Brochu signs with AHL’s Manitoba Moose

Brett Brochu makes a stop for the Dresden Kings – Photo by Kelsey Vermeersch/ CKSN.ca

Tilbury’s Brett Brochu made his AHL hockey return on the weekend, playing a period in the Manitoba Moose’s regular season finale.

Brochu signed a tryout agreement with Manitoba last week. He was the backup goalie in the Moose’s first playoff game on Tuesday against the Texas Stars. He appeared in a game with Wilkes-Barre in 2021, while the OHL season was on pause. He also signed an AHL tryout agreement with Cleveland earlier this season but didn’t play in a game.

Brochu, 21, appeared in 20 games with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets this season. He posted a 7-11-1 record with a 2.66 goals-against average and .920 save percentage through his first professional campaign. Brochu’s save percentage was tied for fourth among ECHL goaltenders.

Prior to turning pro, Brochu played 132 games for the OHL’s London Knights. He amassed an 89-34-4 record with a 2.67 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. During the 2021-22 season, Brochu was named the OHL’s Goaltender of the Year and captured a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship. He was also named to the OHL First All-Star Team (2022), Second All-Star Team (2023) and First All-Rookie Team (2020) during his junior career.

Prior to London, Brochu played a season with the Dresden Kings and played his minor hockey with the Chatham-Kent Cyclones AAA program.