It has always proven a tough assignment for young British players to make it in North America.

Even if you have the talent, the innate prejudice continues to surround players from the UK despite the recent success of the Men’s national team on the world stage.

There remains a reluctance from coaches and teams to give them an opportunity.
Even when GB players have shown they can compete with and even outperform their North American compatriots.

One former Great Britain junior player is letting his performances on the ice this season do all the talking for him.

Lucas Brine has been honing his craft in North America since 2015, playing for various teams in leagues across Canada and the USA.

Despite impressing in camp for an NAHL and looking set to start the season in the second tier of US junior hockey, the netminder found himself back at the third tier with the Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings.

The 20-year-old has proven to be one of the best goaltenders in the USPHL this season, and that’s not hyperbole.

His record of 7-4-0 with a 2.26 GAA and 0.947Sv% are statistics that fail to tell the whole story, however.

Brine’s only shutout, a solid 21-save performance in the most recent 3-0 victory against the Minnesota Mullets, goes somewhat against the grain.
The Oxshott native has faced a TON of rubber this season but has risen to the challenge.

In the victories excluding the shutout, Brine has turned aside a minimum of 29 shots in a single game and a high of forty-seven.
In six wins, he has given up two or fewer goals.

Even in defeat, the young netminder has performed brilliantly to give his team a fighting chance when seemingly overmatched.
In losses to Minnesota and Utah, Brine turned aside 36 of 39 and 44 of 46 shots, respectively.

The Hudson Havoc have handed Wisconsin two heavy reverses but made to work for those.
Brine turned aside 49 shots in a 4-1 loss and made an incredible 74 stops in a 5-0 blowout defeat.

Brine has the 11th most saves in the USPHL with far better individual statistics than the ten goaltenders above him in that category.

Image: https://riverkingshockey.com/player/lucas-brine/

Brine isn’t alone in his first season with the Riverkings as he continues his career.

Forwards Ewan Hill and Cain Russell have left the UK and playing in the USPHL for the first time.

The trio would doubtless enjoy any team success gained together.

In the last four completed seasons, the team has finished third, second (twice) and first in the MidWest – West Division.

Under brand new GB and HC Paul Pechmann, the Riverkings are looking for another successful campaign.

With Lucas Brine between the pipes, the Wisconsin club is in good shape to do so.

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