Coaches Corner #6

I received a really interesting question from Mary in Michigan "Why aren't any goalies captains of their teams?" A little research was necessary and in fact there have been goalie captains but not in the modern day game. A big reason being mobility and it's hard to converse with the official with that big mask on.

Just thought I would throw that in. That and the fact that most goalies sanity is taken into consideration for standing in front of 100mph slapshots. I will say that in my estimation goaltending is the most important position and certainly the area that has changed the most over the last decades. These devoted individuals have been taking a lot of contact in the "New Game" but I am sure that some "New" rules will be put in place for their protection. The Falcons are blessed with some fine young men in net with a whole bunch of character. When you give it some thought, it is the only position where you can really win a game all by yourself or at least insure a point. I just heard on ESPN that former Falcon Manny Legace getting hurt was the twentieth goalie to be injured this year. I thought one of the responsibilities of a defenseman was to keep forwards off your goalie, not push them on.

In Falcon land, Brian Eklund was called up to Tampa as Sean Burke stepped on a puck and injured himself. Gerald Coleman earned his first AHL victory against last year's Champs, Philadelphia. Jonathan Boutin was called up from Johnstown after 41 shots and a long bus trip back from Toledo. The ripple effect keeps going on. Goalie Morgan Cey is recovering from a groin injury and informs me that Al Montoya (now with Hartford) was an assistant captain in Michigan.

There were also those that were reassigned or injured or sat out. For them it is as difficult going down as it is euphoric for those that got called up. The key is to accept what is dealt one's way, refocus and move on. Remember to keep going; nothing pays off as much as persistence.

So as the Falcons hit the road for awhile, please keep those questions coming and see us this week with Manchester coming to town on Thursday, Nov. 10th and Bridgeport on Saturday, November 12th.