Panthers Sign Free Agent Garrison

New Panthers defensive prospect Jason Garrison (UMD Athletics)

SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers General Manager and Head Coach Jacques Martin announced today that the team has agreed to terms with college free agent D Jason Garrison on an entry level contract.

“We are very pleased that Jason has decided to be part of the Panthers organization,” said Martin. “He is a big and strong puck moving defenseman who was one of his team’s top players during his tenure at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Jason is a high character individual who will be given the opportunity to make our club in training camp and we look forward to both his on-ice and off-ice contributions to the Panthers organization.

Garrison, 23, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound defenseman spent the last three years playing at the University of Minnesota-Duluth playing in 87 games scoring nine goals with 20 assists. Prior to playing at the UMD, he ranked as the top scoring defenseman tallying 62 points (22-40-62) in 57 games played with the Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL).

The Florida Panthers 2007-08 season is presented by the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. Sunrise Sports & Entertainment is the premier company of its kind in South Florida. Home to more than 185 events annually and the Florida Panthers Hockey Club, the BankAtlantic Center is consistently a top 20 United States venue according to Pollstar. The BankAtlantic Center welcomes more than two million guests each year and is also the home of the Sinatra Theatre presented by BankAtlantic and two monthly South Florida publications: Unrestricted and Panthers Insider.

Jason Garrison Playing Statistics:
                                                            --- Regular Season ---           ---- Playoffs ----
Season   Team                               Lge    GP   G   A    Pts  PIM    GP   G   A  Pts PIM
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2003-04  Nanaimo Clippers            BCHL   52    7    20   27    31       24   3  10  13  12
2004-05  Nanaimo Clippers            BCHL   57   22   40   62    42
2005-06  U. of Minnesota-Duluth    NCAA   40    3     9   12     26
2006-07  U. of Minnesota-Duluth    NCAA   21    1     2    3     16
2007-08  U. of Minnesota-Duluth    NCAA   26    5     9   14     26
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Other Information (Supplied by University of Minnesota-Duluth Athletics)
A native of White Rock, British Columbia, Jason Garrison had been enjoying an All-WCHA type year before injuring his right leg at Wisconsin on Feb. 1. He didn't return to the Bulldog lineup until the season finale at Denver in the opening round of the WCHA playoffs.

Prior to the injury, Garrison was tied for first among Bulldogs in scoring and topped the team in assists. He also shared the WCHA goal-scoring lead for defensemen with fellow Bulldog Josh Meyers. He wound up the year with 14 points on five goals and nine assists in 26 games an was second on the club with a plus-minus rating (+7).

Garrison, who turned 23 this past November, was the recipient of this year's Stauber Brothers Fan Favorite Award.