Ty Robinson is “the” guy in goal for Cochrane Generals. But the understudy’s role is still up for audition.
That casts the spotlight on 19-year-old Okotokian Ryan Fisher and Calgary’s McKenzie “Mack” Chalmers in the battle of the backup twinetenders.
Chalmers is the on-again, off-again Gens starter since 2013-14, racking up a 16-15 record and a 3.50 goals-against average (GAA) in two seasons. Fisher played 11 games for High River Flyers last season and one for Okotoks Bisons. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound stopper carded one win in mainly a mop-up role.
“Ty’s our clear-cut, No. 1 going into the year,” McFeeters stated of his starter. “Obviously, he proved that on the weekend. His numbers are the best in the league so far this season. We’re very happy we’ve solidified the No. 1 guy going forward.”
It’s the No. 2 role that remains undeclared. Conventional speculation suggests 18-year-old Chalmers, trying out for Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Winkler Flyers before arriving back in Cochrane last week, is the odds-on guy to buttress Robinson. The 5-foot-11, 160-pounder is a known commodity with a Gens track record and a career GAA two goals to the good on Fisher.
But nothing’s given in junior hockey.
“We’re going to give Ryan and Mack a fair opportunity to battle it out for that backup role. Hopefully those two players are patient. We’ll let them battle it out,” McFeeters, a former Generals goalie, said. “Those guys will decide who’s going to be the backup going down the year. We definitely don’t want to carry three goalies for too much longer. It’ll come down to practices and we’ll let Dylan Sutton, our goalie coach, make that decision.”
And it’s not an easy decision. While it’s mainly about the best puck-stopper, other factors are in play.
“It’s more than just who’s got more experience and who maybe had the best numbers last year,” McFeeters explained. “It has to do with a player in that role, how they fit in the dressing room, how they support the team if they aren’t playing, and when they do get that opportunity to play they have to be ready to win a hockey game for us. Give us the best chance to win.”
