Knight goalie wars
It's Anthony Stolarz versus Jake
Patterson.
The London Knights have two experienced net minders as they continue their Memorial Cup season. For Stolarz the aim would be cracking the United States World Junior roster in January along with more success in London. For Patterson, it's recreating the form he had towards the end of last season.
There isn't a single player on the London Knights who won't come under intense scrutiny during this season. Speaking from experience, goaltenders tend to face the bulk of any and all scrutiny. With London expected to be short on defense, a couple of times during the season, organizing the defence will fall to the man who starts in net.
“I'm trying to settle my game down and not be all over the place,” said Stolarz, a 2012 second round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers. “I'm trying to let the play come to me and trying to not be so scrambling.”
Indeed, Stolarz was impressive during the Knights' first two games of the season. Embarking on his first (and likely only) full OHL season, the Jackson, New Jersey native will be the go-to guy, at least on paper.
Head Coach Dale Hunter indicated that both Stolarz and Patterson will be given chances to play this season. “We play a lot of games, so whoever plays better will get a few more games,” he said following a team practice.
It's a relief from the 2011/12 season where Michael Houser had to play in 62 regular season games along with the playoffs and the Memorial Cup. The Knights have had somewhat of a balance in net ever since. Last season it was overager Kevin Bailie and Patterson, before Stolarz joined the mix midway through the season from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
This season, both Stolarz and Patterson tell it like it is: It's a battle every game, as both want that starting spot, but off the ice, the duo remain friends.
“If a goalie's winning, why change it?” added Stolarz. “Last year [Bailie and Patterson] contributed to the 24 game winning streak. When I got here, I went on a little streak, then Patterson did the same and then again in the playoffs, he won three straight against Barrie, giving us the title.”
“Whoever gives the team the best chance deserves the right to play.”
And indeed that will be the way the Hunter brothers run things this year.Whether or not they decide to trade for a goaltender as the season progresses is anyone's guess right now. Back during the 2004/05 season, the Hunters brought in Adam Dennis from the Guelph Storm, and there was no looking back. Dennis and Gerald Coleman backstopped the Knights to their only Memorial Cup title.
Waiting in the wings for London is their highly touted prospect, Liam Herbst. After missing 18 months due to knee and hip damage, London's first-round choice in the 2012 OHL draft resumed his playing career at the end of September, making 19 saves in the London Nationals' 5-2 win over the Lambton Shores Predators on September 25.
He'll of course be eased into action to ensure there aren't any long term ramifications to his injury. Alongside Herbst on the Nationals roster, is overage London native Jacob Riley, who spent last season with the Summerside Western Capitals — the same team that Kevin Bailie joined after he was waived by the Knights when Stolarz joined.
For Stolarz and Patterson, this is their chance to write themselves into Knights goalie folklore; to add to a list that features Michael Houser, Adam Dennis, Gene Chiarello and Steve Mason.
Junior hockey might be a small world but there are big hopes for the London Knights. And it will be up Anthony Stolarz and Jake Patterson to make London's third straight Memorial Cup appearance, a successful one.
The London Knights have two experienced net minders as they continue their Memorial Cup season. For Stolarz the aim would be cracking the United States World Junior roster in January along with more success in London. For Patterson, it's recreating the form he had towards the end of last season.
There isn't a single player on the London Knights who won't come under intense scrutiny during this season. Speaking from experience, goaltenders tend to face the bulk of any and all scrutiny. With London expected to be short on defense, a couple of times during the season, organizing the defence will fall to the man who starts in net.
“I'm trying to settle my game down and not be all over the place,” said Stolarz, a 2012 second round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers. “I'm trying to let the play come to me and trying to not be so scrambling.”
Indeed, Stolarz was impressive during the Knights' first two games of the season. Embarking on his first (and likely only) full OHL season, the Jackson, New Jersey native will be the go-to guy, at least on paper.
Head Coach Dale Hunter indicated that both Stolarz and Patterson will be given chances to play this season. “We play a lot of games, so whoever plays better will get a few more games,” he said following a team practice.
It's a relief from the 2011/12 season where Michael Houser had to play in 62 regular season games along with the playoffs and the Memorial Cup. The Knights have had somewhat of a balance in net ever since. Last season it was overager Kevin Bailie and Patterson, before Stolarz joined the mix midway through the season from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
This season, both Stolarz and Patterson tell it like it is: It's a battle every game, as both want that starting spot, but off the ice, the duo remain friends.
“If a goalie's winning, why change it?” added Stolarz. “Last year [Bailie and Patterson] contributed to the 24 game winning streak. When I got here, I went on a little streak, then Patterson did the same and then again in the playoffs, he won three straight against Barrie, giving us the title.”
“Whoever gives the team the best chance deserves the right to play.”
And indeed that will be the way the Hunter brothers run things this year.Whether or not they decide to trade for a goaltender as the season progresses is anyone's guess right now. Back during the 2004/05 season, the Hunters brought in Adam Dennis from the Guelph Storm, and there was no looking back. Dennis and Gerald Coleman backstopped the Knights to their only Memorial Cup title.
Waiting in the wings for London is their highly touted prospect, Liam Herbst. After missing 18 months due to knee and hip damage, London's first-round choice in the 2012 OHL draft resumed his playing career at the end of September, making 19 saves in the London Nationals' 5-2 win over the Lambton Shores Predators on September 25.
He'll of course be eased into action to ensure there aren't any long term ramifications to his injury. Alongside Herbst on the Nationals roster, is overage London native Jacob Riley, who spent last season with the Summerside Western Capitals — the same team that Kevin Bailie joined after he was waived by the Knights when Stolarz joined.
For Stolarz and Patterson, this is their chance to write themselves into Knights goalie folklore; to add to a list that features Michael Houser, Adam Dennis, Gene Chiarello and Steve Mason.
Junior hockey might be a small world but there are big hopes for the London Knights. And it will be up Anthony Stolarz and Jake Patterson to make London's third straight Memorial Cup appearance, a successful one.
