August 29, 2004 in Sports

It’s Watt and everyone else in battle to be Chiefs’ goaltenders

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By no later than Monday morning, some of the Spokane Chiefs’ goalie prospects will know this just isn’t their year to make the team. Some already know.

When the Chiefs take the ice today at 1 p.m. for their annual Red-White game at the Arena, only one thing will be settled: Jim Watt is the No. 1 goalie.

The rest may in part be determined by how the other three goaltenders perform along with Watt in today’s concluding matchup of the Western Hockey League team’s three-day preseason camp.

The race for the backup goalie position has been close over the first two days of camp. To the eye of the casual fan, all six of the invited prospects have played solidly. The coaches and scouts see more specific things however, and three were sent home Saturday.

So, two 16-year-olds and one 18-year-old will suit up between the pipes along with Watt today: Brett Hamm, Brandon Tyer, and Kirk Irving. Watt, 18, has been in their skates before.

But not this year. Watt entered camp for the first time as the team’s go-to guy and so far has lived up to the challenge with limited playing time.

The team has been giving a greater share of ice time to six prospects. All have had their moments, seeing shifts with first-line forwards coming at them. At times, they have stepped up to the challenge. They also have allowed some goals they’d like to get back.

The team could carry three goaltenders through the exhibition season, which begins next weekend at Everett’s Labor Day tournament. That will give the team additional time to evaluate the remaining goalies.

On the chance that the organization doesn’t see any of them as quite ready for that role, they may look to acquire another goaltender through a trade.

More of the same

Coach Al Conroy saw Saturday’s second day of practices and scrimmages as similar to the first.

“It was OK,” said Conroy. “The guys were definitely tired after a tough first day and two games each today. So, I don’t think the quality of play picked up as camp went on, but we saw what we needed to see and we’re looking forward to a good Red-White game.”

The game is the last opportunity for those “on the bubble” to make their case for one of the few open roster spots. Spokane returns 17 players from last season and will carry no more than 26 players until several return (or don’t) from NHL camps in late September, at which time that number will reduce back to 22. No 15-year-olds will play in today’s game.

“Besides the expected steady play of the veterans on Saturday, European newcomer Michael Grabner continued to impress. At one point, he scored two goals in less than a minute. … Spokane Braves Ryan Pajimola and Michael Senseman continued their steady play. … Forward Jared Hough, 18, got into his second fight in as many days. … Today’s game is free and open to the public, with entry through the Chiefs office.

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