Goaltending a Rebels strength heading into playoffs
It’s the most important position on a hockey team at the most important time of the season — the playoffs.
Red Deer Rebels head coach Steve Konowalchuk feels grateful in that he basically has two athletes — Chase Coward and Connor Ungar — of equal calibre between the pipes, two netminders who are equally capable of back-stopping the team to victory.
“It’s nice that when you put a goalie in you have a chance to win every game,” Konowalchuk said Thursday. “At times, especially in junior hockey, when you don’t put your starter in you don’t feel you have as good a chance, but we definitely have a chance to win with either guy.
“Both guys are capable of winning a game or taking the ball and running with it.”
Coward (pictured above) and Ungar shared the net almost 50-50 during the regular season.
“That was partly by design and partly because they kept stepping up and creating that battle,” said Konowalchuk, who on Thursday was named the WHL Central Division coach of the year.
“It’s not like either goalie falls off. You put one in and he plays well, you put the other one in and he plays well, so there’s been no incentive to have to really run one of the guys because they’ve both earned the chance to keep playing.”
The Rebels bench boss didn’t disclose which netminder will get the start in Friday’s opening game of a best-of-seven WHL quarter-final series versus the Brandon Wheat Kings at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
Both netminders will be ready to roll and both feel that the near 50-50 split in games during the season was helpful for them as well as the team in general.
“It works well. In practice we push each other and then it’s like we’re both fighting for the net,” said 19-year-old Coward, who appeared in 35 regular-season games, posting a goals-against average of 2.51 and save percentage of .906 with one shutout.
“Either guy can play and that’s a good thing to have when you’re on a winning team. It’s been a friendly rivalry.”
Ungar, who recorded a GAA of 2.43 and save percentage of .911 in 34 games, and also posted a single shutout, agreed.
“I feel like any time a team has two good goalies who can go in and win games it helps the team,” said the 20-year-old (pictured below). “The team is at its best when both Chase and I are playing well. That helped us all year long and I expect it will help us in the playoffs.”
Coward said he’s not worried about the potential pressure involved in getting the starting assignment for Friday’s game.
“I’ve been in playoffs before, in midget triple A and the Mac’s (tournament) final,” he said. “The biggest thing I’ve learned is just keep playing your game. It’s just another game against a team you’ll see up to seven times, so don’t change anything.”
Ungar suggested self confidence is the key to eliminating any potential pressure.
“I have confidence in myself and my teammates have confidence in me,” he stated. “When I get an opportunity to go in and be a difference maker, that’s what I’ll do and I’m prepared to do that.”
Ungar, when and if he gets into a game, will be facing some former teammates. He was acquired from the Wheat King in May of last year after helping Brandon win the East Division title in the Regina bubble during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.
“It’s definitely exciting,” he said. “I know I’m excited personally and the whole team is excited.
“As a whole, we have a real good feeling about this team this year and the potential we have and what we can accomplish.”
“We’ve had a good week [of practice) coming into the playoffs,” added Coward.
Notable: The second game of the series will go Saturday at the Peavey Mart Centrium. Games 3 and 4 are set for Tuesday and Wednesday in Brandon, and additional games, if required, are scheduled for April 29 in Red Deer, May 1 in Brandon and May 3 at the Peavey Mart Centrium . . . The lingering snow and further cold weather expected this weekend has forced the cancellation of the ‘Playoff Plaza Pregame Party’ planned for in front of the Peavey Mart Centrium Friday and Saturday. Doors open at 6 p.m. for Games 1 and 2 of the series game time following at 7 p.m. . . . The Western Hockey League announced its Division Awards on Thursday . . . Ben King is Central Division Player of the Year while Steve Konowalchuk is Coach of the Year and Brent Sutter is Executive of the Year . . . each is now a finalist for the WHL Awards for 2021-22 which will be announced June 1 . . . The league also held it’s lotteries for the 2022 U.S. Priority Draft and 2022 WHL Prospects Draft on Thrusday . . . the Rebels own the 14th and 31st selections in the May 18 U.S. Draft and will pick 17th overall in the Prospects Draft the following day.
