Americans Sign Former Vipers Goaltender Lee-Knight:

The WHL Tri-City Americans have signed former Vernon Vipers tryout goaltender Luke Lee-Knight.  Lee-Knight was invited to the Americans Training camp this year before being reassigned. In two pre-season games with the Americans Lee-Knight went 0-1 with a 5.98 GAA.  Lee-Knight then signed with the SJHL Humboldt Broncos in October before going back to the Western Hockey League Americans.  In five games with the Broncos Lee-Knight went 4-1 with two shutouts and a 2.56 GAA.   Lee-Knight attended the Vernon Vipers Training camp last year before being released-cut. Lee-Knight played last season with the WHL Spokane Chiefs and Prince Albert Raiders.

Luke Lee-Knight's Player Profile:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=145164

This is posted on the Americans website:

Fiebelkorn Leaves Team; Lee-Knight Rejoins Club from Humboldt

Nov 12, 2012

Kennewick, WA – Tri-City Americans Governor/General Manager Bob Tory announced today that 18-year-old goaltender Brenden Fiebelkorn has opted to leave the club for personal reasons.  Additionally, Tory announced that 19-year-old goaltender Luke Lee-Knight will join the club immediately.

Fiebelkorn, a 6’1, 185-pound netminder from Winnipeg, Manitoba, appeared in two games this season, picking up his first WHL win on November 4 vs. Vancouver.  Fiebelkorn has played in three WHL games in his career, making his WHL debut in a relief appearance back during the 2010-11 season while a member of the Prince Albert Raiders.

Lee-Knight, meanwhile, rejoins the WHL club he started training camp with from the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.  The 6’2, 195-pound goaltender from Calgary, Alberta appeared in 5 games with the Broncos, going 4-1 with a 2.56 goals against average, 0.924 save percentage and 2 shutouts.  Lee-Knight spent last season between the Prince Albert Raiders and the Spokane Chiefs, appearing in 22 games and collecting a 2-4-2-1 record along with a 4.82 goals against average and a 0.841 save percentage.

In an unrelated move, Tory also announced today that 15-year-old goaltender Evan Sarthou will join the club this week for practice while Eric Comrie is away with Team WHL at the Subway Super Series.  Sarthou was the Americans’ third round draft pick (65th overall) at the 2012 Bantam Draft and was signed by the club in late August.  The Black Diamond, Washington-native is currently playing with the L.A. Jr. Kings of the Tier 1 AAA Elite Hockey League, going 7-2 in 9 games played, along with compiling a 2.31 goals against average, a 0.900 save percentage and 3 shutouts.

Comrie and Team WHL will play host to Team Russia on Wednesday, November 14 in Vancouver, B.C. and on Thursday, November 15 in Victoria, B.C.  Currently, Team Russia is 2-1 in the Subway Super Series, splitting the two games against Team QMJHL and taking the first of two games against the OHL.  Game 2 vs. Team OHL and game 4 of the 6-game series is tonight in Sarnia, Ontario.  Comrie is the sixth Tri-City Americans player to compete with Team WHL at this event and the third goaltender to be chosen.  He joins former Tri-City players Brendan Shinnimin, Chet Pickard, Carey Price, Logan Stephenson and Shawn Belle as participants in the series.

This is in the Tri-City Herald Newspaper:

Goalie Lee-Knight rejoins Americans

Published: November 14, 2012

By Annie Fowler

Luke Lee-Knight was crushed when he was released by the Tri-City Americans just days before the season opener.

The veteran goalie, who has spent time with Prince Albert and Spokane last year, opened the season at the Americans’ training camp as a free agent, fighting for the backup job behind Eric Comrie with Brenden Fiebelkorn, 18.

In the end, Tri-City opted for Fiebelkorn, who was a year younger.

“There weren’t too many hard feelings,” Lee-Knight said of his dismissal in September. “Going back was hard at first, but I think it boosted my confidence. I got a call last Wednesday asking if I would come back. I was in a pretty good spot with my Junior A team and playing a lot. But this is a pretty special opportunity, and I jumped at it. I like the guys here a lot, and that motivated me to come back.”

Fiebelkorn, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, appeared in just two games before he left the team after last Saturday’s game against Kamloops, citing personal reasons.

Fiebelkorn won his only start — 9-1 against Vancouver on Nov. 4.

Lee-Knight had been playing with the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The native of Calgary, Alberta, was 4-1 with the Broncos with a 2.56 goals against average, a .924 save percentage and two shutouts.

Lee-Knight got to Kennewick on Monday, while 15-year-old goalie Evan Sarthou arrived Sunday to help out at practice while Comrie is at the Subway Super Series with Team WHL.

“I’ve been enjoying it,” said Sarthou, who leaves today. “Just the opportunity to come up and practice with everyone was worth the trip. It’s a lot quicker here, and you have to be quicker to get in position to make saves. The shots are better and the compete level is pretty high.”

Sarthou, who plays for the L.A. Jr. Kings, missed one game with his team, but he said they were in good hands while he was gone. Like Fiebelkorn, Lee-Knight knows he will have to pay his dues to earn ice time.

“This is a business where nothing is promised,” Lee-Knight said. “You control your own destiny. Eric is a great goalie. He can go a lot of the work, but I want to be able to push him and get a lot of work myself. I want to help the team win a championship.”