The Washington Capitals announced on Monday afternoon that goaltenders Zach Fucale and Hunter Shepard have been returned to Herhsey. The move is in addition to the return of Darcy Kuemper to the active roster, which was announced earlier in the day on Monday.
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ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have loaned goaltenders Zach Fucale and Hunter Shepard to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Fucale, 27, has posted a record of 10-6-1 with one shutout, a 2.60 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage in 17 games with Hershey this season. The 6’2″, 193-pound goaltender ranks tied for third in the AHL in wins and tied for fourth in shutouts.
The Laval, Quebec native appeared in 31 games with Hershey in 2021-22, posting an 11-15-5 record with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage. The 6’2″, 189-pound goaltender recorded three shutouts, which led Hershey and set an AHL single-season career high. In 128 career AHL games with Hershey, the Syracuse Crunch, Chicago Wolves, Laval Rocket and St. John’s IceCaps, Fucale has a record of 58-55-10 with seven shutouts, a 2.79 goals-against average and .901 save percentage.
Fucale was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round, 36th overall, in the 2013 NHL Draft.
Shepard, 27, has posted a record of 6-0-2 with a 1.83 goals-against average and .932 save percentage in eight games with Hershey this season. The 6’0″, 215-pound goaltender ranks first in the AHL in goals-against average and third in save percentage. Shepard was named the AHL Goaltender of the Month for November after posting a record of 6-0-0 with a 1.63 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage in six games played.
The Cohasset, Minnesota native appeared in nine games with Hershey during the 2021-22 season, finishing with a 5-3-0 record with one shutout, a 2.06 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. Shepard also appeared in 23 games for the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL, posting a record of 12-9-2 with a 2.88 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage and two shutouts.
In 20 career AHL games with Hershey, Shepard has a record of 14-3-2 with a 1.80 goals-against average, a .934 save percentage and two shutouts. Shepard has a 24-15-4 record with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage in 44 career ECHL games with South Carolina.
The Bears now have three goaltenders currently in Hershey; Fucale, Shepard and Clay Stevenson. The Bears announced that Tyler Wall was returned to ECHL South Carolina Monday afternoon.
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Wall, 24, has appeared in nine games with South Carolina this season, posting a 6-3-0 record with a 3.14 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage. He has also tallied two assists with the Rays.
The 6’3″, 214-pound goaltender has appeared in 15 career AHL games with the Hartford Wolf Pack, holding a 4-8-1 record with a 3.83 goals-against average and a .866 save percentage. He was selected in the sixth round, 174th overall, by the New York Rangers in the 2016 NHL Draft.
By Jon Sorensen
ITs a shame that Shepard didnt get into a a game while up.
Co-sign!
Interesting the Bears are hanging on to Stevenson. In all honesty, he’s earned the number 2 spot more than Fucale.
Hard to argue against it.
Rays play in Atlanta tomorrow night, Bears at Lehigh Valley Wednesday night. Bears site says Wall has been reassigned to Rays but nothing on Rays site about Wall or Stevenson coming back, neither listed in roster. Didn’t see anything on Bears site about Hunter being injured or Clay’s status. All 3 are shown on their roster page. Would they keep 3 goalies until Darcy plays? Or keep 3 goalies?
Shepard probably isn’t 100% yet.
Love Clay, lots of potential there. But seriously worried that that Kuemper contract is gonna be an anchor around the team’s neck for years. Next year isn’t too bad, but after that, it’s really gonna start weighing a lot.
As much as the Caps owner and GM hate to admit it they are headed into a rebuild and frankly it should start this summer. I would love to trade Kuemper and keep Lindgren. As this team has 13 UFA/RFA and cannot resign them all over the summer the rebuild would make sense to start this summer. Unfortunately the owner is to ignorant of sports to realize that and also does not know that the fans know this has to happen and will still support the team. It would be better to unload most of their big salaries during this years trading period for picks and use those picks to rebuild the team. there are several players in Hershey who are ready to give the NHL a shot. Honestly I’m not interested in making the playoffs just to go out in the first round again and receive a lower set of picks. I wish that they would do this and if the HC doesnt like it then he can walk just like he will after this year. He is not a coach to lead a rebuild nor does he have the ability or worse than that the desire to teach younger players. Lets get this rebuild started and maybe, just maybe we could make a run at the Cup in Ovies last year!!