Thunderbirds goalie Danny Mumaugh retires; Flodell returns
Jan 26, 2015, 12:25 PM | Updated: 12:28 pm
(T-Birds photo)
In another strange turn of events, which have been numerous for the Thunderbirds this season, 18-year-old backup goaltender Danny Mumaugh elected to end his hockey career this weekend.
In three seasons with Seattle, Mumaugh compiled a record of 18-21-4-4, with a career goals against average of 3.76 and an .887 save percentage.
As the trade deadline passed on Jan. 10, the Thunderbirds could have been left in a very tight spot without a backup goaltender. Fortunately they had 17-year-old Logan Flodell waiting in the wings, who showed in training camp and the preseason this year that he was prepared to make the jump to the WHL.
Shortly after the season began, Flodell was re-assigned to the Nipawin Hawks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. He had the strongest preseason of any T-Birds goalie, including incumbent starter Taran Kozun, leading many to believe that Mumaugh would be traded before the regular season began. The team ultimately held onto Mumaugh and sent Flodell home where he could get regular playing time.
Since his arrival in Seattle, Mumaugh had struggled to earn consistent playing time. During his rookie season, he served as the primary backup to starter Brandon Glover, appearing in 18 games. Last year he battled with Justin Myles and looked like he had worked himself into the top spot, but the team acquired the then 19-year-old Kozun from the Kamloops Blazers at the trade deadline, relegating Mumaugh to backup duty again as a 17-year-old.
With Kozun returning this season and Mumaugh serving as the backup, it appeared that next year he’d once again have an inside track to serve as the team’s number one netminder. With this being Kozun’s final season, it appears now that next year Flodell will take over as an 18-year-old, using the final 25 games of this season to prepare for the larger role next year.
In a release from the team, general manager Russ Farwell said that Mumaugh had lost “the drive to keep playing.” After playing in just eight of 47 possible games this season, on pace for a career low in appearances, it’s likely Mumaugh had expected to take on a bigger role this season. However, with Kozun emerging as one of the league’s top goaltenders and the T-Birds fighting hard for every point in the standings, it’s become more and more difficult to sit him.