Avalanche’s Trent Miner to make first NHL start Wednesday versus Blackhawks

Wednesday will be a day to remember for Trent Miner of the Colorado Avalanche as the 23-year-old goaltender is set to earn his first-ever NHL start coming against the Chicago Blackhawks, head coach Jared Bednar confirmed to Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette.

While Wednesday will mark Miner’s first start, his NHL debut came in mid-November against the Washington Capitals when he entered the crease in relief of former Avalanche netminder Justus Annunen. In just under 35 minutes of action, Miner turned aside 12 of 13 shots in an eventual 5-2 loss.

Originally chosen by the Avalanche in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL Draft, Miner has spent much of the past four seasons with the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s top minor-league club. Through 16 outings with the Eagles this season, Miner has posted an 8-5-3 record alongside a .903 save percentage and 2.47 goals-against average.

In all, Miner’s time with the Eagles counts 46 games in which he has established a winning record of 21-17-7. Miner also has significant pro experience at the ECHL level, counting part of three seasons and 76 appearances with the Utah Grizzlies in which he has found the win column 39 times while registering a .911 save percentage and 2.88 goals-against average.

A native of Brandon, Man., Miner is a graduate of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, counting part of four seasons from 2017-21 in which he went 48-28-5 with a .910 save percentage and 2.49 goals-against average.

Miner was recalled by the Avalanche earlier this month after backup goaltender Scott Wedgewood suffered an injury that will keep him sidelined on a week-to-week basis. Miner joins an Avalanche squad that has won eight of its past 10 outings and climbed to the Western Conference’s second wildcard position with a record of 25-15-1 and 51 points.