CHL Stats Snapshot – Top Save Percentages
Former coach and legendary broadcaster Harry Neale said it best when he stated, “Goaltending is 75 percent of your hockey team, unless you don’t have it. Then it’s 100 percent.”
Fortunately, a handful of Canadian Hockey League clubs are benefitting from outstanding play between the pipes through the early goings of 2019-20 as 10 netminders from across the circuit have posted a save percentage of .920 or better (minimum eight games played):
Wolf is a wall
It’s no surprise to see Everett Silvertips netminder Dustin Wolf at the top of the leaderboard as he sports an incredible .945 save percentage through 10 appearances this season.
Following the 2018-19 season in which he led all WHL goaltenders with a 1.69 goals-against average and .936 save rate, the Calgary Flames prospect is back at it again this year as he has found the win column seven times. That stretch includes a pair of shutouts, including Wolf’s top performance this season in which he put up 35 saves in a 1-0 overtime victory versus the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Meet Season Ticket Holder Nancy Wilds, and family.
Her design is on the mask of Dustin Wolf, and she’s living out the grand prize dream (dinner with Wolf) at El Paraiso.
Just another great day in #SilvertipCountry pic.twitter.com/K4s7kjOAkJ
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) October 29, 2019
Trailing Wolf in the WHL is Dylan Garand (Kamloops Blazers) with a .932 save percentage, followed by Roman Basran (Kelowna Rockets) at .930, Carl Tetachuk (Lethbridge Hurricanes) at .929, Joel Hofer (Portland Winterhawks) at .925, and Vancouver Giants netminder David Tendeck at .924.
Coulombe almost unbeatable
Leading the way in the QMJHL is Antoine Coulombe of the Shawinigan Cataractes, who has won six of his 11 appearances this season thanks to a .932 save percentage.
As part of the resurgent Cataractes, Coulombe has already topped his win total from last season, including a five-game win streak to kick off 2019-20. After stepping in in relief for his first appearance this season, Coulombe then followed up that perfect six-save showing with back-to-back shutouts over the Val-d’Or Foreurs and Victoriaville Tigres before surrendering a single goal in his fourth appearance.
Le gardien de but, Antoine Coulombe, a été nommé le joueur du mois de septembre-octobre de l’équipe.
Il met ainsi la main sur la première tranche de la nouvelle coupe @sportsexperts. 🏆
Lire 👉🏼 https://t.co/nEdqD38LIX pic.twitter.com/QsRI2TV3wX
— Cataractes de Shawinigan (@Cataractes_Shaw) October 29, 2019
While Coulombe tops the charts in the QMJHL, next up is Foreurs netminder Jonathan Lemieux coming in at .918, Sherbrooke Phoenix rookie Samuel Hlavaj at .916, and Anthony Morrone of the Drummondville Voltigeurs at .912.
Daws denies the opposition
After holding down the second-string duties last season with the J. Ross Robertson Cup champion Guelph Storm, 18-year-old Nico Daws has assumed the starting role this season.
Daws has handled the increased workload well as he has suffered just one regulation loss through eight appearances while coming away with a .938 save percentage that ranks second among all CHL netminders who have made at least eight appearances. Already with two shutouts on the season, the highlight of 2019-20 for Daws thus far was his most recent outing that saw him put together 35 saves to guide his club to a 4-0 decision over the Mississauga Steelheads on Sunday.
Safe to say that @nicodaws30 has got everything under control ✅#GUEvsMISS pic.twitter.com/JPIX5FrOuL
— Guelph Storm (@Storm_City) October 27, 2019
Also impressing in the OHL is Niagara IceDogs first-year netminder Tucker Tynan, who owns a .920 save percentage across 12 appearances, a number evened by Minnesota Wild prospect Hunter Jones of the Peterborough Petes, who has won 10 of his 11 appearances in 2019-20.