The Moose Jaw Warriors found the answer to their goaltending problem by doing a little basic math: 3+1-2=2.
The Warriors settled their goaltending situation Monday by acquiring 18-year-old goalie Luke Siemens from the Everett Silvertips.
At the same time they put 20-year-old goalie Deven Dubyk on waivers and re-assigned last year’s back-up Brandon Stone.
“We feel Luke’s an elite goalie. He’s been in a system in the last couple of years where he’s been behind (Kent) Simpson and (Thomas) Heemskerk,” said Warriors director of hockey operations Alan Millar.
“He was highly touted when he was younger and we like how he’s developed.”
In exchange for Siemens, the Warriors dealt 18-year-old right winger Matt Grant along with third round picks in the 2012 and 2013 WHL Bantam Drafts.
This is the second season in a row that the Warriors have made a trade to get a goalie from Everett.
Last season Simpson — who was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round of the 2010 NHL draft, 58th overall — made 20-year-old Thomas Heemskerk expendable. Heemskerk was dealt to the Warriors in exchange for Chad Suer.
This year, the young Silvertips saw no point in keeping both 1992-born goalies and opted to part with Siemens.
Siemens, who will turn 19 in a month, had a 7-13-2 record and posted two shutouts last season. He also had a .915 save percentage and a 3.05 goals-against-average a year ago. He started all four of the Silvertips playoff games as they were swept in the first round by the Portland Winterhawks. The 5-foot-11 Delta, B.C. product was bombarded as the Winterhawks averaged more than 46 shots-per-game in the series.
“We believe he’s going to be the number one guy for us. We like his size, his experience and the way he competes,” said Millar.
Siemens stopped 36 of 38 shots in a 3-2 season-opening shootout loss in Portland in his only action this season.
He played the 2009-10 season with the Quesnel Millionaires of the BCHL, but also playing one game with the Prince George Cougars. He was drafted by the Chilliwack Bruins before being dealt to the Tips.
The moves leave 17-year-old rookie Spencer Tremblay as the Warriors back-up. Tremblay made 32 saves in his WHL debut Saturday, a 7-4 win over Swift Current.
