our top goaltending prospects,” said Avalanche General Manager/ Executive Vice President Greg Sherman.  “All three players had success at the college or international level and we look forward to seeing them at training camp.”

A native of Tampere, Finland, Aittokallio backstopped his country to a fourth-place finish at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in Alberta.  The 19-year-old posted a 3-2-0 record with a 2.52 goals-against average, .937 save percentage and one shutout in five games during the tournament. Colorado’s fifth pick (fourth round, 107th overall) in the 2010 Entry Draft, Aittokallio saw action in 11 games for Ilves in Finland’s top professional ice hockey league (SM-liiga) this past season.

Millan, 22, just completed a four-year career at Boston University, where he compiled an 81-42-12 record in 138 games (.644 winning percentage). He departed as the school’s all-time leader in victories, games played and saves (3,768).  As a senior in 2011-12, Millan posted a 20-14-1 record with a 2.60 GAA, .923 Sv% and three shutouts in 35 appearances.  The Edmonton native was named BU’s team MVP for the second straight year and was an honorable mention Hockey East All Star.

Colorado’s fifth selection (fifth round, 124th overall) in the 2009 Entry Draft, Millan backstopped the Terriers to the 2009 NCAA championship as a freshman.  He was named the Hockey East Rookie of the Year that season after fashioning a 29-2-3 record with a 1.94 GAA in 35 contests.  He was named a Hockey East Second Team All-Star as a junior in 2010-11.

Patterson, 22, was named to the 2011-12 All-WCHA First Team and the AHCA/CCM All-American WestSecond Team as a senior at the University of Minnesota.  The St. Louis Park, Minn., native started all 43 games for the Gophers, leading his team to the WCHA regular season championship and a berth in the 2012 NCAA Frozen Four.  Patterson compiled a 28-14-1 record with a 2.32 GAA, .907 Sv% and seven shutouts.  His seven shutouts were a single-season school record and tied for the NCAA lead.  Patterson’s 28 wins ranked second in the nation and were the most by a Gopher since Robb Stauber won 34 games in 1987-88.  Patterson won the WCHA Goaltending Champion title with a 2.06 GAA in 28 league games and also led all WCHA netminders with 20 wins (20-8-0) in conference action.

Colorado’s sixth selection (fourth round, 113th overall) in the 2007 Entry Draft, Patterson finished his career ranked first in school history in save percentage (.912) and tied for first in goals-against average (2.46).  Patterson's seven shutouts place him tied for third all-time in that category.  He started the final 64 games of his career at Minnesota and finished with a 44-29-9 record.

-Avalanche Press Release-