PASSINGHAM'S JOURNEY HITS ANOTHER CURVE

He has a Memorial Cup ring – but will he have a place to play next season?

Former Saint John Sea Dogs third string goaltender Troy Passingham is facing yet another challenge in his hockey career. After sticking with the Windsor Spitfires last season, his future with the national champs is unclear as he enters his 20-year old season.

"Right now, I'm just playing it by ear," Passingham said to the Windsor Star last week.

Unfortunately for Passingham, the Spits have a solid net minder in Dallas Stars first round draft choice Jack Campbell. Canadians will remember Campbell as the American goaltender who stole gold away from Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship last winter.

“It's not likely he'll get that chance in Windsor,” writes Spitfires beat reporter Jim Parker about six-foot-five goaltender staying with the club..

“Philipp Grubauer, who won the battle for the No. 1 spot in the playoffs, is gone to Kingston, but standout American netminder Jack Campbell is clearly the top man in Windsor.”

With teams being permitted to carry only three overage players, it is highly unlikely Windsor would use one of their spots on a backup goaltender.

Picked up from Tier II hockey in Ontario, Passingham finished second in the Ontario Hockey League in wins with 35. He had a record of 35-10-0-3 and added a 2.78 goals-against average, which was seventh in the league, and a .902 save percentage.

His standout season with the two-time MasterCard Memorial Cup Champions caught the attention of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes.

"My agent (Scott Russell) called NHL teams and Carolina called back and I said yes right away," Passingham said about his rookie camp invite with the Canes.

After his stint in Saint John, it didn’t look like Mississauga, Ontario native would ever get a NHL rookie camp invite. Passingham played in just two games during the 2007-08 season, being the third wheel in Travis Fullerton’s and Robert Mayer’s goaltending tandem.

Passingham had a 1-1 record with the Sea Dogs – with both games being against the cellar dwelling Moncton Wildcats. He finished with a 3.02 GAA and 0.918 save percentage.

He remains the only former Sea Dog with a Memorial Cup ring (pictured above on the far right).