Battle of the backups at Spitfires camp
Baier, Patton pushing each other to earn Spitfires job behind DiPietro
There is no question that Mikey DiPietro will carry the load for the Windsor Spitfires in net this season.
However, who gets the backup job behind DiPetro remains an ongoing battle between Brock Baier and Lucas Patton.
“It’s a decision to be made as to who the official backup is, which is still a competition right now,” Spitfires head coach Trevor Letowski said.
Baier is expected to get the start on Friday when Windsor plays its lone exhibition home game against the Sarnia Sting at the WFCU Centre. Game time is 7 p.m.
Letowski said Patton will likely get the start on Saturday in Sarnia when the club wraps up exhibition play.
“It’s a competition, but me and Pattsy are great friends,” Baier said. “Every day, me and him are working.
“We’re not working against each other, but for each other. It’s competitive, but we don’t look at it as a competition.”
The six-foot-two, 227-pound Baier was a 10th-round pick by the Spitfires in 2016. He was named the Greater Ontario Hockey League’s Midwestern Conference rookie of the year last season after posting a 24-6-1 record with a 2.03 goalsagainst average and .933 save percentage with four shutouts for the Listowel Cyclones.
The 18-year-old Baier signed with the Spitfires during last season and made a couple of backup appearances, but this is his first training camp.
“I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m a more composed goalie now,” Baier said. “I think I’m a lot more calm and cool in the net. I’m not as antsy in net. I’m just taking it day by day right now.”
Patton was a free-agent invite to camp last year and earned a contract. He spent the season with the Chatham Maroons, but was able to get to Windsor for a couple of practices each week.
“That was helpful,” the 18-yearold Patton said. “You get to know the guys and coaches and management and get more comfortable.”
He had a solid year in junior B as well and posted a 16-5-0 record with a 3.56 goals-against average and .902 save percentage.
“It was a great position (in Chatham),” the six-foot-one, 183-pound Patton said. “I got lots of games and lots of shots and any kind of development is good to help you prepare.”
With DiPietro still away at NHL camp with the Vancouver Canucks and possibly headed to Canada’s world junior camp, Spitfires general manager Warren Rychel is willing to keep three goalies around for now.
“All three guys are signed, so there’s no issue there,” Rychel said. “Eventually, down the road, we’re going to have to make a decision.”
DiPietro is expected to carry a heavy load in net for the club this season, so both Baier and Patton know it’s important to shine whether it’s at practice, an exhibition game or a rare start in the regular season.
“Playing the way I can play and focusing in practice and what I need to work on,” Patton said. “You never know what’s going to happen and it’s not my concern. It’s their decision and what they want to do. I just have to focus on playing. Games are probably more important than practice in measuring where you are, but both are important.”
Baier is trying to soak in as much information as possible whether that’s from goalie coach Perry Wilson or, when he’s around, from DiPietro.
“Working with Perry has really helped me a lot,” Baier said. “When you get an excellent goalie like Michael DiPietro and you get to watch him work every day and around such a great personality, you don’t take that for granted.
“Every day, he comes in and gives you some advice and you take it. You work with him and he works with you, so it’s awesome. Mikey’s a great guy. I’m going to learn a lot for him.”
We’re not working against each other, but for each other. It’s competitive, but we don’t look at it as a competition.