With an eye to resolving present and future netminding issues, the Trail Smoke Eaters signed goaltender Lyndon Stanwood from the Kamloops Storm of the KIJHL Wednesday and released goaltender Reed Vogt.
The Smokies have given up the most goals in the BCHL this season (122) and while their defensive woes can also be attributed to injuries and loss of key players, unsteady goaltending is the last thing the Smokies needed.
Vogt performed well early in the season, including a 4-3 victory over Penticton last month, but inconsistency plagued the Lethbridge native.
In an effort to address the early chaos in the crease the Smokies sent last year’s backup Matt Lerose to Alberni Valley and traded veteran defenceman Rajan Sidhu to the Drummondville Dragons for goaltender James D’Andrea.
The 19 year old has shown flashes of brilliance and while steady, he has not been outstanding.
The team has lacked a quality starter to come up with an occasional big save and give them a chance to win some of their close games.
Stanwood has played well for the KIJHL Storm and is looking to continue at the Junior A level.
“He really wants to come here and play,” Smoke Eater coach Bill Birks said in a release.
“We were his first choice all along, and he’s really excited to play for the Smoke Eaters.
“It’s a great opportunity for Lyndon and we think that he can make an immediate impact to help his new team.”
In 18 appearances with the Storm this season, Stanwood recorded a record of 14-1-2, 2.53 GAA and .927 save percentage, adding two shutouts.
He was named the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference Player of the Month for September 2011.
“We’ve had our eye on him for a while,” said Birks.
“He had a great year last year and was off to another impressive start this season.”
The 18-year-old Stanwood will be in the lineup Friday when the Smoke Eaters visit the Westside Warriors.
The outgoing Vogt posted two of the Smokies three wins in seven starts this year, had a respectable 4.53 GAA and a .866 save percentage.