The Montreal Canadiens currently have five goaltenders in their system, all playing in different leagues from the AHL, ECHL, Slovakia, Sweden, and Finland. Here’s how each has started off the new season.
AHL
Jean-Francois Damphousee, G. A free agent pickup this summer, Damphousse currently plays
for the Hamilton Bulldogs. The former first round pick of the New Jersey Devils has appeared in
four games so far this season. In those starts he has looked good at times, and not so good at others.
But the Bulldogs are a team loaded with young inexperienced players that have a new coach, so
everyone is just learning what they are expected to do on the ice.
Year |
Team |
G |
Min |
W |
L |
T |
SO |
GAA |
GA |
SA |
SV% |
2003 |
Hamilton |
4 |
240 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2.25 |
9 |
98 |
.916 |
ECHL
Olivier Michaud-G. Another free agent pickup from the 2001 season, Michaud has graduated from the QMJHL, a league well known for producing a large number of quality goalies, where he has made his professional hockey debut in the ECHL for the Columbus Cottonmouths. After being named the runner up for back stopper of the week in the opening week of the season, Michaud has had some problems stopping the puck of late.
Year |
Team |
G |
Min |
W |
L |
T |
SO |
GAA |
GA |
SA |
SV% |
2003 |
Columbus |
5 |
301 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3.39 |
17 |
138 |
.890 |
Slovakia
Jaroslav Halak-G. Halak was acquired in the recent draft this summer, taken in the
ninth round,
271st overall, after being named the top goalie in the U-18 world junior tournament, as he lead
Team Slovakia to the silver. Halak is playing in the Slovak junior league, but he is playing very
well, and is listed as the top goalie in that league.
Year |
Team |
G |
Min |
W |
L |
T |
SO |
GAA |
GA |
SA |
SV% |
2003 |
Slovan |
13 |
749 |
11 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1.76 |
22 |
384 |
94.58 |
Sweden
Christopher Heino-Lindberg-G. Lindberg was also acquired in the recent draft this summer,
taken in the sixth round, 177th overall. Lindberg at the time of the draft had played for Hammerby
which is in the tier-2 league, but after recovering from an injury over the summer, he was loaned
to Vallentuna of the same tier-2 league. The team is the worst in the league, and Lindberg is
often left facing a ton of shots each night, with little defensive help.
Year |
Team |
G |
Min |
W |
L |
T |
SO |
GAA |
GA |
SA |
SV% |
2003 |
Vallentuna |
13 |
680 |
2 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
4.68 |
53 |
442 |
89.29 |
Finland
Joni Puurula-G. Puurula was acquired in the 2000 draft, taken in the
ninth round, 234rd overall.
After being named the starter last year for HPK in the Sm-Liiga, the top league in Finland, Puurula
put up some decent numbers, and helped his team to the bronze in the league playoffs. This year
was a different story though. A veteran goalie from North America was brought over and
Puurula lost his starting job. To make matters worse, he was injured on the first save of the game
in the first game he played this season. He has recently returned from injury, but will find
playing time harder to come by, with a hot goalie in front of him.
Year |
Team |
G |
Min |
W |
L |
T |
SO |
GAA |
GA |
S |
SV% |
2003 |
HPK |
1 |
2.03 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
100 |
