Blackhawks sign Vermont goaltender

The Chicago Blackhawks have signed goaltender Joe Fallon of the University of Vermont, General Manager Dale Tallon announced Friday.

A native of Bemidji, Minn., the 23-year-old Fallon was the Blackhawks' sixth-round pick (167th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Fallon (6-3, 203 pounds), played four seasons for the University of Vermont Catamounts. As a freshman, he was named the ECAC Rookie of the Year after posting a record of 17-10-4 with a 1.96 goals against average, and a .921 save percentage. He set a school record for shutouts in a single season with five, which he subsequently broke the next two seasons by posting six.

In the 2006-07 season, Fallon had a 1.86 goals against average which was the best in school history while being named a Hobey Baker Award nominee.

In his career at the University of Vermont, Fallon appeared in 132 games posting a record of 63-51-17 with 20 shutouts and a 2.05 goals against average.

Fallon finished his career ranked second all-time in NCAA Division I History with 20 shutouts and 11th all-time in goals against average at 2.05.