Ali Schmidt is back

Empty goal! VSV is urgently looking for a keeper

VSV has found a replacement for its witcher "JP" Lamoureux.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

The oldest goalkeeping duo in the league is injured. "JP" Lamoureux will miss at least a month with adductor problems, Rene Swette has been out since the start of the season - and backup Lukas Moser lacks experience. However, VSV's management team reacted quickly - and presented a new signing today, Tuesday, in the form of Joe Cannata. On Wednesday in Bolzano, Ali Schmidt will help out and make his Villach comeback.

VSV goalie "JP" Lamoureux will be out for at least a month with the adductor injury he sustained in the 6-0 loss in Innsbruck. Backup Rene Swette (knee surgery) has also been missing since the start of the season. So the Eagles are facing a serious goalie problem - which is absolutely home-made!

With the 40-year-old "JP" (with 18 games the most of all league goalies!) and the 36-year-old Swette (is back in training, but has far too little ice time!), VSV has by far the oldest goalie duo in the league. It was only a matter of time before one of them needed a break or got injured - now the "worst case" has happened.

Rene Swette is back on the ice, but is still a long way from a comeback.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

"Rene was on the verge of a comeback several times, but kept having setbacks. If we had known that he would be out for so long, we would have reacted sooner - the uncertainty was a problem," admits coach Tray Tuomie, who had recently praised "three-man" keeper Lukas Moser.

US-American has signed
However, in one of the most important phases of the season with three games a week, a real "one" is needed - otherwise the play-off dream is probably over. "You can't put this burden on Luki Moser's shoulders alone - we will act, we have several options," says Tuomie.

So they acted quickly - the short-term replacement for "JP" has already been found. Joe Cannata (34) is already on his way to Villach and should start training this week. The US-American is 1.86 m tall and weighs 91 kg, played for the Löwen Frankfurt in the DEL last year and played 27 games there.

Joe Cannata

(Bild: VSV)

Cannata has been playing professional ice hockey since 2012, making 121 games in eight years in the AHL in the States with a goals-against average of 2.73 per game. Before moving to Frankfurt, he also spent four years in Sweden's top league. "We were able to sign an extremely experienced and proven goalkeeper who will not only support us in the coming week, but also with his experience," emphasizes General Manager Martin Winkler.

Schmidt makes his comeback on Wednesday
However, Cannata will not yet play against Bolzano. Until his playing papers are ready, former Eagle Ali Schmidt will make his comeback between the VSV posts. The 24-year-old already trained with the team on Tuesday and has already played 15 times this year for partner club Kitzbühel in the Alps League. Schmidt played for VSV's youth team from 2013 to 2019 and made his debut in the 2019/20 season. He played 43 games for them until 2023 before moving to Kitzbühel, where he also played briefly for Bregenz. 

The team had been given a day off after the long trips to Innsbruck and Linz and were back in training on Tuesday. Personnel? Chase Pearson (headache) will be missing against Bolzano, as will Daniil Kulintsev. 

MIt Triplepack gegen Pustertal

KAC-Ass Fraser knallte sich an die Spitze

Matt Fraser was already the KAC's top scorer in pre-season with 28 goals - he was only beaten by Owre (Vorarlberg/37) in the league. And thanks to his first triple for the Red Jackets in the 6:4 win against Pustertal, he has now also caught up with the top scorers. Together with team-mate From, Gennaro (Asiago), Findlay (Pustertal) and Lebler (Linz), he is in first place with ten goals. After 15 (!) braces for the KAC, he has now added another: "This is certainly special for me, a triple pack is very rare."

Matt Fraser has already scored ten times in total.

(Bild: f. pessentheiner)

However, the Canadian is not the typical goal-scorer who whistles on defense. Fraser is usually one of the first backwards, checks hard and puts his bones on the line in front of the opposing goal: "Sure, you take a lot of hits - but it's my job to dig in front." Of course, he wants to do that again tomorrow in Innsbruck.

Bischofberger got a check on the head
Hope is the name of the game for his colleague Johannes Bischofberger. The 30-year-old was hit hard in the head from behind by Pustertal's Traversa (who got off without a ban!) and then had to leave the ice. The initial examinations were okay - but with "Bischi's" history (almost a year and a half break due to recurring headaches!), we'll have to wait and see. The Vorarlberger will be examined again today.