“Highly Conflicted” Canadiens goalie refuses to report to the team and decides to leave

August 14, 2024 Michael Mills NHL 0

After being selected in the fifth round of the draft, prospective goaltender Mikus Vecvanags chose not to report to the Montreal Canadiens, opting to leave the QMJHL for the BCHL instead.

At 18, Mikus Vecvanags hails from Latvia and has aspirations for a professional hockey career. Having played in junior leagues in his home country and Sweden for several years, he was starting to see potential for advancement.

In the 2024 NHL Draft, Mikus Vecvanags was chosen by the Montreal Canadiens as their 5th-round pick, 134th overall, from HS Riga.

Despite his impending start in the QMJHL, this young goaltender made a daring career choice. Reports indicate that Mikus Vecvanags opted not to join the Titan Acadie-Bathurst, resulting in his absence from their latest roster and raising questions about whether he has turned away from more than just the Montreal Canadiens.

However, Mikus Vecvanags is not quitting hockey. Instead of playing in the QMJHL, he will be goaltending for the Brooks Bandits in the BCHL this upcoming season, rather than for the Blainville-Boisbriand as initially anticipated. Standing at 6’3″, he may excel against the competition in a lower league. Nevertheless, his decision to be unavailable to the Montreal Canadiens could pose challenges for his NHL aspirations. Let’s hope this situation doesn’t create too much trouble for anyone involved.

 

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