Spruce Grove Saints General Manager Rob Sklaruk announced today, two player acquisitions who will be on loan to the Saints for the remainder of the 2021 season.
Forward Caiden Gault (Selkirk Steelers) and goaltender Thomas Couture (Steinbach Pistons) have been loaned to the Saints for the remainder of this season due to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League canceling the 2020-2021 season.
Gault, born in 2002, is a point producing forward who was named the MJHL’s rookie of the year in 2019-20 after he tallied 25 goals, 22 assists and 58 penalty minutes in 59 games played. The 5’10″, 165-pound native of Oakbank, Manitoba, started the 2020-21 season with the Aberdeen Wings of the North American Hockey league (NAHL), posting one goal and two assists accompanied with 14 penalty minutes in seven contests before heading north of boarder and now onto Spruce Grove.
Goaltender Thomas Couture, also born in 2002, is a Levis, Quebec native who played just four games for Steinbach before the league wide shut down. In those four games, Couture carried a 0.90 goals against average and a .961 save percentage with one shutout and a 2-0 record.
In 2019-2020, Couture played for his hometown Midget AAA team – The Levis Chevaliers – where the 5’11″ 161-pound puck stopper posted a 1.76 goals against average and .929 save percentage with a sparkling 22-5 record. Couture improved those amazing by numbers going undefeated in six playoff matches with a .99 goals against average and .954 save percentage.
With roster spots to fill, Sklaruk was please to find such quality players to join the current Saints roster.
“Adding a league rookie of the year (Gault) and goaltender with the pedigree Thomas has was an exciting opportunity for our group. We expect both players to make immediate impacts as Saints and look forward to providing an opportunity for these young men to continue their development.”
Couture and Gault are both following Government of Alberta approved return to play requirements and will join the team when they can safely do so.