The Ridge Meadows Flames added some new faces to their roster this week with the addition of goaltender Wesley MacLeod and defenceman Cole Regier.
The recent moves by Flames management will hopefully address the team’s defensive short-comings. Currently, the Flames have the worst goals against average in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League, at 6.33 a game.
“I think we have the talent, it’s just experience we’re lacking,” said Eaton. “We have a lot of rookies on this team, so we wanted to bring in some players who have played in the league.”
Despite allowing seven goals against the Flames while in net for the Mission Icebreakers on Friday, Eaton said he liked what he saw from the young goalie.
“He made a lot of great saves he had no business making,” he said. “We think he’s got a lot of potential.”
MacLeod was released by the Icebreakers after Friday’s game, and the Flames quickly scooped him up.
The Flames also picked up defence man Regier from the Aldergrove Kodiaks for future considerations this week. Regier has played for the Abbotsford Pilots and the Mission Icebreakers the past two seasons, amassing 10 points in 73 games in the.
“He’ll bring some experience to our back end,” said Eaton. “I think it will be a good fit for him ... he’ll get a chance to get more ice time.”
The Flames face the Delta Ice Hawks tonight (Friday), and will have a much different team on the ice then the one that lost 12-1 to the Ice Hawks last month.
With the recent addition of forwards Danny Brandys and Matt Bissett, as well as defenceman Joe Szabados, the Flames have added five new players to the fold in the past week.
“They are all pieces to the puzzle,” said Eaton.