The Dundee Stars have signed netminder Francis Marotte to a one-year contract.
The 27-year-old arrives in Dundee after two seasons split between the American Hockey League (AHL) and ECHL, in which he represented the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Allen Americans, and San Diego Gulls.
Before turning professional, the Canadian played four successful seasons in the NCAA with Robert Morris University and Clarkson University. He made 141 collegiate appearances, upholding a 2.35 goals-against average, .922 save percentage, and 12 shutouts.
Marotte was a standout performer during his four-year college career and was named to the All-Rookie Team in his debut season.
His form after transferring to Clarkson University was spectacular. He recorded a 1.78 goals-against average, .938 save percentage, and four shutouts through 34 appearances, earning him the ECAS Goaltender of the Year Award and a spot in the First All-Star Team.
He joins the Stars at an important moment in the season. Jeff Mason’s team are fifth in the Elite League, through to the next round of the Challenge Cup, and on a three-game winning streak.
Marotte will compete for starts with Anton Svensson and Brython Preece, both of whom have recorded sub-.900 save percentages in league play this season.
Francis Marotte ‘excited’ for new challenge
Mason has endured topsy-turvy performances from his netminders since stepping behind the bench with the Stars and hopes that recruiting Marotte will improve his team defensively.
“We have been working hard as a team defensively to cut down our goals against and this was an opportunity to strengthen our team defence and deepen our goaltending position,” he explained. “This is something that will help us as we have a lot of games coming up and I believe it will give us a boost and create more of that healthy competition.
“Our goal as a group is to continue to get stronger and improve our game, and be a very difficult team to play against and I believe adding Francis to the group with Anton and Brython helps us do that. As with all positions a little healthy competition is a good thing and I expect it will bring out the best in all three.”
Mason, per a press release issued by the Stars, was attracted to Marotte because of his composure between the pipes.
“From everything I have seen of Francis, he is a very calm goaltender and pucks tend to stick to him, he added. “He has had a lot of success in his career posting some very good numbers whilst also possessing the ability to steal games.”
Marotte, who started the season without a club, is excited to play a prominent role for his new team.
“I think the biggest thing for me since I left college was that I wanted to play games and as soon as I talked to Jeff, there was a great opportunity for me to come here and play games and help the team win, which is the biggest thing,” he explained.
“I played with [Spencer] Doro[wicz] back in college, I also know Anthony Beauregard too, I played against him growing up as he is from close to my hometown and also Nic Riopel, who is an agent back home and I have talked to him a few times, but everyone I have asked had great things to say about Dundee, so that got me really excited.”
According to the former NCAA star, the Elite League’s playoff format is a key part of its appeal.
“I like the format of the league,” Marotte explained. “One of my goals in college was to get to the Frozen Four Tournament and win a national championship, and I finally got a chance in my last year but then COVID shut it down and we were actually fifth in the country when I was playing at Clarkson.
“Then, Jeff told me the format of the playoffs here is similar to what it is in college, that one-game elimination type and the final four weekend, so that was something else that got me excited to come to Dundee, because I did not get to do it at college.”
Marotte is eligible to debut for the Stars on Saturday [22 October] away versus the Manchester Storm.
