A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Phinny split last season between the Blind River Beavers of the NOJHL and the Kemptville 73s in the CCHL. Acquiring a goaltender with the right character was a big factor in the Wolverines decision to make a move for the rangy netminder from the Maritimes.
“He’ll be able to use his past experience to help continue to build the culture that we have created,” Wolverines Head Coach and General Manager, Taylor Harnett explained of the trade. ” The biggest thing that helped us in moving forward to ensure we got this deal done was the character references we received about him as a person. Everybody we spoke to had nothing but great things to say about him as a leader and teammate.”
The 6-foot-4, 186-pound puck-stopper posted a 2.82 GAA and .920 SV% in 11 games with Blind River before being traded to Kemptville where he finished the season with 10 starts, a 3.63 GAA and .905 SV%.
With the Wolverines graduating Isaac LaBelle and Nathan Reay heading back home to Alberta to pursue his academic career, Harnett was patient in finding the right fit for the Wolverines crease.
“Our staff did their homework and were really impressed with what they saw. To us as an organization, it makes perfect sense to bring in a veteran goaltender like him. We did not rush this process and Thomson checked off every box for us.”
Harnett also said that Wolverines fans will certainly be impressed with the newest member of the organization.
(Wolverines Press Release)
