Consistency no longer eludes upcoming Hitmen goalie
Uneven performances fading away
Chris Driedger, like many players, is chasing consistency.
Coaches have issued the challenge to become steadier — not that he needed any reminding.
“Last year, I would have a really good couple games, then a really bad couple games, then one good game, then one bad game,” the Calgary Hitmen netminder is saying Monday at the Scotiabank Saddledome. “I was all over the map. It was good to learn from that.
“Now I’m just trying to prepare for each game the exact same every day. It seems to be working.”
Yes, it appears that the young man, in the midst of a stellar campaign, is getting the hang of it. You want routine? Welcome to Driedger’s world.
His game-day groove starts in the morning, 10-ish, with two cackleberries, poached and plopped onto slabs of toast. (“I’ve had two eggs for breakfast every day for the last six months, literally,” says Driedger, chuckling. “Haven’t missed a day.”) After an afternoon nap, he tucks into a pregame feed of chicken and pasta (“Every time.”) Then he and billet-mate Greg Chase motor to the rink nearly three hours before puck-drop. Who’s at the wheel?
“Depends,” replies Driedger. “If we’re on a win streak, whoever started the streak drives every day.” Whatever, it’s working. Because these days, the 18-year-old’s performances are as unvarying as the culinary leadup, which, of course, is the whole point of the exercise.
Driedger is fifth in the Western Hockey League in wins (16), fourth in goals-against average (2.29), fourth in save percentage (.922). November’s toil earned him WHL goaltender-of-the-month honours.
“Kind of cool to get recognized publicly,” says Driedger, who gets a chance to improve his numbers Tuesday — 7 p.m., The FAN 960 — against the visiting Kamloops Blazers. “And it’s nice to see that a little hard work has paid off. Then again, you have to give a lot of credit to the team.”
Mike Williamson, though, doesn’t hesitate to shove praise directly toward Driedger, the architect of the turnaround.
“He showed signs of being a top, top goalie last year, but he had a tough time sustaining a high level,” says the Hitmen coach. “We felt it was an experience, maturity thing. He’s done a better job of preparing and practising harder. Because of that, he’s had a lot of success.” To a point, that is. But the lad is unfazed that Canada’s nationaljunior showcase is merrily going on in his backyard. Four goalies there — and not a single one of them named Driedger.
“There’s no big panic to be one of the guys this year,” says the Winnipeg native. “(The world junior championship) is kind of a 19-year-old’s tournament, especially goaliewise. I’m not going to be upset about it. I understand their decision. I would have invited the same four (Laurent Broissoit, Jordan Binnington, Jake Patterson, Malcolm Subban) if I were doing the job.”
In fact, there’s inspiration present.
“Looking at Laurent Broissoit — he basically had the exact same season last year that I’m having this year. Hopefully, I can do the same thing next year and maybe get a shot at the team.”
Being ignored for the Subway Super Series earlier this season, however, must have smarted.
“I think he believes that he can play with those guys and probably is using it as motivation,” says Williamson. “I think he can, so I think he should be a little bit upset. We want our players to want to be elite.”
Nevertheless, Driedger’s focus — on the ice and off of it — remains sharp.
“Right now I’ve been very happy with how the games are working out,” says the thirdround draft pick of the Ottawa Senators. “If the defencemen keep the shots from the outside, it’s going to make you look a lot better — and our defencemen have been doing a phenomenal job of it. My stats have been looking pretty good ... the most goals we’ve given up in the last month and a half is four.
“Hopefully, we can keep winning.”
I was all over the map. It was
good to learn from
that
CHRIS DRIEDGER