Kaden Fulcher

Kaden Fulcher
Born	(1998-09-23) September 23, 1998 (age 25) Brigden, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Left
SPHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams	Pensacola Ice Flyers Savannah Ghost Pirates  (ECHL) Detroit Red Wings
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2019–present

Kaden Fulcher (born September 23, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL on loan from the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the SPHL. He has formerly played with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Junior

Fulcher was drafted 241st overall by the Sarnia Sting in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection. ^[1] During the 2015–16 season, Fulcher began the season with the Sarnia Sting, where he posted a 2–0–1 record in three games, with a 3.30 goals-against average (GAA) and .890 save percentage. On January 7, 2016, he was traded to the Hamilton Bulldogs in exchange for goaltender Charlie Graham. ^[2] He finished the season with a 4–10 record, with a 4.48 GAA and .876 save percentage in 14 games for the Bulldogs.

During the 2017–18 season, Fulcher posted a 32–17–6 regular-season record for the Hamilton Bulldogs, with a 2.86 GAA and .899 save percentage. On March 1, 2018, Fulcher won his 30th game of the season, setting a single-season franchise record for the most wins. ^[3] During the playoffs he posted a 16–5 record, with a 2.70 GAA and .905 save percentage to help the Bulldogs win the J. Ross Robertson Cup, their first championship in franchise history. ^{[4] [5]} With the win, the Bulldogs advanced to the 2018 Memorial Cup, where Fulcher posted a 2–2 record with a 2.27 GAA and a .918 save percentage. Following the tournament, he was awarded the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy as the tournament's most outstanding goaltender. ^[6]

Professional

On October 3, 2017, the Detroit Red Wings signed Fulcher to a three-year, entry-level contract. ^[7] Following a championship winning season in junior hockey, Fulcher was assigned to the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL on September 27, 2018. ^[8] During the 2018–19 season, Fulcher posted a 15–7–6 record with a 3.00 GAA and a .899 save percentage in 28 games for the Walleye in his first professional season. On March 3, 2019, Fulcher posted his first career shutout, in a 5–0 victory over the Indy Fuel. ^[9]

On March 31, 2019, Fulcher was recalled by the Red Wings under emergency conditions. ^[4] On April 6, he made his NHL debut for the Red Wings in a game against the Buffalo Sabres, replacing an injured Jimmy Howard in the second period, making nine saves on 11 shots in 28 minutes. ^[10] Following the completion of the Red Wings' season, Fulcher was re-assigned to the Walleye the next day and added to their playoff roster. ^{[11] [12]}

On January 12, 2021, the Red Wings assigned Fulcher to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL). ^[13]

As a free agent from the Red Wings, following four seasons within the organization, Fulcher remained un-signed leading into the 2022–23 season. He returned to the professional ranks on December 17, 2022, in signing a contract with ECHL club, the Reading Royals. ^[14] After making his debut with the Royals, Fulcher was soon loaned to AHL club, the Syracuse Crunch, in January 2023.

Continuing his career, Fulcher signed with the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads on September 19, 2023; ^[15] however, he was released from his contract on October 18, ^[16] and instead signed with the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the SPHL on October 23. ^[17] Soon after, Fulcher returned to the ECHL, as the Ice Flyers loaned him to the Savannah Ghost Pirates on November 22. ^[18]

Fulcher was traded to the Worcester Railers in the end of December 2023 from the Savannah Ghost Pirates in exchange for cash considerations. Fulcher played a total of five games during his short stint in Savannah, collecting a .893 save percentage, a 3.78 goals against average, and an 0-4-0 record. ^[19]

Career statistics

				Regular season										Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T/OT	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
2015–16	Sarnia Sting	OHL		3	2	0	1	182	10	0	3.30	.890		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Hamilton Bulldogs	OHL		14	4	10	0	764	57	0	4.48	.876		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Hamilton Bulldogs	OHL		43	19	17	3	2,393	128	2	3.21	.891		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Hamilton Bulldogs	OHL		55	32	17	2	3,207	153	3	2.86	.899		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Toledo Walleye	ECHL		28	15	7	2	1,642	82	1	3.00	.899		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		1	0	0	0	28	2	0	4.44	.818		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Toledo Walleye	ECHL		2	0	2	0	120	11	0	5.51	.831		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		7	2	2	2	380	18	1	2.84	.905		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Toledo Walleye	ECHL		19	10	7	0	1074	44	2	2.46	.912		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		4	1	3	0	217	16	0	4.42	.846		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Reading Royals	ECHL		9	4	5	0	534	27	0	3.03	.897		1	0	0	35	1	0	1.70	.933
2022–23	Syracuse Crunch	AHL		1	0	0	1	60	3	0	2.99	.906		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				1	0	0	0	28	2	0	4.44	.818		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

See also

• List of players who played only one game in the NHL

References

1. "Kaden Fulcher Commits to Sting". ontariohockeyleague.com. September 5, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
2. "Bulldogs Acquire Fulcher From Sting". hamiltonbulldogs.com. January 7, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
3. "Kaden Fulcher: Bulldogs Single Season Wins Leader OHL/AHL". hamiltonbulldogs.com. March 3, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
4. Kujawa, Kyle (April 6, 2019). "Red Wings recall Fulcher under emergency conditions". NHL.com. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
5. "Bulldogs top Greyhounds in OHL final, advance to Memorial Cup". sportsnet.ca. May 13, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
6. "Kaden Fulcher, awarded the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy as the Most Outstanding Goaltender of the 2018 Mastercard Memorial Cup". hamiltonbulldogs.com. May 28, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
7. Kujawa, Kyle (October 3, 2017). "Detroit signs Goaltender Kaden Fulcher to entry-level deal". NHL.com. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
8. Monroe, Mark (September 27, 2018). "Red Wings assign rookie goalie Kaden Fulcher to Walleye". The Blade . Retrieved April 10, 2019.
9. Monroe, Mark (March 3, 2019). "Walleye continue roll with 5-0 blanking of Fuel". The Blade . Retrieved April 10, 2019.
10. St. James, Helene (April 6, 2019). "Detroit Red Wings booed in 7-1 loss to Buffalo Sabres in season finale". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved April 6, 2019.
11. Kujawa, Kyle (April 7, 2019). "Red Wings assign nine players". NHL.com. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
12. "Walleye announce playoff roster". toledowalleye.com. April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
13. "Detroit Assigns 11 to Grand Rapids". griffinshockey.com. January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
14. ECHL (December 17, 2022). "Fulcher signs with Royals". Twitter . Retrieved December 17, 2022.
15. "Steelheads sign pair of goalies". ECHL. September 19, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
16. "STEELHEADS SIGN GOALTENDER DYLAN WELLS TO AN ECHL CONTRACT". Idaho Steelheads. October 18, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023. In addition, the team has released netminder Kaden Fulcher from his ECHL contract.
17. Pensacola Ice Flyers [@PcolaIceFlyers] (October 23, 2023). "🚨 Transaction Tracker Presented by Mediacom 🚨 We've Signed Goalie Kaden Fulcher. Waived Goalie Drennan Atherton. Traded Goalie Ryan Kenny to Fayetteville, and Defensemen Cooper Jones has been called up to the ECHL Idaho Steelheads" (Tweet). Retrieved December 1, 2023– via Twitter.
18. EP Transfers [@ep_transfers] (November 22, 2023). "Loan: Kaden Fulcher (G) | Pensacola Ice Flyers -> Savannah Ghost Pirates" (Tweet). Retrieved December 1, 2023– via Twitter.
19. "Worcester Railers | Railers Announce Multiple Transactions". Worcester Railers. Retrieved April 16, 2024.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database