Pitton wins first home-ice start

BRAMPTON, Ont. – Bryan Pitton could get used to working at home.rrMaking his first home-ice start, the rookie Brampton Battalion goaltender produced 37 saves in a 6-2 Ontario Hockey League victory Sunday over the Saginaw Spirit.rrThe puck-stopping performance delighted Battalion coach Stan Butler, who could have done without Pitton’s forays from his crease to chase loose rubber.rrSometimes with young goalies less is more,” Butler said of the 17-year-old Brampton resident. rrIf he just stays in his net and plays his game, he can let the defencemen handle the other stuff. The only time he got into trouble during that game was when he tried to overhandle the puck. But I guess he wants to show people that’s part of his game.”rrPitton acknowledged that he still has work to do in playing the puck.rrI need to work on handling the puck with two hands. I usually like to handle the puck, but I’ve been more cautious this year with the rules now that we can’t really go behind the net. I came out and challenged guys a few times last year and that got me in trouble with my coach on occasion, but I saved a couple of breakaways.”rrPitton was chosen in the sixth round of the 2004 OHL Priority Selection from the Brampton Battalion minor midgets. rrHe played last season with the Wellington Dukes of the Provincial Junior A League, posting a won-lost-tied record of 24-7-3 with a goals-against average of 2.93 and two shutouts. Making the jump to the Battalion, Pitton became the first full graduate of the Brampton Youth Hockey Association to play for the Troops.rrPitton’s first five appearances, including four starts, came on the road. He saw his first home-ice action Nov. 6 against the Guelph Storm in relief of veteran Daren Machesney. rrIf I had a bad game this season, I’d hear about it at school, and there is a lot more pressure playing at home than I had last year,” said Pitton. There are a lot more people expecting me to be at the top of my game every night.”rrHe admitted to some nerves Sunday.rrI felt a little nervous when I got to the rink, but as we got closer to game time I got more excited since I was ready to play. I had a lot of family and friends here to watch me.”rrPitton’s teammates helped his cause by scoring two first-period goals on the way to a 5-0 lead through 40 minutes.rrThe last couple of games I’ve been kind of shaky early. But when they got those early goals, it helped me relax a bit.”rrThe win came against a Saginaw team tied for first place in the West Division. Pitton’s performance included three point-blank saves in the 12th minute of the third period.rrI didn’t think about how good Saginaw was. I knew how I had to step up. My guys needed me to make those saves. They’d been great the whole game. I wasn’t really that busy, but when those shots came I had to be ready.”rrButler said that Pitton, who’s eligible for the National Hockey League’s 2006 Entry Draft, has attracted interest from scouts.rrHe’s extremely athletic, and the feedback I get from pro scouts is good,” Butler said of the six-foot-one, 167-pound Pitton. They love him and they think he has great potential.”rrPitton has made seven appearances, compiling a won-lost record of 3-2 with a 3.91 goals-against average. rrI’m getting used to the game more at this level. I’m reacting more to the play of the game rather than just the shots now. We have some pretty good shooters on this team, so practising against them gets me ready for the games, but I’m learning to read the play. I’m working on my timing and not committing too early on passes coming across. Those are simple things I need to do.”rrAnother area of work is rebound control.rrStan talked to me about that, and I was facing three or four extra shots a period because I wasn’t controlling my rebounds, so I thought I did a better job in this game. I had a couple get away from me, but I think I was holding on to them pretty well.”r