The B.C. Hockey League’s reigning champions have lost their No. 1 goalie.
Hunter Miska will not be returning to the Penticton Vees for the 2015-16 season. Instead, he will join the Dubuque Fighting Saints (in Iowa) in the United States Hockey League (USHL).
The Vees announced that Anthony Brodeur – son of NHL legend Martin Brodeur – has joined the club for the 2015-2016 season.
In a press release on the Saints’ website, Dubuque acquired Miska’s USHL rights from the Fargo Force for draft picks.
“I think Dubuque is a great fit, and will really help my development in preparing for college hockey,” said Miska on the Saints’ website. “I loved my time in Penticton, but I was up for a new challenge to push me to be ready to go to college and be a number one goalie at Minnesota-Duluth.”
In an e-mail, Miska, a native of Stacey, Minn., said playing in the USHL is going to be a good opportunity for him because all of the teams are very strong.
“I played in the BCHL for two years and felt that I did the best I could do so I am looking for a new challenge,” wrote Miska, who won 53 games, lost 21 and had seven shutouts to go with a .924 save percentage and 2.04 goals against average in 80 games with the Vees. “I would like to try to be a top goalie in the USHL as well.”
Miska helped lead the Vees to a BCHL and Western Canada Cup championship. Miska was also named the BCHL’s best goalie as he posted a 1.88 goals against average.
Brodeur was a seventh round pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He joins the Vees after two seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with Drummondville and Gatineau.
Previously Brodeur won a U-18 national championship with the powerhouse Shattuck St. Mary’s program.
“While we were disappointed by Hunter’s decision to leave us so late in the off-season, I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason,” said Vees president, general manager, and head coach, Fred Harbinson.
“We received a ton of calls from people around the hockey world, including USHL goalies ready to make the jump to us. We are very excited that Anthony chose to finish his junior career as a Vee.”
