AMHERST – The Amherst CIBC Wood Gundy Ramblers have gone to British Columbia to pick up a new goalie.
At the same time it is cutting ties with popular goalie Julian Galloway, who has been placed on trade waivers within the Maritime Junior Hockey League.
The Ramblers have sent future considerations to the West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL for goalie Cody Porter, who has more than 120 games experience in the Western Hockey League with the Calgary Hitmen and the Vancouver Giants.
“We felt this was a move we had to make to improve our hockey club,” Ramblers coach and general manager Jeff LeBlanc said. “Goaltending is an area where we need to improve and this allows us to do that. We felt we needed a big goalie with lots of major junior experience to go deep in the playoffs. We’re bringing in a goalie who has played over 120 games in the Western Hockey League.”
LeBlanc said he watched Porter play games online and likes his compete level. He said both the Hitmen and Giants spoke highly of the 20-year-old North Vancouver native who played two games with the Saint John Sea Dogs earlier this season.
In 34 games last season with Calgary, Porter had a 14-16-2-1 record with a 3.46 goals-against average and a .888 save percentage. He also appeared in three playoff games.
Over three seasons with Calgary and Vancouver, Porter went 54-43-5-4 with a 3.30 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage.
Porter is currently driving from West Vancouver and will meet the team in Amherst on Saturday. He will not play Friday in Edmundston.
Because Amherst is at their maximum for 20 year olds Galloway is the odd man out. LeBlanc said it was a very tough decision.
“We feel this is the best move to improve our hockey club. Anytime you replace players it’s not easy, even more so when they're good people. Julian comes from a great family, and is a good person. We wish him nothing but the best,” LeBlanc said.
The Ramblers will look at working with Galloway to find him a place to play.
Leblanc was asked if he was finished adjusting his roster before the first deadline of Dec. 1.
“With us hosting the Fred Page Cup next year it makes every decision a little more difficult but in saying that, every day we look at ways to make our team better. We will continue to do that until we are happy. We feel we got better today and that’s a big positive,” he said.
The league’s trade freeze is from Dec. 11 to 31.
Twitter: @ADNdarrell
