We’re continuing to look at all the numbers and the stats from 8 regular season games between the Kings and Grizzlies, building up to Friday’s game 1 between the two clubs.
Part Three: Goaltending
They are often the most important players on the ice, the goaltenders. They can win you games, they can lose you games. Here’s a look at how netminders from both teams contributed to the season series, as well as their stats throughout the overall BCHL season:
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| Jonah Imoo: 2-4-0, 3.31 GAA, .871 sv% vs Grizzlies (18-20-2, 3.06 GAA, .889 sv% in 42 GP)Braeden Ostepchuk: 0-2-0, 4.35 GAA, .861 sv% (2-13-0, 3.34 GAA, .882 sv% in 22 GP) |
Brady Rouleau: 5-0-0, 2.87 GAA, .866 sv% vs Kings (18-9-0, 2.67 GAA, .899 sv% in 29 GP) Michael Stiliadis: 1-1-1, 3.11 GAA, .886 sv% (15-14-0, 2.97 GAA, .895 sv% in 31 GP) |
It would be tough to argue that this has been a goaltenders series. All four netminders saw action, and all four were unable to keep save percentages in the 900’s in games between the Kings and Grizzlies. All but one, Rouleau, have goals against averages over 3, and while those numbers aren’t bad for the BCHL, they’re not ‘game-winning’ calibre.
Brady Rouleau has been excellent statistically during his time in the BCHL. With Cowichan last year, and Victoria this year, he’s consistantly been near, or at the top of the league in goaltending statistics. He’s 30-17 through 51 career games with the Caps and Grizzlies, and will head to Quinnipac next season. Despite the fact the Grizzlies have split time between the two netminders this year, given the head-to-head stats, and Rouleau’s track record against Powell River, I would expect to see him game number 1.
For the Kings, you would assume that it’s Jonah Imoo’s ball to run with. He’s gotten the bulk of the starts through both the regular season and season series with the Grizzlies. His numbers are good, but he’s suffered like the rest of the team with consistancy. One thing we’ve seen from Imoo this year that we didn’t last, was giving up a bad goal. That being said, he’s got the ability to rebound well. In games where he’s been pulled this year, he’s come in his next start to record a shutout twice this year.
At the end of the day, it’s unlikely goaltending will be looked back on as something that ‘lost’ a team the series. However both Imoo and Rouleau have the ability to steal games, and could very well win it.
Tomorrow is game day. We’ll have our usual game-day preview, with everything you need to know for opening faceoff.
