CBC-Sports

Every goalie needs a partner-in-crime

November 20, 2009 11:51 AM | Posted by   Kevin Weekes  

Ever wonder why the original Batman television series was so good?

Well, aside from the written sound effects on screen - POW! BANG! SLAP! (all of you 'old-schoolers' out there, I know you follow me) - there was his partner-in-crime, Robin.

As a goalie in the NHL, you also need a partner-in-crime.

Understanding the position

Eighty-two games are too many for one goalie, even for Martin Brodeur, Dominik Hasek, Grant Fuhr, or Patrick Roy and they are among the best there ever was and ever will be! It is just too much. Even if you took an athletically and genetically-gifted beast named, say for example LeBron “King” James at 6’8”, 260 pounds and six per cent body fat, you couldn't do it.

There is no doubt about this: You MUST have two good goalies in this modern era of the NHL. Period!

I've always said that the only guy that understands what I'm going through as a goalie is my fellow goalie partner and vice-versa, but occasionally there are teammates that "get it" too.

Zach Parise had as close to a goalie mindset I've ever seen for a superstar forward but, ahem, his brother Jordan is also a pro goalie. Go figure.

Brian “Gio" Gionta was another forward who had respect for the position. He said he started out as a goalie and recorded some shutouts, ummmm ... OK Gio.

In junior, Jamie Storr and I played for Owen Sound in the OHL. We respected and pushed each other. I think that is one of the reasons we made history as one of the only tandems in CHL history to both go on to play in the National Hockey League. We're still friends to this day.

Challenging each other great for team

I've played with some stars in the NHL. John Vanbiesbrouck, Roberto Luongo, Nikolai Khabibulin, Arturs Irbe, Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur, quite the list, huh? Each helped me in different ways and at different times. Khabibulin helped me take my career to a different level and I went on to become a Stanley Cup finalist in 2002 with the Carolina Hurricanes.

In some years, I had better stats than these guys while playing together or on different teams. I know that I supported, nurtured and challenged them to work harder, train harder and try harder. That is value added for your team, especially in a salary cap era. A perfect example of this currently would be Johan Hedberg in Atlanta.

In a condensed Olympic year, the organization AND coach that understand and use their goalies most effectively will likely have the best chance to smile come early June. Detroit and Pittsburgh figured that out and voila! The last two teams that played in and won the Stanley Cup can't be wrong.

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