Siskins goalie secures three-game shut out
Just a few weeks ago, Stayner Siskins general manager Richard Gauthier was calling out his goaltenders to step it up a notch.
How things have changed.
After hearing of Gauthier’s remarks of “taking the bull by its horns”, goalie Trevor Bloch grabbed the horns and twisted the bull inside out.
Bloch has seized the number one goalie position by not surrendering a single goal in the past three games, all home games. Two Thursdays ago, Stayner beat Fergus Devils 3-0, won last Thursday, 1-0, over Penetang, and dropped Schomberg Cougars, 4-0, in a game held in Creemore.
Said Gauthier of Bloch and the team’s play, “He’s made some big saves. The guys are playing with some confidence ’cause they know he is going to make the save.”
In the past three games, Bloch has lowered his goals against average by about one goal to 2.50.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” confirmed Siskins head coach Steve Walker.
Obviously, Stayner’s penalty kill units have been doing a better job as well, considering the other teams have not scored.
Walker attributes goaltending to the improvement in the pk. He said that the coaches works with the special teams during practices and are “in the guys ears” during the games but it is up to the goalie to make the first save.
Generally speaking, a club at the bare minimum wants their penalty kill and power play percentages to total 100 per cent. Stayner’s power play is the league’s best at 24.79 per cent but their penalty kill is the worst at 76.15 per cent.
These two numbers total 100.94 meaning it is acceptable but well behind Alliston, the league’s top team, 109.08, and Penetang, 105.96, the club Stayner is competing with for second place.
In the Penetang game, Stayner fired 15 shots Penetang’s way in each period but the only goal that got by Kings netminder Adam Redgate was the one triggered by Quinten Bruce 3:39 into the third period. The goal was Bruce’s 13th of the year and proved to be the winner. Bloch handled all 28 fired his way.
About 250 fans ventured to the Creemore arena to watch first hand the local Junior C hockey team defeat Schomberg 4-0 in an aggressive upbeat style. Stayner scored goals in each period, one by Brandon Watson in the first, Ricky Darrell’s 14th of the year in the second, and Kort Weir’s two goals in the third, including a shorthanded empty netter with one minute to go.
Stayner is tied with Penetang for second spot with 30 points but have one game in hand.
Stayner is home to Huntsville Thursday night and then go to Penetang the next night.
