It was only two seasons ago when the Keane Fire exceeded all expectations by reaching the championship game. But after a mediocre 4-6 2000B season and now a winless 0-3-2 start to the 2001A season has caused captain Steve Barriault to start making some personnel changes.
In hopes of injecting new life into the team, Barriault replaced himself in nets with first-time goalie and self-acknowledged bruiser Harvey Snelgrove. Snelgrove started his first game Tuesday night against the Sunnydale Slayers, surpassing all expectations by recording a respectable 73% save percentage. In fact, of the 17 second period shots Snelgrove faced, he remarkably stopped every one of them.
When Snelgrove was asked if he would be in goal for the Fire's next game against the Lite-Sabres, he replied "I'm not sure. Against any other team I would definately play nets, but since I've been so successful scoring against Slim Shady (Sabres goalie Chris McMaster), I may start at forward."
Barriault has also reportedly sent forward Bruce Greer to the minors for conditioning after being a heathy scratch for the Fire's first 5 games. Barriault called up A.J. MacEachern to replace Greer. MacEachern, a cousin of the famous Royal brothers, brings the number of players in the league from the Royal family to a whopping 4. With rumours of expansion prevalent again this year, there has now been talk of the Royal family starting their own team for next season.