The Never-Ending Saga of the Goalie Shuffle

Dan Stuck tends to Dany Sabourin after a bad hit from Louis Robitaille. Photo by Kyle Mace

On Thursday, Hershey’s world was rocked by the news that Dany Sabourin would be out an estimated two to three months because he was scheduled for knee surgery.

For Sabourin, this has to be especially tough. After having a bit of rough first half of the season, he was finally looking comfortable and confident. He had just come off playing four games in a row and they were arguably four of his best games. It hasn’t been announced when he injury occurred, but it’s easy to assume it happen during the January 21st battle against the Albany Devils. Thanks to Louis Robitaille’s hit, Sabourin feel so awkwardly on his leg. Despite laying on the ground for some time, he finished the game and even played for the next three games.

Add to that the fact that Braden Holtby also tweaked his knee right before the All-Star break, forcing him to miss playing in the All-Star game and putting him on the dreaded day-to-day list. Hey, at least it’s not week-to-week. So what now?

Enter Todd Ford and Jared DeMichiel.

Ford is not new to the AHL but has yet to play a full season in the league. With the Stingrays, he has recorded a 2.69 goals against average as well as a .903 save percentage. However, Ford played in 15 games in the AHL last season and averaged a .933 save percentage. Earlier this season, he showed that the Bears can rely on him when he recorded two solids wins while Holtby was in Washington and Sabourin’s stats were struggling.

Not including preseason, this is DeMichiel’s second trip to Hershey. The first came right before Thanksgiving when he backed up Sabourin for one game before returning to South Carolina. He has not yet played an AHL game. Looking at his stats in the ECHL, he has a .915 save percentage as well as 2.62 goals against average. I’m definitely interested in seeing the winner of the NCAA East Region Most Outstanding Player award play and this might be his chance.

So while we have two capable goaltenders to fill it the blanks right now, we’re one injury away from having a serious problem on our hands. Both Michal Neuvirth and Semyon Varlamov have had injury issues this seasons so it’s definitely a thought in the back of our minds. Is it worth it to sign a new goaltender to the organization? Hopefully Holtby will heal soon and then we can breathe just a little easier than before.

Now how the South Carolina Stingrays are going to deal? Well, that’s a whole ‘nother story.