Rye a man of many uniforms
Peterborough native called up on emergency loan on Sunday to play for the Erie Otters
Easton Rye is a man of many uniforms this season.
The Peterborough native posted a 32-save shutout to lead the Lakefield Battaglia Homes Chiefs to a 6-0 win over the host Port Perry Lumberjacks on Wednesday. It gives the Chiefs a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven PJHL Orr Division junior-C quarterfinal.
Game 3 is in Lakefield on Saturday at 8:25 p.m.
It was his second game in as many nights for Lakefield after he played a game for the OHL’s Erie Otters on Sunday while on emergency loan from the Peterborough Petes, where he’s also played in six games this season.
Rye missed the Chiefs last regular-season game on Feb. 23 in Uxbridge as he accompanied the Petes on a two-game northern Ontario road swing until those plans suddenly changed. He found out on the bus ride around Parry Sound that Erie had requested his services on an emergency loan for the weekend. A seldom-used OHL rule allows a team which finds itself with a shortage of goalies and no immediate affiliated player available for call-up to borrow a goalie from another OHL team on an emergency basis. Rye, who was not expected to start either of the Petes’ games in Sudbury or Sault Ste. Marie accepted. Erie flew him from Sudbury to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport where he met his father, Scott, who accompanied him to Erie.
He dressed as the back-up goalie on Saturday and then started in the Otters’ 6-4 loss to the Kingston Frontenacs on Sunday afternoon. He faced 18 shots making 13 saves.
“It was definitely weird,” said Rye. “I’ve spent my entire OHL experience with Peterborough, so to go on a different team was obviously different, but Erie treated me extremely well. It’s a really classy organization and I really respect them and I’m very thankful for the opportunity they gave me.”
When he arrived on Friday, Otters coach Stan Butler informed Rye he’d be starting Sunday.
“This was a really unique situation,” said Rye. “Not many players get to play on another OHL team without being traded there. I went there with an open mind and just to enjoy the experience. The guys treated me with respect and I’m really thankful for that.”
Rye allowed the first goal 25 seconds into the game.
“It wasn’t my best performance, but any experience in the OHL is a step in the right direction for me. That’s where I want to be playing.
Even though the game didn’t go well I learned a lot. I did video with (Petes associate coach) Andrew Verner and we talked about it. It’s just a couple of minor details that make a big difference. Obviously, going from junior-C to the OHL amplifies those minor mistakes greatly. Even though they were good goals, I always feel like I can make a save and that’s the way a lot of goalies think. Even though a lot of goals might look pretty, there’s always something that we probably could have done different to try to prevent it.”
Coincidentally, Erie’s next game was Thursday night in Peterborough, but Rye was not needed. His focus is now on the Chiefs’ playoff run. While he’d prefer to be in the OHL, Rye is excited about being in a playoff series.
“The guys there are great guys and the organization is fantastic and I’m really honoured to play for them,” said Rye.
On Wednesday, Rye got lots of offensive help from Lakefield. Owen Thake led the Chiefs with a goal and two assists, while Cooper Schiller and Clayton Shaughnessy had a goal and assist each. Gregory Sheedy, Cole Lester and Will Corcoran also scored. Adding assists were Ethan Yantha, Alex Whitney, Cohen Bell, Brayden D’Innocenzo and Caelan Schmitt.