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pontcanna
10-13-2011, 12:31 AM
Royals cut loose netminder Gamble

BY CLEVE DHEENSAW, TIMESCOLONIST.COM OCTOBER 12, 2011 11:09 PM


The Victoria Royals will place goaltender Braden Gamble in the Western Hockey League over-age dispersal draft for 20-year-olds today, essentially cutting the veteran who has been with franchise for two seasons when the team played as the Bruins in Chilliwack.

The move means the Royals have decided on 17-year-old Jared Rathjen as the back-up to 19-year-old starter Keith Hamilton.

Gamble appeared in four games this season for Victoria, playing 154 minutes with a goals-against average of 6.22 and save percentage of .816. He appeared in 20 games for the Bruins in 2009-10 with a 3.54 GAA and 19 games last season with a 3.86 GAA.

“Braden [Gamble] has a great attitude, but he was not where he wanted to be this season [in terms of performance] and we hope somebody picks him up [in the dispersal draft],” said Royals GM and head coach Marc Habscheid.

“We feel good about Keith [Hamilton]. And Rathjen is a young guy who’s getting better and we feel we need to get him in some games.”

If Gamble isn’t snapped up by any other WHL team today, the native of North Star, Alta., is free to play in a Junior A league such as the BCHL or Alberta Junior Hockey League.

WHL teams are allowed a maximum of three 20-year-olds. The move leaves the Royals with two currently — captain and blue-liner Hayden Rintoul and Czech import forward Robin Soudek. WHL teams don’t need to carry three over-age players if they don’t wish to.

The Royals coach and GM said he couldn’t say whether he would pick up another 20-year-old in today’s waiver draft.

“You have to wait and see what comes on the wavier wire and if anybody fills a need,” he said.

It is appearing less likely that San Jose Sharks-signed 20-year-old forward Curt Gogol will be returned to the Royals from the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey League. Habscheid said he talked to the Sharks and the rugged Gogol appears to be faring well in Worcester.

The Royals are 4-5 and host the Kelowna Rockets for a pair of games Friday and Saturday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.