Adriel Burke "Crowding the Crease."

Adriel Burke was signed in the offseason to a 1.2/year contract over two years, an expensive contract for a player expected to be a third string goaltender... But Burke opened some eyes in the pre season, posting a golden 1.62 GAA and a 0.95 SV% winning 2 of his 3 games and tying the other. Burke was the only one out of three goalies the Maple Ridge Mastodons have to come out of the pre season with respectable numbers. These statistics were ignored however, as it was figured that Burke would not be able to keep up this type of play during the regular season.

But when Dontae Fedotov and Brian Laraque struggled to star the year, each posting woeful performances throughout each game... Finally head coach Chaz Holden had enough and decided to test Burke...

Burke made 21 saves and clinched a 2-0 victory for Maple Ridge over the Mount Pearl Rock in his first game. Then helped Maple Ridge beat the North Bay Devildogs 7-4 (2 of North Bays 4 goals came in the final ten minutes of the game as they attempted to make a valiant push to tie the game..).
While Burke hasn't stolen either one of Fedotovs or Laraques jobs yet, he could very well do so as the season goes on.

Maple Ridge will visit the Vancouver Titans next where Laraque is expected to get the start. Don't be surprised if the two bigger name goalies find themselves losing their jobs or possibly heading to other teams should they be unable to find their games..