Montreal Canadiens prospect Joe Vrbetic talks about his start of the year, and his objectives for the season.
The ECHL announced on Monday that Joe Vrbetic was named the Warrior Hockey Goaltender of the Week for the week of October 30th. The Canadiens prospect allowed three goals on 55 shots (.945 save percentage) and two wins in his two starts against the Newfoundland Growlers.
The Trois-Rivieres Lions' goalie has had a great start to the season with a 5-1 record, 3.11 goals-against-average and .897 save percentage. He leads the league in wins (5), minutes (366) and saves (166).
"It's been really good so far. The record for me results with the team. The team has been playing very well, we're on a roll right now and we just got to keep it up," credited his success to his teammates.
Aiming for Laval
The Canadiens drafted the 6-foot-6-inch goalie in the seventh round (214th overall) of the 2021 NHL entry draft. He is a product of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he played in 88 games over three seasons, tallying a 43-35-7 record, 3.52 goals-against-average and .893 save percentage.
For the 2022-23 season, Vrbetic decided to sign a two-way AHL/ECHL contract instead of returning to the OHL's North Bay Battalion. He played in 28 games for the Lions, 14-12 record, 3.30 goals-against-average and .896 save percentage.
The 21-year-old appeared in four games with the Laval Rocket and his objective is to get another opportunity this season. "Play [in Trois-Rivieres] to start the season, get a lot of games in, play good and develop my game. Hopefully if I get a chance in Laval like last year that take that opportunity and make the best of it," said Vrbetic, explaining his objectives for this season.
Staying Ready
The Ontario native was a free agent at the end of the last season and the organization invited the prospect to the Canadiens camp and later on to the Rocket camp on a tryout.
After being cut from Laval, Vrbetic signed a tryout contract to join Trois-Rivieres training camp before signing a two-way AHL/ECHL contract on the eve of ECHL season opening rosters being announced. The Canadiens have his signing rights until June 1st, 2025.
"I didn't know all summer what was going on. It was tough in that way not knowing. In the summer, I kept working out in the gym and on the ice and keep working on my game. My mindset all summer was if I get a contract somewhere, I'll be ready to go," said Vrbetic, describing the uncertainty.
With the Rocket having two goalies with little AHL experience and Vrbetic's good start in the ECHL, he has a good chance of reaching his objectives for the season.
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