Team loses starting goalie amidst three game skid

Justin Dunk

The Gryphons were unable to win in each of their two road games before the holiday break and head coach Shawn Camp was left with some early coal in his stocking when their starting goaltender for this season, Cody St. Jacques, announced he would hit the road as well.

“[St. Jacques] played the majority of the games definitely at the start [of the season],” said current Gryphons goaltender, Andrew Loverock. “ I came in knowing that he was the number one and I took what playing time I could get.”

St. Jacques left his university team to play one least year in the Ontario Hockey League as an over-ager. The former Gryphon decided to join the Brampton Battalion just before Guelph’s two-game road-trip in Quebec. St. Jacques started in net for the Battalion on Dec. 2, against Mississauga.

St. Jacques departure has left the goaltending duties up to last seasons starting netminder, Scott VanBommel and first year Gryphon Andrew Loverock.

“Bommer [VanBommel] was here last year so we both know what to expect,” said Loverock.”

Loverock has seen lots of action playing in seven games so far this season, starting six, but only recording two wins to go along with four losses. Loverock knows he must play well to keep earning starts between the pipes.

“Who’s on a roll type of thing. Whoever is playing well is gonna play more at that point,” said Loverock.

Oddly enough, Loverock actually has better numbers than the departed St. Jacques, sporting a 3.03 goals against average, over half a goal less per game than the new Battalion team member. Loverock is in his first year as a Gryphon in the CIS, coming off his OHL career.

“Guys are just older and stronger and there is not as many mistakes in the defensive zone,” said Loverock. “Guys are more responsible.”

Head coach Shawn Camp tries to give his goaltenders some notice of who is going to get the start in net from game to game.

“He usually lets us know a day or two before who’s starting,” said Loverock. “It kinda depends on what he’s feeling.”

The communication between goalies and their defensemen is crucial in the defensive zone. Loverock and his new teammates have had to work together to make sure mistakes are not made when playing the puck in their own end of the ice.

“There pretty good,” said Loverock. “It’s different in the CIS cause they don’t have the trapezoid so the goalies can play the puck a lot more. It helps them [the defensemen] out more when we can come out a little further. We communicate pretty well.”

Personally, the first year Gryphon believes the biggest difference in the transition from CHL to CIS hockey is juggling athletics with schoolwork.

“It’s more of an adjustment just going to school and balancing both,” said Loverock.

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