Talented tandem gives team big edge
Goalies to share duties at Telus Cup
MURRAY MCCORMICK
Nathan Moore and Dean McNabb are united in their pursuit of the Telus Cup.
The Regina Pat Canadians teammates are supportive of each other while sharing the goaltending duties at the Telus Cup national midget AAA hockey championship tournament, from Monday to April 30 in Prince George, B.C.
“No matter what, we’re going to support each other,” Moore said during a recent practice. “It’s not like we’re just goalie partners. We’re also friends.”
That friendship could have been tested by what transpired during the Pat Canadians’ run to the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League regular season and playoff championships and a victory at the Telus Cup west regional qualifier.
McNabb opened the regular season with nine consecutive victories en route to posting an 184-0 record. He was the league’s top goalie based on his 1.64 goals against average and was selected a first team all-star.
Despite those accomplishments, Pat Canadians head coach Darrin McKechnie leaned on Moore late in the regular season and in the playoffs. Moore backed up the head coach’s decision with a 7-1 record and a 0.94 GAA as the Pat Canadians won seven consecutive games to clinch the playoff title and advance to the west regional Telus Cup qualifier.
At the regional event, the goalies shared time during three preliminary round games, with Moore getting the nod in the final. He stopped 23 shots as the Pat Canadians edged the Thunder Bay Kings 4-2 to qualify for their second Telus Cup in three years.
“From the outside, it probably looks like a bit of a goaltending controversy, but it’s not that at all,’’ said Pat Canadians goaltending coach Jon Golden. “It’s whichever one is rolling hot, that’s the one who is going to play.’’
Moore and McNabb both appeared in 24 regular-season games and each compiled 18-4-0 records. McNabb, in his second year with the Pat Canadians, had five shutouts. Moore, a rookie, had two shutouts and a 1.92 GAA.
McKechnie feels the Pat Canadians will need two goalies playing at their best to win the Telus Cup.
“If we go all the way to the final, we have to play seven games in seven days,’’ McKechnie said. “There is absolutely no way that we’re riding one guy.”
The Pat Canadians open play Monday at the six-team Telus Cup against the Mississauga Rebels.
Also competing are the Cape Breton West Islanders, Leduc Oil Kings, Cariboo Cougars and SaintFrancois Blizzard.