Played on Mar 7, 2025
United States Hockey League
Game Played in Fox Valley Arena
Louka Cloutier (G, L, 6’2″, 168, Chicago Steel, 08/22/2006, Northeastern)
Game Rating
A-
Louka Cloutier is a composed goaltender with a solid base to his game, utilizing his size effectively to limit larger movements. While he sometimes struggles with weight distribution and balance, which can lead to being off-balance, he makes up for it with impressive tracking ability and scans of the ice. When in position, he sets himself up well for rebounds and controls pucks effectively. Cloutier’s movement and angles are also noteworthy, as he adjusts his feet and body to maintain a good seal on pucks.
1 Viewing
Comments: The Quebec native excels in his puck tracking and reads plays effectively to position himself to make saves. His movement is precise but lacks a little bit of power due to offset of balance in his movement. He gains depth effectively and regains his backside leg well to ensure his stance doesn’t widen too much. He finds success when he is set and prevents widening keeping him mobile and allowing him to use a stance differential. The Colorado Avalanche draft pick makes very frequent scans of the zone, and his eyes lead his upper body and makes tracking pucks look easy at this level. Maintaining his feet is another key to his game as it increases mobility. He can do so in his posts but favors and uses a reverse well when pucks are in tight or in awkward angles. Limiting second chance opportunities in this contest was a key to success as Cloutier stopped 25 of 26 in the Steel’s 2-1 home win. Grade: A-
Alan Lendak (G, L, 6’1″, 177, Fargo Force, 07/24/2006)
Game Rating
B+
Alan Lendak is a reliable goaltender who excels in positioning and precision, allowing him to create a calm presence in the crease. He sets his feet well on pucks and makes precise movements to control rebounds and direct them to low-traffic areas. With his 6’1′ frame, he cuts angles at the top of his crease and gains depth to make use of his medium build. While Lendak’s movement is hindered by widening knees and loss of power caused by this widening, his scans of the zone allow him to identify threats and make precise movements. He also uses a reverse to seal the ice well and eliminate holes. His control of rebounds and ability to read plays give him an edge in his performance.
1 Viewing
Comments: The Slovakian native has more of a European style to his game with a wider base and hands while creating a nice seal of the ice. The 2006 born moves well from a wider and lower stance/base when pucks are in zone, making good use of a stance differential to bring his knees under his shoulders when pucks are further out enabling him to be more agile. Playing more of a percentage the approximately 6′ tall goaltender makes sure to cover the lower half sealing holes and dropping his hands above his pads out wide. His tendency to widen when he loses the puck in traffic lowers his eye line and forces him to find sight around bodies opposed to over but not showing and issues in this contest. Comfortable around his posts in a reverse and easily moving in and out aids in awkward angles or pucks behind the net. A more precise back leg will ensure angle adjustments are in line with threats out front to stay square. His scans of the ice are frequent and can help with identifying these threats and his back leg. A solid performance but coming up just short in the 2-1 loss on the road. Grade: B+
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images