67’s, Storm open trade season
Highly-touted goalie Liam Herbst, who has endured multiple surgeries to his hips and knees since being a first-round, Ontario Hockey League draft pick in 2012, has been traded, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed.
A 6-foot-4, 200-pounder with a 1996 birth date, Herbst has been dealt by the Ottawa 67’s to the Guelph Storm for a fourth-round draft pick in 2017. The trade was first reported by Larry Mellott, who does the Storm play-by-play on Guelph radio station CJOY.
Herbst was the first goalie taken at the 2012 OHL draft when the London Knights made him a first-round selection. But the first of several lower-body injuries caused Herbst to miss the 2012-2013 season.
The big puck-stopper began the 2013-2014 OHL season in London but was traded to Ottawa. In all, he appeared in just 10 OHL games in 2013-2014.
Herbst began to live up to his potential in 2014-2015 when he seized the starter’s job in Ottawa ahead of rookie Leo Lazarev and posted a 24-8-4 record to go with a .902 save percentage and 2.76 goals against average.
But while posting so-so numbers that included a 10-13-2 record, .881 save percentage and 3.42 goals against average, Herbst lost his starting job to Lazarev as the 2015-2016 season progressed.
Now, Herbst heads to Guelph, which finished in last place overall in 2015-2016 and is in rebuilding stage under crafty, well-seasoned general manager Mike Kelly.
Today being June 1 marks the official opening to the 2016-2017 season and OHL teams are now free again to exchange players and future draft picks.
PHOTO: Liam Herbst, in action with the Ottawa 67’s. (Photo by Postmedia.)
“Herbie” is a good goalie however saying that “Laser” took over as the # 1 guy and he will be around for 1 or 2 more years. Being an over-ager going to Guelph is better for Herbie and we get a draft pick in return.
This player continues to baffle me. Have seen him play upwards of 60 OHL games and still cannot sell him short. Big kid and very strong to his pads. My opinion is that he either tends to lose focus, concentration or confidence. He can make the unbelievabke save and then give up a weak goal at an inopportune time. Hoping he does real well in Guelph and shows what I believe he can do.
The games I have watched Liam Herbbst he looks like he can play in the N.H.L. I was kind of hoping that the Battalion woulda gone after him. Stan needs to find a Goaltender.
Very interesting story and about the injury troubles that this young man has had it makes you want to cheer for him!
Hi, Randy. Wonder if this means the end of Bradley Van Schubert in Guelph. He may not have been given the fullest opportunity to win the starting goaltender’s job. On another note, while Justin Nichols distinguished himself in a Storm jersey, I wonder if Matt Murray would have held back the floodwaters in Guelph’s 2014 6-3 Memorial Cup loss to Edmonton Oil Kings if he had been acquired as had been rumoured.
Another 67’s give away…
Good trade for Ottawa as they are re-building under a solid Coach/GM. Hope a fresh start helps Herbst as well.