Capitals sign former UMaine goalie Yeats

WASHINGTON – The Washington Capitals on Friday signed former University of Maine goaltender Matt Yeats and reassigned goalie Maxime Ouellet to the American Hockey League’s Portland Pirates.

Yeats, who will turn 25 on April 6, has appeared in seven games for Portland this season, posting a record of 2-1-1 with a 2.17 goals-against average, a .928 save percentage, and one shutout.

This marks the first time that Yeats, a native of Innisfall, Alberta, has been called up to the National Hockey League since being selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the ninth round (248th overall) of the 1998 Entry Draft.

Yeats, who helped the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies win the East Coast Hockey League’s Kelly Cup championship in 2002-03, his first pro season, played 86 games during three seasons at Maine, registering a 44-23-11 career record and posting a 2.63 goals-against average with a .900 save percentage.