Gulls Sign Goalie Knickle for Remainder of Season

The Gulls secured their top goaltender Tuesday, signing Rick Knickle to a contract for the remainder of the 1991-92 International Hockey League season. Knickle, 31, has a 6-2 record with a 3.26 goals-against average. His contract had become a priority for the Gulls (8-8-0), who lost goalie Greg Millen to the New York Rangers Sunday.

Knickle has never played in the NHL but was once property of the Buffalo Sabres and has been an all-star four times in his 14-year minor league career. Knickle, who played at IHL Albany (before it folded) and Springfield of the American Hockey League last year, said he chose to play for the Gulls this season.

At an age where many NHL goaltenders are be near the end of their careers, Knickle said he could still have an NHL career ahead of him--via the 1992 expansion draft.

“There’s no doubt in my mind I can play at the NHL level,” he said last month. “I’m better now than I was at 25. I don’t feel 31. I wanted to be in this area this year. And I’m playing it year-by-year.”

Knickle, who is 3-0 against Phoenix, where the Gulls play tonight, was Buffalo’s seventh choice in the 1979 entry draft. He never played for the Sabres, Knickle said, because he never got a break.

“Nobody ever got hurt, not even as much as a hangnail,” he said. “My contract ran out and I’m a minor leaguer.”