Man of the Week: Zach Fucale
KHL.ru continues its ‘Man of the Week’ column with Zach Fucale. The Traktor goalie was instrumental for the Chelyabinsk side in getting the best of Salavat Yulaev in the Gagarin Cup playoffs’ first round.
After failing to qualify for the postseason last term, Traktor decided to strengthen its goaltending lineup – the most problematic position during the 2022-2023 campaign – signing the North American goalie Zach Fucale. Earlier, the Chelyabinsk side already had a formidable netminder hailing from Canada, Michael Garnett, who backstopped Traktor to the 2013 Gagarin Cup finals, lost to Dynamo Moscow 4-2. More than a decade later, the Chelyabinsk side has a chance to meet with the Blue-and-Whites again, although this time in the playoffs’ second round.
In the first round, Traktor defeated Salavat Yulaev in six heated games, with Fucale posting an impressive saves percentage of 94.3%, with a 42-save performance in the decisive game six. In game five, with the teams tied at two wins each, Fucale stopped 32 shots out of 33 to achieve a key victory for Traktor. Fucale’s contribution to his team’s success has been unvaluable, as he was one of the best goalies in the regular season, posting six shutouts.
Early years
Zachary Fucale, born on May 28, 1995, hails from Laval, Quebec, but his hockey roots run deeper in the town of Rosemere. Before making a splash in major junior hockey, Fucale honed his goaltending skills with the Saint-Eustache Vikings in the Quebec AAA Midget Hockey League. His talent caught the attention of the Halifax Mooseheads, who selected him eleventh overall in the 2011 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft.
In his debut season with the Mooseheads, Fucale set a QMJHL record for most wins by a rookie, notching an impressive 32 victories. His performance earned him a spot on the QMJHL all-rookie team and the Raymond Lagace Trophy as the defensive rookie of the year. Fucale’s star was rising, and he soon became a key figure in the Mooseheads’ quest for success. The goalie helped his team winning the QMJHL title in the 2012-2013 season, and he kept on performing at a high level as the goalie captured the Jacques Plante Trophy for the league’s best GAA the next year.
On the international stage
Fucale’s talent extended beyond the QMJHL. He represented Canada on the international stage, defending the crease for his country at the World Junior Championships. In 2015, he helped Canada capture gold on home soil, showcasing his composure and skill between the pipes. One year before, he started for Canada at the WJC in Sweden, but the team ended the tournament in a disappointing fourth place, losing the bronze medal game to Team Russia.
During his career in the AHL, Fucale also played three Spengler Cups with Team Canada, achieving two successes, in 2017 and 2020, being also elected to the tournament’s All-Star team in the latter participation.
Climbing up
However, Fucale’s talent didn’t translate to a full-time NHL position. The goalie has only played four games in the big league, with the Washington Capitals in the 2021-2022 season. He spent the remainder of his career split between the AHL and the ECHL, enjoying success in his later seasons, winning the Harry Holmes Memorial Award for the AHL Best Goaltending Duo split with Pheonix Copley and leading the league with a GAA of 1.80. In 2023, he won the Calder Cup as the AHL champion with the Hershey Bears, backing up Hunter Shepard.
Move to the KHL
Fast forward to 2023, and Fucale found himself in a new chapter of his career signing with Traktor of the KHL. After his play in North America, it was actually Fucale’s second move to Europe, as he signed with EHC Munchen of the German DEL in 2020 without actually lining up for a game.
In his KHL debut, Fucale faced Lada and emerged victorious, stopping 31 of 32 shots. His performance earned him praise from head coach Anvar Gatiyatulin, who lauded Fucale’s ability to clean up defensive mistakes. Traktor fans welcomed their new goaltender, and Fucale’s confidence soared as he played consistently well throughout the season.
Now, the Canadian netminder has a fantastic chance to use his experience and talent to propel a team in the elimination stage as Traktor faces Dynamo Moscow in what should be a long series. He has already showed his prowess and calm as the Chelyabinsk franchise downed Salavat Yulaev in the first round.
