The Estevan Bruins dealt goaltender Steven Glass to the Drumheller Dragons earlier this week for future considerations.
Chris Lewgood, Bruins head coach and general manager, said the move will give Glass an opportunity for a fresh start following a difficult 2012-13 season, which saw Glass sidelined for most of the year with a knee injury.
"Steven expressed some interest about going to Alberta for a fresh start, and it just so happened that Drumheller was pursuing him, so it was a good fit," said Lewgood. "We were happy to accommodate him. He was a pretty good goalie here for his first year and a good teammate last year while he was injured."
Glass came into the Bruins organization as an 18-year-old goalie and impressed as a rookie playing 28 games and recording a 3.49 goals-against average and .899 save percentage in his first season.
After undergoing knee surgery between seasons, he struggled to get back up in the lineup, suiting up for just two games last year as he dealt with ongoing knee troubles.
The uncertainty surrounding Glass led to the decision to pick up Camrose goaltender Matt Gibney in the offseason.
"We brought in Matt Gibney here a couple of months ago to solidify our goaltending. That was when there was still some question with Steven's health. With Steven coming along pretty well it just presented a problem of too many goalies and two of them who are 20-year-olds," said Lewgood.
He said the team wasn't necessarily looking to move a goalie before training camp and wasn't actively shopping Glass to other teams.
"It was just one of those things that came about. Steven's a heck of a goaltender. It was only a matter of time before guys started poking around," he said. "With his desire to go to Alberta, it just seemed like the time was now. There's no sense (in delaying a trade) if we're going to do the same thing later. With Steven's injury concerns out of the way we might as well just make a move."
He said teams took notice of the Bruins picking up Gibney at the end of June and it was well known the team had more goalies than they needed. The 20-year-old goalie came to Estevan from the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Camrose Kodiaks.
Lewgood said with the veteran Gibney and 18-year-old Brett Lewchuk, the team will be steady in the crease.
"We're definitely comfortable. There's going to be some competition at camp, but that being said, if we end up with Matt Gibney and Lewchuck in goal, we're pretty set. I think those two guys could tag team that job for us, and we'll be in good position."
