In my weekly column, I like to talk about a variety of things. For instance, I've talked my trip to Jönköping to watch HV71 in November and I've also mentioned my dream EIHL line as well. They say also the variety is the spice of life, so I am going to go on about goalies for you this week.
Yes those guys with the big pads, colourful helmets in some cases and generally the guy who gets bombarded with vulcanised rubber by team-mates and opponents alike. Not the kind of position I would want to play, but that's me. Here's my opinion on some of the best netminders I think we've had. After all, some of you still think Moose isn't good enough..
Every team has their share of good goaltenders. I mean look at Belfast with Stephen Murphy when he was top dog season in, season out. Cardiff have had Jason Wood (a bit too long back for all you newbies maybe) and latterly Bownsy. Coventry have had Jody Lehman and Brian Stewart, Nottingham have had K-Wall (Craig Kowalski). We've had a few too, and I am going to mention three of my favourites.
1. Jody Lehman (2005-09)
When we signed Jody Lehman from Coventry in 2005, most of us were thinking WOW! The North Battleford Sasquatch had helped change the fortunes of the Warwickshire outfit under Paul Thompson when he joined them from South Carolina Stingrays in time for the 2001-02. He was an oddball character on the ice but always cared about the team he played for regardless it be the Blaze or subsequently us. Some of the saves he made would be ones that you never dream of seeing happen. My fondest memory is that in the picture, jumping into the plexi in front of the Panthers fans after we'd beaten them in the 2009 Play-Off Final. They'd heckled him, this was Jody's reply. At the end of the season, Jody moved onto Aalborg Pirates for a season before hanging up his skates from top flight hockey.
2. Joel Laing (2002-03)
Probably the second best netminder I've ever seen us have. I've got a frame montage in my living room and that's a prized item of my memorabilia I hold in hockey (thanks to @Steelers_Vault). Joel was absolutely fantastic goalie and one of the reasons why I think we won the Super League title in 2003. The Sasquatch (like Lehman before) and was amazing. A save percentage of over 93% and less than 2 goals a game; only topped by the final name on the list. I firmly believe if he had not quit when he did, he had a lucrative off-ice job he could not turn down, he would have been our number one for a number of years.
3. Christian Bronsard (2004)
We started the 2003-04 season with Rob Dopson, acquired from the Ayr Scottish Eagles if memory serves me right. Dopson left around Christmas, and whilst Pasi Bear (Raitanen to the uneducated) did a marvellous deputising role (shutting the door on the Panthers at Christmas is always damn good), we needed a guy within those pipes that would see us through. Blaiser somehow got hold of his guy Bronsard (a Canadian-German born in Lahr) and he was released by his Russian club which was somewhere out in Siberia. After a lengthy journey, Bronsard arrived less than three or four hours before we faced off against Cardiff with no sleep. He had a quick nap, then turned in an instant Man of the Match award. Phenomenal! He averaged 94.5% almost with his save percentage and 1.28 goals a game. If that's not special, what is? Now you can see why I picked him.
Other goalies to mention well include Mike Torchia, Mike O'Neill, Jayme Platt, Moose, Frank Doyle, Josh Unice, Wayne Cowley...I could go on all night if I could!
Right that's my three. I don't expect everyone to agree with me, far from it but it's my opinion - you're welcome to challenge me and nominate your three. Do so, I'll be interested in knowing. Cheers for listening...
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