Vancouver Canucks Organization Officially Announce Signing of NCAA Goaltender Amid Injury Issues
Photo credit: Sun Devils Athletics.
The Vancouver Canucks organization has announced the signing of a free agent goaltender amid injury issues impacting all three levels over the weekend.
The last week has been a bit crazy for the Vancouver Canucks organization as their goaltending depth has gotten quite thin due to injuries and at the National Hockey League level, rest/maintenance.
On Friday, Vancouver Canucks netminder Thatcher Demko was not on the ice for practice, with Adam Foote telling reporters that he's been given a few days off from game action to rest up, forcing the club to dip down to the American Hockey League and call up Jiri Patera.
"We asked him this summer to take care of himself, and know in a condensed schedule when he feels he needs time off. And that's what he's doing." Foote said about Demko on Friday.
Vancouver Canucks organization signs free agent goaltender amid injury issues
The Abbotsford Canucks have been dealing with their own injury issues between the pipes recently with Nikita Tolopilo, who is reportedly set to miss the next week due to a groin injury, while Ty Young left Friday's game before the third period against the Colorado Eagles.
Because of this, Jonathan Lemieux and Aku Koskenvuo have been called up from the ECHL's Kalamazoo Wings and will be the tandem in Abbotsford for at least the next seven days or so.
"Here is the #Canucks goalie situation as of this morning :
- Jiri Patera had to be called up to the NHL because of Demko
- Nikita Tolopilo and now Ty Young are hurt in Abby
-Jonathan Lemieux and Aku Koskenvuo had to be called up from Kalamazoo are the new duo in Abbotsford." Adam Kierszenblat of The Hockey News said on X.
- Jiri Patera had to be called up to the NHL because of Demko
- Nikita Tolopilo and now Ty Young are hurt in Abby
-Jonathan Lemieux and Aku Koskenvuo had to be called up from Kalamazoo are the new duo in Abbotsford." Adam Kierszenblat of The Hockey News said on X.
With Kalamazoo in need of reinforcements, it led them to the free agent market on Saturday morning where they were able to pick up a netminder with four years of NCAA experience under his belt.
In a social media post, the Wings announced that they've signed rookie goaltender Luke Pavicich to a standard player contract (SPC) which kicked in hours before Kalamazoo took on the Toledo Walleye.
"The @abbycanucks have recalled the loans of rookie forward Nick Poisson & rookie goaltender Aku Koskenvuo.
Kalamazoo has also signed rookie goaltender Luke Pavicich to a Standard Player Contract." The Wings said.
Kalamazoo has also signed rookie goaltender Luke Pavicich to a Standard Player Contract." The Wings said.
Pavicich, a native of Clarence Center, New York, spent four seasons in the NCAA with UMass-Amhurst, UMass-Lowell and Arizona State University, the latter of whom he had a 13-9-0 record with a 2.36 goals against average and a .909 save percentage with during the 2025-26 campaign.
It's unclear how long Pavicich will be needed in Kalamazoo, but he's already got some minutes under his belt from Saturday night's games against the Walleye, making 14 saves on 16 shots in a losing effort.
Previously on Canucks Daily
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