Skip to content

Bruins shake up goalies, acquire Fuhr

The Estevan Bruins have engineered a shakeup between the pipes. On Wednesday night, the club dealt 19-year-old starting goalie Brett Lewchuk to the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) for future considerations.
Tyler Fuhr Vancouver Giants

The Estevan Bruins have engineered a shakeup between the pipes.

On Wednesday night, the club dealt 19-year-old starting goalie Brett Lewchuk to the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) for future considerations.

Barely 24 hours later, the Bruins filled the void by making a deal for 19-year-old Tyler Fuhr from the La Ronge Ice Wolves, also for futures.

Fuhr, a native of Sherwood Park, Alta., had been backing up with the WHL's Regina Pats this year. However, he had only seen limited action due to a lengthy leave of absence in October. Once the Pats indicated he would be re-assigned, the Bruins made a play for his rights, as he wanted to be closer to Regina.

Last year in La Ronge, Fuhr posted a .903 save percentage and a 3.68 goals-against average on the league's last-place team. He also has previous experience with the WHL's Vancouver Giants.

The Bruins looked at several options to fill Lewchuk's job, but ultimately Fuhr made the most sense, having the track record in the SJHL, and the Bruins knew they would get him right away, which wasn't a certainty with some other possibilities. A deal for Fuhr had been worked on for more than 24 hours, since before the Lewchuk trade.

Fuhr practised with the team this morning, but he hasn't played in a couple of weeks, so Tyler Gutenberg will get the start tonight against the Battlefords North Stars. Gutenberg may also start tomorrow in Wilcox against the Hounds.

See above for an interview with Fuhr from this morning.

With Lewchuk, meanwhile, it was felt that there had been a dropoff in his performance this year. While the offence was expected to be a work in progress, the club certainly did not expect to be second-last in the SJHL in goals allowed, with 85 in 23 games - an average of 3.7 per game.

Lewchuk has an .896 save percentage and 3.47 GAA this year, while rookie backup Tyler Gutenberg owns a .906 save percentage and 3.18 GAA.

With the move, Lewchuk goes from the 2016 Western Canada Cup hosts to the Oil Barons, who are hosting the event this year.

See full story in next week's Mercury.