The Eagles goaltending situation has been far from ideal this season so far. After a sluggish start and being faced with one too many 20-year-old players on the roster, the Eagles general manager and head coach Andrew Milne dealt veteran goalie Logan Dyck to the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Junior A Hockey League (SJHL).
“I think most guys in the room were pretty shocked when we heard the news about Logan,” said Eagles rookie net minder, Devin Chapman. “For me it’s bitter sweet. We got along well, but at the same time it gave me more playing time, which is what I want.”
Milne said the decision to trade Dyck was a difficult one, but is optimistic in the team’s newest member.
Winnipeg-native, Kadin Kilpatrick was claimed off free agency after being cast as the odd man out last season in Estevan, in the SJHL. In 13 starts with the Bruins, Kilpatrick boasted a 10-3 record with a 2.67 goals against average and .887 save percentage.
“He’s an excellent goalie, he’s hungry and he has something to prove,” said Milne.
Kilpatrick made his AJHL debut, and first start in nearly six months, last Saturday (Oct. 19) in Grande Prairie in a 6-2 victory. The 19-year-old turned away 33 of the 35 shots he faced.
“In the first five minutes I really had the jitters, but I managed to calm down and got settled in,” said Kilpatrick. “I think there are a lot of expectations for me coming into the team. It was nice to get the first win out of the way and I just want to build on the confidence I earned.”
On the team’s northern Alberta road trip last weekend, Chapman and Kilpatrick roomed together to give the goaltenders a chance to get to know each other.
“He’s a good guy. It’s always difficult for someone to come into a new dressing room, but I think after getting his first win, the guys will get behind him and he will fit into the team,” said Chapman.
Last weekend, Chapman lost both of his starts.
Milne said the pair of goaltenders do not share many similarities, and noted they are even opposite hands.
“They are two completely different goalies. We are definitely going to have a battle on our hands for the starting position,” Milne said. “We want that battle between the two of them. I think it will help encourage positive competition and bring out the best in them.”
Kilpatrick said he is an aggressive goaltender that relies on his technical ability to stop pucks. On the other hand, Chapman described himself as a more athletic net minder, as opposed to a more technical one.
Through eight starts this season, Chapman has a 2-5 record with a 4.01 goals against average and a .870 save percentage.
He said it has been a tough start, but is confident in his abilities and is hopeful for more playing time.
“I want the pressure. I think Kadin will push me and me for him. But I want to be the guy. I want to be the one starting,” said the 18-year-old Chapman.
Milne is not worried about the battle for the starting position between his goalies affecting the team morale. He noted there are battles for every position going on right now, as the team is still carrying extra players on the roster.
“We want that healthy competition within our team. At the end of the day, who plays, whether in goal or at centre – it will come down to who has put in the work and shows us they want to play,” said Milne.
