Neutral Zone is pleased to share our latest goaltender report. This report highlights their technical skills and mental sharpness, offering insights into their performance. By focusing on strengths, weaknesses, and performance metrics, this analysis aims to provide a clear picture of each goaltender’s game.
Louka Cloutier (G, L, 6’2″, 168, Chicago Steel, 08/22/2006, Nebraska Omaha)
Grade: A-
Comments: Chicago: Jack Parsons (2006) John/Jack Parsons is a great first save goaltender that tracks pucks well and relies on an athletic and solid fundamental base. With a solid base of fundamentals, he moves well from a condensed stance and hands out front to help aid movement. When his hands and feet do widen is when the Steel netminder will open holes and make his game more difficult. Shots to his hands and upper body are handled with ease and controlled, his lower body could use a more active stick to direct pucks to less dangerous areas. Comfortable in his posts and at awkward angles but flattens his body to do so putting his angles off at those angles. A good performance but comes up short for the Steel in the loss.
Dylan Johnson (G, L, 6’2″, 200, Green Bay Gamblers, 04/29/2005)
Grade: B+
Comments: Green Bay: Dylan Johnson (2005) The Texas native that played a couple games for Dubuque early in the season sees his first action in the nets for Green Bay. The 6′ tall goaltender uses depth to increase his size and centers his body on pucks. His feet are what could be called happy feet, as there is a lot of extra movement, and they fail to set on threats/plays. Very minimal scans of the ice and shoulder checks hinder him from reading plays and recognizing where threats are in the zone. Although scans are minimal Johnson seems to track pucks into his body well. Since his feet and hands don’t set his rebound control is sporadic and based on whether his feet set and can surrender second chance opportunities. Adjusting to his new home in Green Bay gets the job done in Chicago but has some areas to improve.
Max Weilandt (G, L, 6’1″, 188, Des Moines Buccaneers, 07/29/2005)
Grade: A-
Comments: Des Moines: Max Weilandt (2005) The 2005 born goaltender from Illinois has a more athletic play style that isn’t as technically sound but gets the job done. In this contest he made multiple breakaway and key saves to help Des Moines to the home victory. Able to keep his feet and knees underneath him and chest upright, the rest of his game relies on his athletic ability to get him into the correct spots with power. Although he gets into the correct spots and centers his body well, his tendency to reach for pucks outside of his body throws off his weight and widens his feet and knees forcing a regain. Rebounds were controlled well to his midsection and kept in front of him to be covered not necessarily directed to safer areas. Comfortable in and around his posts for awkward angles but struggled with the same widening of his knees to maintain power and mobility. Although not perfect a great performance showing improvements and a big win for Des Moines.
Calvin Vachon (G, L, 5’11”, 163, Waterloo Black Hawks, 07/19/2005)
Grade: B+
Comments: Waterloo: Calvin Vachon (2005) The Alaska Fairbanks commit has a solid foundation with movement that stems from an upright stance and feet that are underneath him. Playing in back-to-back nights Vachon gave up three goals on 24 shots in the 4-1 loss to Des Moines. Doing a good job of redirecting and swallowing rebound chances allowed to keep his workload low. Less frequent shoulder checks found him chasing plays and leaving his feet more often. Vachon keeps a calm composure playing within his crease and sticking to his sound fundamentals. Getting caught outside his crease and guessing led to the second goal. Keeping this game close and giving Waterloo a chance to win but coming up short.
Damian Slavik (G, R, 6’4″, 185, Fargo Force, 06/09/2005)
Grade: B+
Comments: Fargo: Damian Slavik (2005) At 6’4′ tall the Slovakian native for the Force plays a calm game and gains depth making his size an advantage. His movement is technical and sound, but at times seems to lack power on larger movements. Centering his body and using that depth to his advantage seems to have his angles/squareness in need of adjustment as pucks find their way outside of his body and hands. When pucks were in reach Slavik did a good job at keeping pucks in front of him to smother rebounds. Tracking and using frequent shoulder checks kept him aligned with plays, when he doesn’t it is very evident as he is caught out of position. His size allows him to see through and around screens effectively and he seems more comfortable in and around his posts while pucks are in awkward angles. Giving up five on 28 shots, comes up short for the Force in Sioux City
Samuel Urban (G, L, 6’0″, 210, Sioux City Musketeers, 05/01/2005, Arizona State)
Grade: A-
Comments: Sioux City: Samuel Urban (2005) Urban who is a Slovakian native and seeing action in his third season with the Musketeers shows sound fundamentals and strong movement skills around his crease. Centering his body well and setting his feet well on pucks/threats allows him to be controlled in his movements. Although controlled in his crease he showed some frustration in this one after being bumped into and traffic around the crease. Tracking pucks well and taking shoulder checks allows him to control rebounds and swallow them eliminating most second chance opportunities. Although seeming comfortable in his posts and sealing the ice/holes in tight and when pucks are behind the net, he did seem to struggle in decision making whether to maintain his feet and gave up goals in tight situations. An overall solid foundation and enough to get the two points in this one. Grade: A-
Liam Beerman (G, L, 6’0″, 177, Dubuque Fighting Saints, 09/30/2004, Lindenwood)
Grade: B+
Comments: Dubuque: Liam Beerman (2004) The 2004 born Fighting Saints goaltender plays a calm game within his crease. His stance tends to widen outside of his shoulders and leave his weight shifted backwards and leaving him off balance. In quickly developing plays or larger lateral plays this hinderance is very noticeable. He does a good job sealing the ice in his butterfly and looks to feel more comfortable down. Comfortable in his posts and moves fluidly but a wide base reduces power and effects balance here as well. Doing a good job to scan the ice and take shoulder checks allows him to identify threats and plays. A good job of keeping rebounds in front of him to be covered and control play, but not immediately swallowed. A good performance stopping 36 of 39 to get the win for Dubuque. Grade: B+
Erick Roest (G, L, 6’0″, 180, Tri City Storm, 10/26/2004, Cornell)
Grade: B
Comments: Tri-City: Erick Roest (2004) The 2004 Canadian born goaltender for the Storm moves with power and plays with a higher depth to add size. His movement is powerful and crisp but lacks precision and throws off his centered body weight to make additional movements. Roest makes a great use of a stance differential to add size during screens or when the puck is outside the circles and sets his feet well on first chance opportunities. Although if he loses the puck, he tends to reduce his depth in his crease. He made some big saves in this game, especially in the third period to keep the game close. Rebounds were controlled well to his upper body; a more active stick could see better control in his lower half. Shots low to his hands still seem to be a focal point of goals against. Stopping 23 of 26 in this one and coming up just short of two points.
Ajay White (G, L, 6’3″, 205, Madison Capitols, 05/27/2006, St. Thomas)
Grade: A-
Comments: Madison: Ajay White (2006) The 2006 born Capitols goaltender Ajay White has a calm demeanor in his crease and about his game that doesn’t see a lot of wasted movement. There’s a solid and technical base to his movement but he seems to lack power and his stance widens as plays progress. Causing the lack of power or a part of the cause is due to the release out of his stance and into an upright position before finishing his movement. The lone goal was on a shot from the slot area that found a hole through the midsection of white and was unable to seal. A good showing of composure from both goaltenders as there was a long pause in the game due to an ice delay in the first period. Comfortable taking shoulder checks and reading plays and seeming to like a depth that is a bit shallower while plays are in zone. A solid performance and getting the two points stopping 23 of 24.
Melvin Strahl (G, L, 6’3″, 166, Youngstown Phantoms, 03/18/2005, Michigan State)
Grade: A
Comments: Youngstown: Melvin Strahl (2005) The Swedish native and Michigan State commit has a calm composure in the crease centered around a solid technical base and powerful movement. The power to his movement keeps him ahead of plays and allows him to make saves with ease and drop into pucks centering his body. Rebound and body control was exceptional but a few times in this game some pucks were released off him for second chance opportunities which ultimately resulted in the first goal against. At 6’3′ tall Strahl can effectively see over and through screens from a relaxed stance, as well as seal the ice and all holes while in and around his posts. This compact play enables his power and precision in movement. His head frequently scans the zone for players and threats. A very solid goaltender and foundation but coming up short in the 4-1 loss stopping 32 of 36.
Ryan Manzella (G, L, 6’0″, 176, Sioux Falls Stampede, 03/17/2004)
Grade: B+
Comments: Sioux Falls: Ryan Manzella (2004) The Sioux Falls goaltender from Eagan Minnesota has a great athletic ability that allows him to track pucks and plays well. Failing to set his feet on threats causes his stance to widen and limit this ability after first chance opportunities. Pucks outside of his body causes his hands and legs to extend and reach. The use of a stance differential makes for an ease of movement when pucks are outside the faceoff circles and ability to see around screens. Some rebounds would be kicked and spit into dangerous areas and leave for second chance opportunities. Making some big saves in this one and helping keep the game close at times showed some composure but could get flustered at times. The Stampede coming up short in this one, but Manzella has the athletic ability and tools, just needs some sharpening.
Calvin Vachon (G, L, 5’11”, 163, Waterloo Black Hawks, 07/19/2005)
Grade: A
Comments: Waterloo: Calvin Vachon (2005) The Redondo Beach California native has a strong fundamental base to his game. His movement is sound and based around a condensed and upright stance ensuring his balance and power. His tracking of pucks and reads of plays are strong enough to keep him ahead of plays and make saves with ease. Throughout the course of the game his hands and stance did widen on occasion, but he was able to regain as he centers himself well in his crease with a modest depth that doesn’t find himself out of position. Struggling on occasion with traffic and screens caused one of the blemishes in this contest. Overall Vachon has a solid base to his game that creates a calm presence in the crease.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
