Goalkeeper of "Traktor" departs for Minsk

Goaltender departing from "Traktor": According to our source, the highly regarded player, who had captivated the hearts of "Traktor"'s Chelyabinsk fans for two seasons, has chosen not to renew his contract with the club, known for its black-and-white uniform.

, and ASMedia

2025 June 10 . 12:54 PM

2 min read

Traktor's goalie, who thrilled fans for two seasons, chose not to extend his agreement with the... — Traktor's goalie, who thrilled fans for two seasons, chose not to extend his agreement with the 'black-and-white' team, causing another high-profile departure.

Goalkeeper of "Traktor" departs for Minsk

An Unheralded Exit from Traktor

It's time for a change in Chelyabinsk’s "Traktor" as their star goaltender, Zach Fucale, bids farewell. According to reports from "Novy Day" news agency, Fucale has chosen against renewing his contract with the "black-and-white" team. With Gold Star Hockey, Fucale's representative agency in Russia, confirming the decision, the Canadian is set to spend the following two seasons with Minsk's "Dinamo."

Fucale had an impressive tenure with Traktor, leading the team to semi-finals and finals of the Gagarin Cup, recording a stunning 52 regular-season wins and 20 playoff victories with 15 shutouts in the KHL. After securing this new deal, Fucale becomes the highest-paid goaltender in the Continental Hockey League, reportedly earning approximately 70 million rubles per year.

Interestingly, Fucale is not the first Traktor goaltender to join Dinamo Minsk. Last season, the main goalkeeper for Minsk was Vasily Demchenko, a graduate of the Chelyabinsk hockey school who spent nine seasons in Traktor's system.

Unfortunately, Traktor continues to lose key players from its "silver" squad. Apart from their captain, Vladimir Tkachev, Steve Kampfer's retirement, and Maxim Shabanov's likely departure to the NHL have been announced. Despite this exodus, Traktor's management remains hopeful, pointing out the tradition in the KHL of signing short-term contracts that can make it challenging to retain top talent.

Fucale's New Journey with Dinamo Minsk

With Fucale's signing, Dinamo Minsk has strengthened its goaltending depth. Coincidentally, the team has also re-signed Vaili Demchenko, indicating a commitment to a strong defensive lineup for the upcoming season. As the highest-paid goalie in the league, Fucale will face high expectations to deliver exceptional performances and boost Dinamo Minsk's KHL standings. The addition of Fucale to the team could potentially trigger shifts in team dynamics, redefining roles and responsibilities for existing players, especially within the goaltending position.

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As Fucale embarks on this next chapter in his career, hopes are high that he will continue to shine and bring success to both himself and Dinamo Minsk.

Source: "Novy Day" news agency, Dzen, and YouTube

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Sports enthusiasts will be keenly watching as Zach Fucale, the former star goaltender of Chelyabinsk's Traktor, begins his hockey venture with Dinamo Minsk, following his new contract. Coincidentally, Vaili Demchenko, another former Traktor goaltender, will be joining him in Minsk, promising an intriguing defensive lineup for the upcoming season. With Fucale taking on the role of the Continental Hockey League's highest-paid goalie, expectations are high for him to deliver impressive performances and elevate Dinamo Minsk's KHL standing.