Extra credit
Ben Goss takes break from university to be IceCaps’ third goalie at training camp
In early April, when Ben Goss dressed as an emergency backup goalie for the St. John’s IceCaps in their final game of the 2014-15 American Hockey League season at Mile One Centre, he thought it was a one-off, a special memory to pack away along with that photo of him among his one-day IceCaps teammates as they made their goodbyes on the ice and posed for one last team picture.
With that over, as well as his season with the Avalon East senior league’s Southern Shore Breakers, a new challenge awaited the 23 year-old from Mount Pearl at Brock University in Saint Catharines, Ont., where he was set to begin studies in sports management.
Goss made it to Brock last month, even found his way into the mix for a place on the Badgers men’s hockey team, when in mid-September, he learned his IceCap career might not yet be over. Jason King, the team’s new director of hockey operations phoned with an offer. Sylvain Lefebvre, the IceCaps coach, wanted a third goalie, a “just-incase” netminder for the team’s training camp this week in Corner Brook. Was he interested?
He certainly was, but first double-checked with his parents, Peg and Glenn, “to make sure that it was all good,” with them and then approached his new professors to find out how they’d feel about a just-arrived student heading back to his home province for a week of hockey.
“The teachers have been fantastic,” said Goss. “It was like ‘Hey, this is an experience you can’t miss. Don’t worry about it. We’ll work it out. It’s not going to hold you back.’”
In some ways, his time with the IceCaps might serve as some unofficial course credit.
“Your down here with the Montreal Canadiens, one of the best sports organizations in the world and with them, it’s all about management and the way they run things.
“It gives me great insight into something I want to do with my life life.”
But of course, there is also an education in hockey.
“I’m learning something every day,” said the 6-6, 205-pound Goss after his latest IceCaps practice Thursday at the Corner Brook Civic Centre. Today’s lesson? “You have to remember you always need to be four inches from the top of the crease. If not, that’s going to be another goal you’re giving up every three games,” replied Goss. The teacher? That would be IceCaps assistant general manager/goalie coach Vincent Riendeau, the former NHL netminder.
“You can’t get better than that,” said Goss.