March 30, 2006

Squirt AA Travel Hockey




In the fall of 2005, "The Dominator II" was asked to try out for the 95 Squirt AA travel team. Having had some issues with the previous travel team it was decided to play him in his own age bracket and he became one of the goalies for the 95 BC Blizzard team. With new goalie pads and a regulation goalie mask (this time the dog face was a paint job), Devin was ready to give the existing goalie a run for his money, which he did in quick fashion. Though most of the parents on this new team considered him the backup goalie, it wasnt long before his skills and netminding ability surpassed the #1 goalie in G.A and Save %. Devin's father continued to coach him on the ice during this time. His second year as a Squirt, Devin went to his first goalie camp and also attended a two day camp for the Saginaw Spirit. It was at this camp that the Spirit goalie coach first saw him and determined that he was "phenomenal" in his goal tending abilities. He felt Devin was good enough to be in AAA hockey and recommended that this be pursued. Given the fact that Devin was only 11 years old and the AAA teams were so far away it was decided that he would continue to play AA travel hockey. That year the team took MAHA district runner up and first place in LC Division 5 with both netminders. They went all the way to the Division 5 Championship game at Joe Louis Arena; however, with the other goalie in net ended up losing to the opposing team.