On A Roll..................

Devin was the starting goalie for the past three games in three nights. The team played on the road in Niagara and Kitchener and home with Kitchener on Saturday. The Otters beat Niagara 4-2, went into Kitchener and won 6-2, then came home to a record crowd to beat Kitchener in a shootout. Kitchener came out fighting and were up 2-0 after the first period. In the first few minutes of the second Otters scored and followed that with another goal a few minutes later to tie the game. Otters went up 3-2 in the third period; however, with two minutes left in the game Kitchener tied it up and the game went into overtime. After one minute of play the Otters got a penalty and it was 4 on 3 for two minutes. Devin made some stellar saves and the game went into a shootout. The crowd was on their feet, Devin stopped the first goal and the Otters scored so its 1-0. The next shooter scores and we score so its 2-1. Devin stops the next shooter and Otters win the game4-3. A six point weekend before the holiday break was a huge win for the team and a great confidence booster. Devin was a third star in two of the three games. Now they have a ten day break before they have to be back in Erie to prepare for the next few games.

A New Era Begins....

Well yesterday the head coach of the Erie Otters was let go and a new young coach has been hired. Given our dismal record again this year, winning only seven games, the decision was made to hire the new coach. He has taken a WHL team to a championship in his short tenure and should be able to relate well to the young players. We are eagerly awaiting the new coaches strategy when it comes to the goalies as well. Hoping against hope that he plays Devin more, poor kid certainly cant play any less than he has already, only five games out of 20+ and those on the third day of a three game schedule. Also hoping the coach pulls the goalie before allowing too many goals, old coach just let the goals run up no matter how many were let in. Its going to be an interesting couple of months and I am looking forward to seeing how it all turns out. GO OTTERS!

Season Begins

Well the Erie Otters season has begun, though they are not off to a good start. Devin has not seen alot of game time as the team is trying to get the starting goalie up to snuff, he has been inconsistent so far. Devin's first playing time came when he was put into the third period of a game. He allowed one goal; however, looked good in net. He then started two games, losing both; however, the team got a point in one as he lost in overtime. The second game was a 3-2 loss during a three game weekend and he played the third game. Kept the team in the game; however, they had no legs, allowing 14 shots in the second period to our 4. We are hoping Devin will see more playing time in the near future, he needs the game experience, and he gets better the more he plays. Its difficult to play every ten games and expect to be on your game.

More Politics..........

Well the Hlinka tournament has come and gone and once again, politics reared its ugly head. Though Devin was the number one goalie in Rochester and the other goalie came in 15th, the second goalie played most all the games. The exhibition game was won by the U.S. team, both goalies getting a shutout. The next two games were played by the other goalie, both of which were losses. Devin was finally given the start in the third game,allowed four goals and was immediately yanked, the game was also lost with the other goalie allowing goals as well. The last game, which didnt mean much given the U.S. team was in the last two placings, was finally won, though Devin again sat the bench. It was extremely frustrating to Devin, as well as us at home, though he did enjoy the vacation in Europe. Devin also did very well at the BAndits camp, enjoyed the training and ice time and loved the head coach Stan. He would like to work out next summer with both the on and off ice training he received at camp. On the last day there was a shootout and out of 14 goalies, one of which was drafted by the New york Rangers, Devin was the last goalie standing. He is now in Erie preparing for the season with the team.

The Past Five Months

Due to my computer, I was unable to post over the past five months. Alot has happened in that time. In March, during a game, Devin received a concussion and was unable to play the rest of the season. He came home after the season ended, still not released to play. The Otters mini camp was in April and, though he went to camp, was unable to practise with the new draftees. He was finally cleared the beginning of June and began his regimen of on-ice, off-ice training in order to prepare for Selects in Rochester, NY. Due to his concussion he was given a bye for the state selects, based on his past performances. Last week he was in Rochester, N.Y. for the week and had a great camp. Though he was not on the best team, they came in 9th out of 10, Devin once again ended up first on the leader board of 20 goalies, with 4 goals in 5 games, a 1.61 gaa, and a 94% save percentage. The camp was filled with scouts from the NHL, including Scotty Bowman, ex coach of the Red Wings. A Vancouver scout reported he was BY FAR the best goalie there. Well because his team did not fare well, they were not in the championship game; however, Devin was picked for the All Star game, which his team won. From these two games, the team for USA was picked for the Ivan Hlinka tournament in Slavakia and the Czech Republic. Devin will once again where the red, white and blue and represent the US in the tournament. Twelve of the kids from the Five Nations tournament will also go. They will leave on the 5th of August and fly to Washington DC where they will practise for a few days. From there they will fly to Europe and the tournament starts on the 13th. They will play Russia, Finland and the Czech Republic before the semi-finals and championship games. He is very excited and we are so very proud of him. Prior to the tournament, he will go to the Bandits Pro-Elite camp. He should be very ready for Erie Otters training camp the end of August and he will need to be. The Otters drafted a swedish goalie in the import draft and Devin will have to work hard to take over the starting goalie position.

A Stellar Performance....

Devin started a game in Erie last night against the Niagara Ice Dogs, the number one team in the eastern division. Twelve players were NHL draft picks on the team. After the first period it was 0-0, Devin having 21 shots on goal to our 5. Toward the end of the second period Niagara scored on a power play ending the period 1-0, Devin having 42 total shots on goal to our 12. In the third period Niagara came on again; however, with five minutes left in the game we got a power play and scored. With alittle less than two minutes left in the third period, Niagara gets a penalty and we score to make it 2-1. With 46 seconds left Niagara pulls their goalie and Devin makes his 61st and 62nd save of the game when the buzzer sounds. What a show he put on and he broke the Erie Otters record for saves made in a game with a win. He was also the first star of the game and we found out later the first star of the OHL for games played that night. This was one game he single handedly won by keeping the team in the game until they could finally score. We are so very proud of him and his fans couldnt be happier that he is an Erie Otter. His gaa is 2.96 and his save percentage went up to .927. Not too bad for a rookie.

His Third Start.......

Well Devin started his third game tonight against the Owen Sound due to an illness by Sadikov. The score was 0-0 after the first period, even though we had three penalty kills. In the second period on a penalty kill with only two and a half minutes left the Sound scored on Devin though he was interfered with and it was 1-0 going into the third. We tied the score on a power play and the regulation ended 1-1 A five minute overtime did not decide a winner and Devin had his first OHL shootout. The Sound scored a goal and then we tied it up. It took six shooters to decide the outcome and unfortunately we lost, though Devin played so good and looked awesome. One announcer said he looked like a veteran in the net, not a rookie and another announcer said the NTDP should be sorry they didnt take him. All in all he had a great night and was second star of the game. His gaa dropped to 2.96 and his save % is .916, not bad for a kid who just turned sixteen. He now comes to Saginaw to play before his home town crowd on Friday night.

2nd OHL start vs Saginaw

Well Devin started his second OHL game, against his home town team of Saginaw. Though we lost 3-0, he had a strong showing allowing two power play goals and one even strength goal. We ended up getting a penalty right out of the gate and on the first shot by the Spirit, Brendan Saad blew a stinger past Devins right shoulder, he told us later he never even saw it. Though this did not bode well for Devin, he settled right back down and kept the scoring to one after the first period. In the second they again scored two goals; however, were kept off the board in the third. The Saginaw goalie made great saves and we were unable to capitalize on a 5 on 3, which may have changed the momentum of the game. Devin looked strong, made some great saves and played well. He got 3rd star of the game for his play, stopping 30 shots. This also brought his gaa down to a respectable 3.84 and a.896 save %, not bad for a kid who is only 3 months into his sixteenth birthday. After the game there was a meet and greet and all the fans were able to get autographs and meet the new players, he loved every minute of it. The highlight of the evening was a raffle and Devins jersey was raffled off. We bought quite a few tickets but did not win............Tate was bummed! Devin is definitely showing he belongs in this league, he is definitely living his dream...........!

OHL start, A win and an Assist....

Devin started his first OHL game against the Sudbury Wolves in Ontario and won 7-4, getting an assist in the process. This is the first win by the Otters in 12 games and the 6th win of the whole season. He looked strong in net and did not appear to be nervous at all. Two of the goals he probably should have gotten, but didnt have alot of help on a short handed goal by the Wolves, but he was able to keep them off the board the last four minutes of the game when they pulled their goalie and we got an empty netter. He was so excited to be playing a game and was so pumped that he won his first game as an Otter starter. The announcer said they could see why Erie drafted him and that he played a very good game. We watched the game at the Williams house, it was like a superbowl party, the Kalandyks were there, uncle Larry, Nathan and Logan, Paster and his girlfriend and Clarence's mother, Stan and I. We watched it on the big screen TV and it was so exciting. We are so proud of Devin and all that he has accomplished, keep up the good work!

Living His Dream...

Devin was called up to the Erie Otters just before New Years and is now a regular on the roster as the backup to Ramis Sadikov. He is billeting with a wonderful family and has two other teammates in his home, he is extremely excited. He will remain with the Otters until March 17th, which is their last game and then will come home to finish school. How much he will play is yet to be determined; however, they are not making the playoffs, having only five wins so far. Getting him some experience in the net would be of benefit to him for next year. Hopefully with daily practise, goalie coaching and working out, he can become aclimated to the speed and intensity of the games and become the starting goalie. He is living his dream.