Goalie proves his worth
Anthony Tremonte had something to prove when he showed up at training camp this season.
The 19-year-old netminder was picked up by the Niagara Falls Canucks at the trade deadline last year from the Thorold Blackhawks as insurance to back up starter Zach Moore as the Canucks made a run at a Sutherland Cup.
With Moore graduated, Tremonte knew the starting job was up for grabs and was determined to show the Canucks he was a worthy candidate.
“I knew coming in I needed to show everyone that I’m the guy this year,” Tremonte said. “There was a reason I got traded here last year and they wanted me to take over this year.
“It wasn’t given to me so I still had to come in and prove I wanted to be the guy this year. I just thought to come in and have fun. No jitters, no nerves.”
Tremonte only played sparingly with the Canucks last season but Canucks coach Frank Pietrangelo liked what he saw.
“We knew what he had done in the past obviously, but it wasn’t with us,” Pietrangelo said. “He had a chance to play with us and won all his starts and the experience of getting through a championship and being part of it was great for him as well.
“He’s been very solid for us all year. I’ve liked his game so far. He’s really composed and is prepared mentally. He’s a great kid and everybody likes him in the room so they want to play for him.”
In seven games this season, Tremonte has four wins, a 2.38 goals-against average and an outstanding .924 save percentage.
“I feel good about my game,” Tremonte said. “There are always bits and parts you can improve on but I feel good this year. It’s really a confidence thing. Your first few years you’re nervous but now I have over 60 games under my belt and know what to expect.”
Pietrangelo also appreciates the way Tremonte goes about his business.
“Tremendous work ethic,” he said. “He’s not the prototypical goalie you see nowadays, 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5, the guys are big butterfly goalies. He’s not that guy. He’s on the smaller side and has to work hard on controlling rebounds and controlling pucks around him. He’s done a better job of that, he’s reeling them in instead of kicking them back out.”
Tremonte said he has benefitted from working with Pietrangelo, a former National Hockey League netminder.
“We go over video. It’s nice to get feedback from the head coach because that’s usually not the case,” he said.
Tremonte has split time with Jack Brand this season, although Pietrangelo said he has no set schedule with his goalies.
“We’re going start to start and see how things go and see what’s best for our team that night and who’s in a groove and who’s playing well and who’s not,” Pietrangelo said. “It’s kind of fluctuating.”
Tremonte loves coming to the rink knowing he has a good chance to play.
“It’s cool knowing you’re the guy to go to. It was like that in Thorold and then when I came here I knew the situation that I was going to be the back up so you accept it, but in the back of your mind you always want to play so this year knowing you’ll get a chance to play is a good confidence boost.”
Tremonte said he was able to learn from the bench while the Canucks captured a Golden Horseshoe championship.
“It was awesome. It was cool to see what it takes to win and how much of a battle it is every night. I hadn’t really been on a winning team when I played in junior so I didn’t really see much of a playoff run.
“It was a good experience.”
The Canucks have given up an even three goals per game so far through their first 13 games, a reasonable number given their offence.
“I like to see us have a chance to win every night and that’s the motto I have,” Pietrangelo said when asked what he expects from his net miners. “You don’t want to go in there and it’s 3-0 after eight minutes and you’re playing catch up and you’re probably not catching up.
“As long as you give your team a chance to win, you’ve done your job. Having said that, there are points in the game where your goalie has to come up with a big save once in a while. The timing of when you let goals in and of course, the type of goals. If you’re letting soft goals in, it’s going to demoralize your club no matter what.”
The Canucks are home to league-leading Caledonia Friday and in Pelham Sunday afternoon.
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