Daniel Berthiaume

Daniel Berthiaume was the first player signed by the Central Texas Stampede, announced at a press conference at the Bell County Expo Center in August 1996. He brought nine years of NHL experience — time with the Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota North Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, and Ottawa Senators — followed by three seasons in the American Hockey League and a year in the East Coast Hockey League, where he posted a 22–5 record in Roanoke.

In the Stampede's inaugural 1996–97 season, Berthiaume started 54 games and finished 30–20 with 2 shutouts and a 3.38 GAA, backstopping the club to a 35–27–2 record and a run to the first President's Cup Final. He was named the WPHL's first-ever Outstanding Goaltender. His tenure ended when Lake Charles acquired him in an expansion-draft trade after the season, with coach Bob Bourne citing playoff performance as the reason for the move.