The Pittsburgh Penguins brought a new goalie into the organization Thursday, the club announced, signing 25-year-old Luke Richardson to a professional tryout (PTO) contract.
Richardson has spent parts of the last two seasons with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, ECHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings.
Last year, he appeared in 12 games, going 7-1-1 with a 2.19 goals against average and .931 save percentage.
A native of Barrie, Ontario, Richardson played junior hockey with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, appearing in 112 games over four seasons.
Notably, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goalies coach Kain Tisi was one of Richardson’s coaches with the Rangers.
Richardson, a 6-foot-3, 170-pound prospect who catches left, played collegiately for Queen’s University in Ontario.
The highest level Richardson has competed at is the American Hockey League, appearing in three games for the Belleville Senators, Ottawa’s affiliate, in 2022-23, posting a 3.99 GAA and .873 save percentage.
He joins a Penguins organization currently flush with goaltending prospects, including Sergei Murashov, Taylor Gauthier, Filip Larsson and Joel Blomqvist.
The Penguins have signed goaltender Luke Richardson to a professional tryout contract. pic.twitter.com/2ZFMyHRmYx
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 19, 2024
Justin Guerriero is a TribLive reporter covering the Penguins, Pirates and college sports. A Pittsburgh native, he is a Central Catholic and University of Colorado graduate. He joined the Trib in 2022 after covering the Colorado Buffaloes for Rivals and freelancing for the Denver Post. He can be reached at jguerriero@triblive.com.