Pat Payton
Sports Editor
Stratford Cullitons have signed a new goaltender.
Last week, director of hockey operations Jason Lott announced that the Midwestern Conference Jr. B hockey club has added netminder Cody Vinnai.
The 18-year-old Brantford resident played with Norwich the past two seasons, helping Merchants capture the 2008-09 Niagara District Jr. C championship last spring and advance to the provincial semi-finals.
“We’ve got our goaltending spots filled now,” Lott said. “Cody got great experience last year as the No. 1 goalie in Norwich. I got to see him play a little bit, and got some real good feedback from his teammates. He was a big part of their success last year.
“He’s a good addition to our hockey team and will work well with Evan Groenestege.”
Groenestege, who turns 19 in the fall, was 11-11 in 24 starts as a Cullitons rookie last season. The Sebringville area native had a 3.23 goals-against average, with a .907 save percentage.
Vinnai replaces Jordan Ruby, of Tavistock, who has joined Wellington Dukes of the Provincial Tier II Jr. A League. Ruby, the Tribe’s No. 1 puckstopper last season, was 17-11 in the regular schedule, with a 3.12 goals-against average, a .904 save percentage, and one shutout.
Vinnai, meanwhile, was 18-5, with a 2.42 G.A.A., a .902 save percentage, and two shutouts in the regular season with Norwich a year ago. In the playoffs, he was 8-3 with a 1.80 G.A.A., a .921 save percentage, and two shutouts.
“Cody’s a 1991 birthday, the same age as Jordan, so we kind of kept that balance in our age groups,” Lott noted.
“I think he’ll push Evan and make him better. Evan’s going to step up as a 19 year old now, with a year of Jr. B under his belt, and be a No. 1 goalie. I think Cody will push him and try and take some (playing) time from him.”
Good joins Golden Hawks
In other Cullitons news, winger Mitch Good has joined the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks’ men’s varsity hockey team.
Arguably the Tribe’s best player in 2008-09, the 20-year-old team captain from Wellesley led the Tribe in scoring with 30 goals and 85 points. He had nine powerplay goals, six game winners, and 49 penalty minutes during the regular schedule.
“We’re really happy for Mitch; he’s stepping up to a pretty good opportunity and a high level of hockey,” Lott said.
“If we can move a player up to that level of hockey, then our coaches have done a great job in getting him there. Most of the guys in university hockey are former OHL players.
“So a guy going from Jr. B to playing at that level, it’s a real feather in our cap and for the coaches who have developed him. We’re going to miss Mitch and his leadership, but we wish him well.”
Note: On Monday of this week, Cullitons and St. Marys Lincolns completed a trade. Defenceman Steve Chisholm, 19, was dealt to St. Marys in a cash deal. Chisholm, a Stratford minor hockey product, played two seasons with the Tribe.
