 "Photo: Sandi Fairbanks/ Cardinal Points")
Through the first five games, the Plattsburgh State men’s hockey team still does not have a starting goalie — it has two.
Freshmen Ryan Williams and Josh Leis have shared the net-minding duties thus far. Williams has started three games and Leis has started two. Neither has been pulled in any game.
As for this weekend’s games at Buffalo State and Fredonia?
“We never make our mind up ’til the day of the game, but I don’t foresee any changes in our goaltending situation in the near future,” Head Coach Bob Emery said.
With limited ice time comes fewer opportunities, which means they need to be taken advantage of when they come about.
Emery said he believes in giving everyone a chance, which means Williams may be presented with a big opportunity Saturday with a start at Fredonia.
Leis was burned for four goals against Oswego. As of Tuesday, Emery was undecided if Williams will start against third-place Fredonia (5-3, 3-2 SUNYAC).
Williams’ three starts have come against Brockport, Cortland and Morrisville, whose 2-2 conference record is the best winning percentage of the three. He allowed just one goal in each game on a combined 63 shots, good for a .952 save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against average. Both are tops in the conference. His three goals against is also a league-best.
Leis’ .833 save percentage ranks last among the conference goalies, while his 3.01 GAA is fifth. His six goals-against is fifth, but he has played the fewest minutes of any of the 12 goalies.
Should Williams start tonight at Buffalo State, it likely wouldn’t yield any new information about the young goalie. The Bengals (1-5-1, 1-4 SUNYAC) are tied with Cortland for last place.
“As a coaching staff, you have some type of plan in mind for the second game, but you never know what could happen, someone could get hurt or something like that,” Emery said. “So, we never really have tunnel vision as far as game two.”
Until one goalie plays outstanding or slips up on consecutive occasions, the two will have to learn to share the crease — something they are not used to.
“It’s a little different,” Williams said. “Mentally, you’ve got to be on top of your game at all times. You have no breaks. In juniors, you play a bad game, the next day your back on the ice playing another game, so you can make it up. But with this, you have to play good all the time. Every game you’re in the net has to be one of your best games.”
Neither Leis nor Williams has played more than once per week.
“It’s tough because it’s not like juniors, where you’re the go-to-guy and everything and playing 40 games a season,” Leis said. “You don’t even play 40 games in a year here. So, it is pretty tough to try and get in a rhythm, but I mean, that’s a challenge right there. You’ve got to try and get that rhythm early and try and prove yourself to the coaches.”
Fellow freshman Raphy Rossy has yet to make an appearance in a regular season game, and Emery said he is “in discipline trouble right now.”
His only action to date was in the exhibition game against Concordia-Montreal. He allowed both Stingers’ goals on just five shots.
Coming into the season, both Leis and Williams knew and understood the situation and challenge ahead of them.
“It’s going good, everyone’s battling,” Williams said. “It’s a constant battle during practice and everyone just keeps hoping to get that No. 1 spot, to get that start everyday.”
But waiting until Friday isn’t exactly ideal in Leis’ mind.
“I’m not a big fan of (waiting until game day to find out), but that’s the coach’s way,” Leis said. “And that’s how it’s going to be.”
Williams has no issue with it.
“I think he’s going about it good,” Williams said. “Whoever’s the better goalie is who he’s going to go with. He wants to win every game, doesn’t take losing lightly. So, he’s always going to put in the guy he thinks is ready.”
Emery said he is taking the goalie situation on a game-by-game basis and is not committed to anything.
“My goal is not to have a goaltender controversy,” Emery said. “We’re just trying to figure out if both are good, both are going to play. If one’s good, one’s probably going to play the majority of the time. They are going to establish that, not the coaching staff.”
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