The Estevan Bruins shook up their goaltending in a big way last week.
On Wednesday, the club dealt 19-year-old starter Brett Lewchuk to the Fort McMurray Oil Barons for future considerations.
Barely 24 hours later, that void was filled when the team acquired the Junior A rights of 19-year-old Tyler Fuhr from the La Ronge Ice Wolves, also for futures.
Fuhr, a native of Sherwood Park, Alta., spent last season with the Ice Wolves. In 38 games with a non-playoff team, he posted a .903 save percentage and 3.68 goals-against average.
There were high expectations for Lewchuk, who excelled as a rookie backup last year. However, the coaching staff felt there had been a drop-off in his game this season.
"I think what happened with Lewy is he had some tough starts and some bad bounces, and he started struggling with the confidence thing. As everyone knows, the goaltending position is such a mental position where you gotta be strong that way. I think he was struggling with that, and we identified that probably a change of scenery was going to get him back to form," said Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood.
The Oil Barons are hosting this year's Western Canada Cup.
Lewgood said the breaking point with Lewchuk was a 5-2 loss to the Nipawin Hawks on Nov. 9, in which the Hawks scored four unanswered goals in the third period.
"He's a far better player than what we saw that night. I thought the Nipawin game was disappointing. He wasn't alone in that loss, but it was kind of where he hit rock bottom. I think it was obvious then that he needed a change of scenery. We all know that he's a better player than that, and it was on us at that point to identify a good spot for him to go find his way," Lewgood said.
Lewchuk had a 2-9 record this season, with an .896 save percentage and 3.47 GAA.
Lewgood said it was tough to see this happen to someone who was a key part of the organization and had long been considered the goalie of the future.
The Bruins looked at several options to replace Lewchuk, ultimately choosing to bring in Fuhr, who has been with the WHL's Regina Pats so far this year. He had seen limited action due to a leave of absence in October, and the Pats had indicated he would be re-assigned as soon as his future was settled.
Fuhr had told the Ice Wolves he preferred to be near Regina.
Lewgood said Fuhr made sense "because he was the best goalie available. That's the bottom line for us. He was the best goalie available, with some time to play. He's not a 20-year-old and that was another key factor. We were looking for a guy that can step in and be the man for us for the rest of this year and moving forward. I think we've got a tremendous one-two punch, among the better one-two punches in the league now. I just don't think you can pass up on a guy like Tyler Fuhr when he's available."
Fuhr, who also previously spent time with the WHL's Vancouver Giants, said he has learned valuable lessons during his junior career.
"I have been bounced around, and the biggest thing I've learned from that is maturity and being a professional; coming to the rink, whether I'm playing or not, ready to get better and making my teammates better too."
Size is one of the first things that stands out about Fuhr, as he stands 6-foot-2. However, he said he doesn't just fall back on that to stop the puck.
"Just because I'm big doesn't mean I'm just a blocking goalie. I'm more athletic. I like to do whatever I can to make the save. I don't (always) rely on my technical abilities to make a save. It helps with the shoulders and everything, get those up, and I don't have to challenge as far and give up depth for it."
Lewgood said Fuhr's large frame is one of three things that got his attention.
"He's a big body. He's 6-foot-2 and reminds me of (2013-14 starter Matt) Gibney in the net, and we know the success we had with Gibney.
"The (second) thing that goes so well with that size is the fact that he still battles. He doesn't rely solely on positional play. If he sees something, he goes after it. He's a battler. The third thing is he plays the puck really well. He gave us fits in La Ronge last year, when we couldn't gain any offensive zone time because he was helping the D so much with the transition. The bottom line is he's a competitor and a leader."
Fuhr described his statistics as "OK" last year, noting he would like to get his save percentage up around .912.
Along with taking over as the No. 1 goalie, Fuhr is also hoping to bring a leadership role to the club.
"I'm coming in here, I'm an older guy on this team, I've been around the league and around at a higher level in the Western league. I've played for a lot of good coaches, had a lot of good captains and leadership, and I think I can come in here and show the young guys not what it takes to win, but how to act professionally off the ice, and even on the ice," Fuhr said.
"I'll come out here and let the boys know that when you're here, it can be a good time, but it's also time to work. This is your job."
Lewgood added that the new tender should inject a little more confidence into the club.
"He's an outgoing personality. I think our team has lacked a little bit of swagger this year. It's starting to come on now, and he's only going to add to the positive nature of our dressing room."
The return in the Fuhr trade involves a list player, yet to be determined, and conditional futures. The futures in the Lewchuk trade have yet to be determined.
"We don't foresee any roster players involved in those deals at all," Lewgood said.
