Two-time goaltender of the year Tyler Richards is now a Burnaby Laker.
The New Westminster Salmonbellies sent their all-star keeper to the Burnaby Lakers for two first-round draft picks in a Western Lacrosse Association trade officially concluded on Thursday.
Richards, who was goalie and rookie of the year in his 2008 WLA debut, was dealt to the senior A Lakers for Burnaby’s first-round draft picks in 2014 and 2015.
The 27-year-old Richards has a lifetime 0.827 save percentage in the regular season and is 0.833 in 30 playoff games in six seasons in the WLA.
“(Richards) made it very clear he didn’t want to play with our organization, and we think we got fair market value for arguably the best goaltender in the league,” said Salmonbellies president Dan Richardson.
With the trade, New Westminster will pick second and fifth in the upcoming WLA junior draft. They also second first-round pick the following year.
“And we’re not done yet,” Richardson said. “We’re going to keep working at it. We’re at the dance table.”
“Tyler (Richards) wanted a change and the trade was good for both clubs,” said Lakers president Ed Safarik. “The (Burnaby) team is built of first-round picks, so to pick up a player of Tyler’s stature is a good opportunity for us, and maybe we could afford to do this.”
Richards comes to a Laker club that has two solid keepers in former Minto Cup MVP Dan Lewis and veteran Joe Bell already in its stable.
“I haven’t seen a team go anywhere without two good goalies,” said Safarik. “Our goaltender depth will resolve itself in training camp.”
