No worries for Medina as he steps into spotlight
Goalie Kari Piiroinen has no doubt rookie Xavier Medina can handle things in net for the Windsor Spitfires.
While Piiroinen is away with Finland’s world junior team, the 17-year-old Medina takes on the No. 1 role in the Windsor goal, starting Thursday when the Spitfires host the Saginaw Spirit at the WFCU Centre at 7:05 p.m.
“He has it all,” Piiroinen said. “He’s got it. He’s such a good guy, I just feel like he’s got it.”
When Medina learned Piiroinen was heading out, he didn’t realize he could be away for as many as 11 games.
“At first, I asked how long he was going,” Medina said. “Then, after that, I kind of realized I have to settle in and get confidence in my game because we have a lot of games coming up.”
A third-round pick of the Spitfires in the 2018 Ontario Hockey League Draft, Medina was seeing regular action early in the season with four starts in Windsor’s first 10 games. However, in recent weeks, Piiroinen has taken on the majority of the work, having started seven of the last eight games.
“I haven’t been playing as much as I like to, but I’ll find my groove with a lot of games coming up, and hopefully I can prove myself,” said Medina, who will have 17-year-old Matt Tovell backing him up.
While he’s been doing more watching lately, Medina has tried to use practice time to improve his game with help from goalie coach Perry Wilson.
“I realize I’m not playing as much, so I have to take practice more serious and put it into game situations,” Medina said. “Perry and I have been working very well together. We’ve changed my game a lot. My movements, trying to stay on my feet more, be relaxed, watching the puck and everything.”
But while he’s taking on a bigger role, the six-foot, 172-pound Medina said he’s not worried about the challenge of being No. 1.
“I just have to try to do my job and stop the puck,” Medina said. “I have confidence in the guys.”
The Spitfires should get a boost on the back end with overage defenceman Thomas Stevenson set to return on Thursday after missing 10 games with a concussion.
“I think he’s going to play,” Spitfires head coach Trevor Letowski said of Stevenson. “He’s one of those guys you don’t really notice him, but he’s become a really important player for us.
“I thought he played really well and he’s been one of our best surprises. He’s elevated his game. He’s a worker, a physical guy. Strong. And we’ve missed him.”
That should provide a little more protection for Medina, who sports a 4-2-1-0 record in eight games this season with a 3.87 goals-against average and an .847 save percentage.
“I think it’s pretty obvious that it’s just a great opportunity for him,” Letowski said of Medina taking on the No. 1 role. “There’s not a whole lot to say to him. Just make sure he’s competing hard and he knows he’s going to be playing games now.
“He’s got to go play his game. You can’t try to save the world. I think that’s when people get in trouble, when they try to be something they aren’t and try to do too much. You’ve just got to go and play. Enjoy the opportunity.”
Medina, who hails from Wayne, Mich., is also in his NHL Draft year, so the extra starts will give scouts plenty of opportunity to better evaluate him.
“One hundred per cent, I see it as a huge opportunity to show NHL scouts, our coaching staff and players that I can play in this league,” Medina said. “It’s a huge opportunity for me.
“There are no worries in the room. Everything is good. I’m very confident of these upcoming games.”