Medicine Hat Cubs goaltender Dawsen Savage (Photo courtesy of Scott Roblin)

By Scott Roblin

HJHL Hockey

Savage handed the reigns of Cubs crease following Vanderveer move

Dec 10, 2019 | 5:54 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – It was a difficult decision to make, but it appears the Medicine Hat Cubs have their goaltender heading into the second half of the HJHL season.

Last week, the Cubs dealt longtime netminder Brett Vanderveer to the PJHL’s Pilot Butte Storm in Saskatchewan to provide the 19-year-old bigger minutes closer to home.

“Nothing against Vandy, he just felt he wanted a different change,” said Cubs general manager Dave Kowalchuk. “I was up to helping him out and finding him a place, so the Pilot Butte Storm of the PJHL were excited about him and excited about his playoff run last year.”

Taking flight in last year’s post-season, Vanderveer stood on his head over eight games with a 2.46 goals against average and a sky-high 0.931 save percentage to help Medicine Hat to their first playoff series win in six years.

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Vanderveer was the odds on starter coming into the 2019-20 HJHL season, however he struggled with consistency and held a 3-3-0 record with a 3.06 goals against average and 0.913 save percentage in seven games before the move.

That paired with 18-year-old rookie Dawsen Savage taking the league by storm in his first season of junior hockey, Kowalchuk said the writing was on the wall for the Grandora, Saskatchewan product.

Despite cutting ties with Vanderveer, Kowalchuk added the Cubs wouldn’t be in the contender position they’re in without his contributions over the last season and a half.

“He’s a goalie that can really win you some games and we saw it last year,” he said. “He took us far in the playoffs last year and I don’t think he’s going to have a problem in Pilot Butte. He’s probably going to do some damage for them this year.”

Vanderveer’s departure has given way for Savage to take over the net as the club’s designated number one goaltender.

“It’s unfortunate to see [the trade] happen,” said Savage. “But for myself, it’s a great opportunity to prove myself this year.”

Through the first 15 games of his first full season in a Cubs uniform, Savage has won 10 games and has posted a gaudy 0.927 save percentage which is good enough for fourth-best in the entire HJHL.

Savage’s ascent to becoming Medicine Hat’s everyday starter hasn’t surprised Kowalchuk however.

“He has the potential of being a junior ‘A’ goalie,” said Kowalchuk. “I think he’s right there, he’s one of the top [goalies] in the league right now and his numbers are showing it.”

Medicine Hat is just two games back of equalling their win total for the entire 2018-19 season and are in a dog fight with the Coaldale Copperheads and Cochrane Generals for second place in the HJHL Southern Division.

Already hosting the 2020 HJHL All-Star Game and 2020 provincial junior ‘B’ tournament, Savage and the Cubs are gearing up for a wild back half of the season.

“We got a real shot this year,” said Savage. “So, I think we’re building more and more everyday.”

Medicine Hat hits the road for divisional stops this upcoming weekend in Coaldale and Okotoks before returning home to the Kinplex on December 20 for three games in three days versus High River, Strathmore, and Cochrane.