Brigden native and Hamilton Bulldogs goaltender Kaden Fulcher has signed a three-year entry level contract with the Detroit Red Wings.
The 19-year-old attended the Wings' summer development camp as a free agent invitee before earning his first NHL contract. Fulcher says he had a lot to prove after not being selected in the NHL draft.
"Obviously I didn't have a lot to lose going in as a free agent, I just wanted to go there and impress and show them I deserved to be there and that I belonged."
He appeared in 43 games for the Bulldogs during the 2016-17 season and posted a 19-17-3 record, 3.21 goals-against average, .891 save percentage and two shutouts.
The 6'3'', 182lbs Fulcher has appeared in 64 OHL games with Hamilton and the Sarnia Sting since the 2015-16 campaign, owning a 27-28-8 record, 3.39 goals-against average, .890 save percentage and four shutouts.
Kaden Fulcher with the Sting during the 2015-16 season (Terry Wilson / OHL Images)
The Lambton Junior Sting graduate says his time at Red Wings camp has helped his confidence heading into the OHL season.
"It was an unbelievable experience and it's really going to help me this season," says Fulcher. "The speed of the game there was so much quicker, coming back to the OHL the play seems a lot slower than it did last year.
"Just working with the goalie coaches they has really helped me get set for the season."
Growing up in the small town of Brigden, Fulcher recalls a handful of times where he made the trip down to Joe Louis Arena to catch a Wings game.
A thirteenth round pick of the Sarnia Sting in 2014, he was traded the Bulldogs during the 2015-16 season in exchange for overage goalie Charlie Graham.
During his minor hockey days, he was a teammate of current Sting forward Franco Sproviero.
*With files from Josh Boyce