BUFFALO, N.Y. (May 5, 2012) – Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier today announced that the team has signed goaltender Nathan Lieuwen to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Lieuwen (6’5”, 189 lbs., 8/8/91) finished the 2011-12 season ranked third among all Western Hockey League goaltenders with a 2.50 goals against average and ranked fifth with a .914 save percentage. In his second season as the starting goaltender for the Kootenay Ice, Lieuwen went 27-20-6-2 with three shutouts.

In parts of five WHL seasons with Kootenay, Lieuwen posted a regular season record of 85-59-8-7. He backstopped the Ice to a Memorial Cup Championship in 2010-11, earning WHL Playoff MVP honors after going 16-2-1 with a 2.24 goals against average and .923 save percentage.

The Abbortsford, British Columbia native was Buffalo's sixth-round pick (167th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.