The Trail Smoke Eaters made a couple moves Wednesday to stabilize the back up goalie position and make room on its roster for recent recruits.
The Smokies made a deal with Alberni Valley, acquiring 18-year-old goaltender Adam Todd for future considerations.
Todd, a Courtenay native, joins the Smokies after making two appearances this season with the Bulldogs. He posted a 1-1 record and 4.92 goals-against average in two starts.
Todd is a fourth-round Western Hockey League bantam draft selection from 2009, going 86th overall to the Saskatoon Blades. In 12 career WHL games, all with Saskatoon, the 18 year-old posted a record of 1-4-1.
“Adam is a very good goalie and we’re happy we were able to find him a place to play,” said Alberni Valley Bulldogs head coach Kevin Willison.
To make room for Todd, the Smoke Eaters released goaltender Braden Krogfoss, 17.
Krogfoss just never seemed comfortable making the jump to junior A from major midget, posting a 0-3 record in four appearances with the Smokies after joining the team from the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers.
The team was in need of a reliable backup to give starter Lyndon Stanwood a break after carrying much of the load this season.
Krogfoss is expected to join the junior B Comox Valley Glacier Kings of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.
In a separate move, the Smoke Eaters also released forward Michael Bell. Coach Bill Birks had commented that the team needed to reduce its roster in order to sign recent home recruit Ryan Edwards.
Bell, a Maple Ridge native, did not register a point in six games with the Smokies. He is expected to report to the Beaver Valley Nitehawks of the KIJHL.