Jacob Steinman: Keeper of the Crease
2025-01-27
The Halifax Mooseheads, and their fans, have been enjoying the services of veteran goalie Jacob Steinman since the overage player arrived from the Moncton Wildcats in a January trade.
Steinman came to Moose Country with big shoes to fill as he was part of the return in the deal that sent fan favourite Mathis Rousseau to the Cats on the final day of the deadline. However, he has been nothing short of magnificent in his seven games in Mooseheads colours and has helped guide the team during their resurgence in recent weeks that has seen four wins in the last seven games.
He earned three of those victories which included upsets over Rimouski, Chicoutimi and Acadie-Bathurst. Steinman was the second star on the road in the overtime shocker versus the Oceanic where he allowed two goals on 41 shots. He followed it up by stopping 24-of-25 shots Thursday at home in a 4-1 win over the Titan and got right back between the pipes the following night to take down the Sagueneens and earned the first star in the victory with 26 saves on 27 shots against. Overall, Steinman has been named a star in four-of-his-seven outings.
The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League recognized Steinman for his outstanding play by naming him to the Team of the Week on Monday afternoon.
The goalie from Cambridge, ON has quickly earned the praise from his coaching staff and the adoration of the fans inside Scotiabank Centre.
“He’s been everything we could have asked for and then some,” said General Manager Cam Russell.
“We’re fortunate to have Jacob here in Halifax for the second half of this season. We knew we were giving up a great goalie in Rousseau, but we knew we were getting a great one back in return, which made it easier to make that trade. He’s been absolutely dynamite.”
Steinman is a Division 1 NCAA commit to Bowling Green University and will finish his Junior career in Halifax. His save percentage with the Mooseheads of .935 is even better than the .928 he posted in the first half of the season with the league leading Wildcats. He continues to lead all QMJHL goalies in wins with 25 and his overall goals against average of 2.18 is also first amongst goalies who have played in more than 10 games.
Even in defeat, Steinman has been stellar as was evident in yesterday’s home ice loss to Saint John where he was the second star with two goals allowed on 36 shots.
The workhorse goalie is also providing the team with a great mentor for young Nick Cirka, the highly touted 16-year-old recently added from Taft School in December.
Both goalies are expected to see action this week as the Mooseheads embark on the final road trip through the province of Quebec this season. The team will leave on the bus on Tuesday morning to make their way to Baie-Comeau for a Thursday night matchup with the Drakkar at 8pm. Then it’s off to Chicoutimi for the much anticipated rematch with the Sags on Friday at 8pm before the trip finishes in Quebec City on Saturday afternoon at 5pm.
The next home game at Scotiabank Centre is set for Friday, February 7th at 7pm against Blainville-Boisbriand while Halifax will host Mooseheads Fight Cancer Night against Acadie-Bathurst on Saturday, February 8th at 7pm. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.ca