The Trois-Rivieres Lions have announced that they’ve acquired goaltender Joe Vrbetic from the Indy Fuel in exchange for cash. The 22-year-old goaltender had a record of 5-7 with a 2.91 GAA, .863 SV%, and two shutouts in 12 games this season with the Fuel after signing with the team in the off-season. He’s given up 13 goals over the course of his last two starts. This move comes just nine days after Zachary Emond decided to head overseas, as the Lions seem committed to having three goaltenders on the roster. Vrbetic was not in the Lions lineup for Friday’s game vs Adirondack Thunder. I expect Vrbetic to see a handful of starts down the stretch with the Lions and shouldn’t have a problem fitting in with his former team.
Vrbetic re-joins the Montreal Canadiens organization after being drafted by the Habs in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Draft. In 61 games with the Lions, he put up a 24-26-3 record with a 3.42 GAA, .893SV%, and one shutout. The 6’6 goaltender needs just two games to pass Philipe Desrosiers for most games played by a goaltender in Lions franchise history. He also spent four games with the Laval Rocket in the AHL, where he went 2-1 with a 4.05 GAA and .871SV%. Prior to going pro, the Hamilton, Ontario, native spent parts of three seasons with the North Bay Battalion of the OHL, where he put up a 43-35-7 record with a 3.52 GAA, .893SV%, and four shutouts in 88 games.
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