The Trail Smoke Eaters have picked up their starting goaltender for next season. 1988 born Marco Raimondo will have the tall task of replacing Grant Rollheiser between the pipes. The veteran Raimondo joins the Smokies from Montreal after a short season in Cowichan Valley. He played 21 games with a 90.64 save percentage and 3.11 goals against average. Raimondo's season was derailed by a knee injury, and Smokies Coach Jim Ingram says Marco is very excited to join Trail.
The trade sent Trail's top goal scorer last season (88) Brett Corcoran to Cowichan for Raimondo and (88) D Brandon Clarke. Clarke is 6'0 and 185lbs. He scored 6 goals and 17 points for the Capitals last season. The four season BCHL veteran from Spokane is expected to provide leadership and strong play at both ends of the ice for what may be a young group on the blue line. Ingram says he's a very strong skater who can play very well in his own zone and provide more scoring than he has so far in his career. Clarke tells me it'll be nice for him to play so close to home for the first time.
Corcoran had asked to be traded closer to home for his last BCHL season. Ingram says Brett had nothing bad to say about the Smoke Eaters, he just wanted to be back on the Island as a twenty year old. In Duncan he'll be about an hour away from home. Brett's a bright young man with a lot to offer what could be a dangerous Capitals forward group next season. I definitely expect him to top 30 goals in the more wide open Coastal Conference. It's always tough to see talented players go, but this clears up the biggest hole for Trail next season. Raimondo should provide veteran play in goal to give the Smokies a chance to win every night.
Ingram's interview is coming up on Mountain FM's Overtime in about 15-20 minutes. We'll talk to Raimondo and Clarke over the next two days. Listen to Mountain FM's Overtime and our newscasts from 6am to 6pm for more information on the deal. Watch the blog for audio files. Still sorting out the audio for the interviews from last week as well.
I also want to add that I predicted this trade a few weeks ago in talking to a couple of people. It just seemed like their needs could match up. If only I could use those powers for the lottery.
The trade sent Trail's top goal scorer last season (88) Brett Corcoran to Cowichan for Raimondo and (88) D Brandon Clarke. Clarke is 6'0 and 185lbs. He scored 6 goals and 17 points for the Capitals last season. The four season BCHL veteran from Spokane is expected to provide leadership and strong play at both ends of the ice for what may be a young group on the blue line. Ingram says he's a very strong skater who can play very well in his own zone and provide more scoring than he has so far in his career. Clarke tells me it'll be nice for him to play so close to home for the first time.Corcoran had asked to be traded closer to home for his last BCHL season. Ingram says Brett had nothing bad to say about the Smoke Eaters, he just wanted to be back on the Island as a twenty year old. In Duncan he'll be about an hour away from home. Brett's a bright young man with a lot to offer what could be a dangerous Capitals forward group next season. I definitely expect him to top 30 goals in the more wide open Coastal Conference. It's always tough to see talented players go, but this clears up the biggest hole for Trail next season. Raimondo should provide veteran play in goal to give the Smokies a chance to win every night.
Ingram's interview is coming up on Mountain FM's Overtime in about 15-20 minutes. We'll talk to Raimondo and Clarke over the next two days. Listen to Mountain FM's Overtime and our newscasts from 6am to 6pm for more information on the deal. Watch the blog for audio files. Still sorting out the audio for the interviews from last week as well.
I also want to add that I predicted this trade a few weeks ago in talking to a couple of people. It just seemed like their needs could match up. If only I could use those powers for the lottery.
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2 comments:
A good trade by Coach Ingram. This trade will provide, via Raimondo, stability in goal, and add some beef on defense to compliment Brodie.
Howard a good young backup goaltender to establish some continuity will be needed.
The 2008-2009 edition of the Trail Junior Smoke Eaters is shaping up as a more scrappy, gritty team.
There's lots of time to find that backup. I agree it'd be nice to get someone in here that they could develop into a starter for following seasons. Tough to lose your top goal scorer, but getting a starting goaltender for next year certainly must ease some stress at Smokies headquarters.
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