Kings Demote Janecyk, Give Healy a Shot in Goal

The Kings’ youth movement this week claimed goaltender Bob Janecyk, who has been assigned to the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in New Haven, Conn., despite compiling a 40-40-12 record in three seasons.

Janecyk, 30, was 22-21-8 with a 3.66 goals-against average as a rookie in the 1984-85 season, and was in goal for 36 of the Kings’ 57 wins in his first two seasons before a knee injury and an arm rash limited his availability last season.

But the Kings believe that Glenn Healy, who won 46 games at New Haven the last two seasons, has earned a chance to play and that second-round draft pick Mark Fitzpatrick at least deserves a look.

Also assigned to New Haven was Al Jensen, 28, leaving either Healy, 25, or Fitzpatrick, 19, as the backup to No. 1 goalie Rollie Melanson, with Healy apparently having the inside track.

“We decided to go with the kids,” General Manager Rogie Vachon said by phone Thursday night from Winnipeg. “Glenn Healy has played very, very well the last two years in the minors. And he and Fitzpatrick have both looked good in training camp.”

Healy, who was 25-21-0 at New Haven last season, gave up 5 goals in 58 minutes during two exhibition appearances against the Vancouver Canucks last weekend.

Fitzpatrick, who has not played in any of the Kings’ three exhibition games, is expected to start and play about 30 minutes in tonight’s exhibition at Winnipeg.

Team officials have indicated that Fitzgerald probably will be returned to his junior team in Medicine Hat, Canada, but Murphy said the Kings have “not ruled out the chance” of Fitzgerald making the team.

King Notes Bob Janecyk’s record last season was 4-3. The Kings’ record with others in goal the last three seasons: 48-82-12. . . . Also assigned to New Haven were Ken Baumgartner, John English, Eric Germain, Ken Hammond, Denis Larocque, Brian Martin, Lyle Phair, Glen Currie, Shannon Deegan, Paul Kelly, Hubie McDonough, Greg Batters, Paul Guay, Todd Hooey, Sean Krakiwsky and Chris McSorley. . . . The Kings had returned Sylvain Couturier to his junior team Monday, and the week’s cuts left the Kings with 29 players. . . . The Kings will return to Los Angeles Saturday.