Brandon Wheat Kings’ Ethan Eskit Unfazed By Pressure Of Starter’s Role
Article Courtesy Perry Bergson, Brandon Sun
If the Brandon Wheat Kings let their goalies pick goal songs like the skaters, Ethan Eskit might want to consider Circle Of Life from The Lion King.
The rookie netminder from Calgary has taken over as the Western Hockey League club’s starter after Carson Bjarnason suffered a lower-body injury two weeks ago. During the 2021-22 season when Bjarnason was a rookie, he gained the top job when Ethan Kruger was hurt.
And to go even further back, Kruger had the chance to be the starter in his second season after Jiri Patera required ankle surgery.
Hakuna matata, indeed, as the 1994 movie suggested. No worries.
“I think it changes a little bit,” Eskit said of his new temporary role. “You have to change your mindset a little bit. Obviously, when you go from playing once every few weeks to once every second weekend to playing almost every game, so you have to refocus a lot quicker and even in practice you have to watch your workload. Western Hockey League games are a lot different from midget, so you really have to take care of your body.”
Kruger had terrible luck in his final season, getting run into repeatedly by forwards and playing just once in the month shortly after Christmas. That meant Bjarnason got the call more than expected.
“It was nerve wracking,” Bjarnason said. “Obviously, when Krugs went down, it was a lot of weight and a lot of pressure to perform for your team, but I guess that’s why they choose you. They have confidence in you to play and help the team no matter what.”
In 28 appearances this season, Bjarnason has a 3.22 goals-against average and .901 save percentage while Eskit is sporting a 3.71 GAA and .881 save percentage in 17 appearances.
“I think it started off a little slow, but I got more games and got more comfortable,” Eskit said. “From there, I think things have been pretty good and I’m only looking to get better as the season goes on.”
Brandon head coach and general manager Marty Murray has noticed the same thing. He said Eskit’s most recent starts have kept his team in games, even during a 7-3 loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers when the Wheat Kings made more giveaways than Santa Claus.
“He’s handled it exceptionally well,” Murray said. “He hasn’t looked overwhelmed at all playing the big minutes and playing some tough teams as of late. Even the game on Sunday, I thought he was really good and we kind of left him hung out to dry there in the third.
“I think it’s kind of managing his workload here. I think from the coach’s standpoint, you have that feeling in your gut that you can trust him and he can do the job.”
From his experience in the last season and a half, Bjarnason said workload is an important element of stepping up into the top job.
“He’s already said he’s getting a little tired, but he’s the kind of guy to push through that,” Bjarnason said. “He’s a pretty strong kid and he has the mentality in the right spot. It’s a good opportunity for him to get to know what it’s like because he’ll be given that opportunity a lot more in the future.”
The five-foot-10, 185-pound Eskit, who turned 18 on Jan. 7 and is actually only 191 days younger than Bjarnason, has had to adapt to a new role this season after starting with the Yale Hockey Academy’s U18 prep team last season when he had a 2.21 gaa and a .941 save percentage.
But that didn’t come as a surprise because the third-year goalie Bjarnason started with Brandon last season and is a 2023 pick of the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers.
“It’s understood coming in,” Eskit said. “Obviously, with Barney in front of me, he’s an outstanding goalie, second-round NHL signed pick, so you have to understand your role and do it to the best of your abilities. When you get a chance, you just have to make the most of it because they’re hard to come by.”
The tough part of being a backup goalie is they seldom have an immediate chance to rebound from a subpar outing if they’re not getting starts. And it also gives them less game action to grow accustomed to the skill of major junior players.
“Obviously, in any position in the Western League it’s hard to adapt to, but as a goalie it’s very challenging,” Eskit said. “The shots get off faster, the players are a lot smarter, they can shoot harder and make smarter plays. It’s just about getting into the league as fast as you can and becoming comfortable. I guess you have to go from there.”
Oddly enough, Eskit quite literally almost didn’t end up in this position. One of the two newest Wheat Kings, Nick Johnson, played with Eskit growing up in Calgary and said he had a big decision to make.
“Actually when we were younger, I remember he was a really good player, but also a really good goalie, too,” Johnson said. “I remember the decision for him was whether or not he wanted to be a player or a goalie. I think honestly, whichever way he chose, he would have ended up in the exact same spot where he is today. I’m glad it worked out.”
Eskit ended up starting all three games in three nights on the Wheat Kings recent Alberta swing. Bjarnason said he won’t really have to make changes to his normal day-to-day routine as a backup.
“It’s nothing too major at all,” Bjarnason said. “It’s more you preparation and the way you handle your body and your practice habits. Everything should stay pretty similar whether you’re the starter or not. It’s just being a creature of habit.”
Eskit agreed, saying he’s not concerned. After all, hakuna matata.
“Honestly, I don’t think there’s that much more pressure,” Eskit said. “It’s just about going out there, and at the end of the day you play hockey to have some fun so as long as you’re putting in the work in practice and off the ice and proper rest and proper nutrition, there’s not a lot to worry about.”