Huskies’ Harvey out to prove goaltending naysayers wrong
“What’s up?” Jeff Harvey casually asks. “Your team’s goals-against,” the reporter replies. Ouch. Inrecentweeks,thegoals-againstaverage fortheUniversityofSaskatchewanHockey Huskies has shot up for a goaltending tandem which won the Canada West goaltending trophy last season. Allowing eight goals in one game and seven in another will do that. It leaves Harvey with an atypical 3.32 goals-against average and 86.3 save-percentage to go along with his 3-0-1 record. That compares to a 2.19 GAA and 91.5 percentagelastseason.FellowHuskie goaltender Russ Monette, who has been relegated to a backup role this weekend, has suffered through a 4.02 goals-against average, 2-2-0 record and 84.9 save-percentage. He had a 2.67 GAA and 90.3 percentage last season.
Harvey has started four games and relieved Monette twice. Harvey — who admits he is more comfortable as a starter than reliever — has accepted the challenge to prove naysayers wrong. He has taken plenty of heat ever since the red heat lamp started torching his neck.
“My whole career, I’m used to starting hockey games but it’s whatever coach (Dave) Adolph decides is what I have to live with,” said Harvey. “It’s whatever best for the team.
“I feel really good out there this year, so it’s really surprising. That red light keeps burning my neck out there, for whatever reason. I can’t put a finger on it. The effort’s there. I’m putting the work in at practice. I feel very confident and comfortable out there, but the end result is not there, so something has to change. You can only blame bad luck and bounces so much. I’ve got to look in the mirror and hopefully get my game together. “You’re only as good as your goaltenders are and, obviously, our goaltenders haven’t been up to snuff. Whether it’s defensive problems or oddman rushes against, the bottom line is it’s my job to make saves, and with an 86 per cent savepercentage like it is, I haven’t made enough.”
Monette feels just as perplexed by the sudden increase in goals allowed. “I haven’t changed anything,” Monette said. “I feel as good as I’ve ever felt in net. We just haven’t been getting the bounces.
“From my perspective, the number of odd-man rushes and breakaways we’re giving up is absolutely ridiculous. Something’s got to change.”
Meanwhile, players are auditioning for spots on the Canada West team to represent Canada at the 2009 FISU world university games over in China in February. As the top goalie last season, Harvey was a pre-season favourite to make the squad. He’ll have to pull his socks — or his new gear he’s tested this week — up.
“Obviously, that’s in the back of my mind,” admitted Harvey. “Maybe I’m thinking about it too much. Success hasn’t parlayed into anything so far. Maybe my mind is on the wrong thing. Maybe it’s time to realize that my only job is to stop pucks and, if I start thinking about anything else, like the University Games or something else, other things may be jeopardized. I’ve got to take care of the little things, like stopping pucks, and things will take care of itself.”
DOG TALES: F Brad Erickson (ankle) remains out of the lineup for the third straight weekend . . . The Bears have been without all-star G Aaron Sorochan in recent weeks.
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