12+ and Counting......

 

Well the season is almost at mid point and Devin is doing very well.  He has won his last twelve games in a row and is fourth on the top goalie leader board.  He has a 2.44 g.a.a. with a .909 save percentage.  He is also the top goaltender in the OHL for the month of November.  The other goalie will be leaving for WJ soon and Devin will be playing most of the games in his absence, lets keep the ball rolling Otters.  The Otters are the number one team in the CHL right now with 24 wins, 4 losses and one OT loss, and are still undefeated at home.  The team is playing great and that is thanks to our coaching staff and the players buying into the system.  Way to go Otters!

The Season So Far

Well the Otters have made an amazing turn around so far this season.  They are 16-3-0-1 on the season and have broken two franchise records.  They broke the record for most consecutive wins in a season with 12 and they broke the record for most consecutive home wins at 9 and counting.  Due to an issue with the other goalie, Devin is playing.  He has six consecutive wins and has a gaa of 2.64.  His save % dropped a hair; however, he is playing well since his surgery.  He has two back to back shutouts to his credit as well.  The team is playing extremely well and the Otters are first in the Western Conference at this moment.  We will savor the feeling!

Nine Month Update.........

Well due to forgetting my password, I have not updated Devin's blog since December.   The Otters ended the season slightly better than 2011-12, coming in second to last instead of last place in the league.  Devin also came home extremely sore and, after doing some investigating, it was suspected he had a sports hernia.  Given that the best sports hernia physician was in Philadelphia, PA, we drove twelve hours leaving on a Sunday, July 22nd, he was diagnosed on Monday, surgery on Tuesday and at 1:00 a.m. in the morning we drove another twelve hours home.  He has done remarkably well, worked hard; however, was unable to participate in training camp.   He began taking shots again two weeks before the end of the preseason and played the last preseason game, Otters winning 4-2.  He now feels the best he has felt in a year and a half, having played that long on the injury.  Devin made the NHL futures list for players eligible for the 2014 draft next June.  The Otters first regular season game is tonight; however, most likely Dansk will start in net.  Will keep the blog updated for the season.

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.