Capitals could be losing Tmej

Netminder part of a QMJHL trade

Goaltender Dominik Tmej’s days with the Summerside Western Capitals may be numbered.

The Acadie-Bathurst Titan, who own Tmej’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League rights, announced Tuesday that they have traded the goaltender to the Quebec Rempart for forward Liam Leonard.

The Caps acquired Tmej from the Titan about a month ago and quickly set off on a winning streak. The team’s general manager, Pat McIver, said Tuesday the Capitals thought they would have Tmej for the rest of the year, that the Titan released him to the Capitals so that he could further develop with expectations of him rejoining the Titan next season.

“It’s kind of unfortunate,” McIver said, noting the Caps had to negotiate a trade to get Tmej and now the Titans are trading him away to another QMJHL team. “Things can change real quick.”

The Q trade, McIver admits, probably has a lot to do with how well Tmej fit in with the Caps. “He caught fire.”

In nine games with the Capitals, Tmej has a 1.69 goals against average and a .950 saves percentage.

Although the trade has been announced, McIver pointed out it isn’t official until the QMJHL trade window opens on Dec. 18. In the meantime, the Capitals have two road games coming up this weekend and McIver expects Tmej will get a start in at least one of them.

He expects Tmej will be heading up to Quebec after that, while the Capitals are on their Christmas break. Where the goaltender will subsequently end up hasn’t been determined, but McIver said the Caps will be holding discussions with Tmej and the Remparts to figure that out.