The puck stops here

Goaltending guides the Sockeyes to the final again

Don Fennell, Sports Editor

Last season, the Richmond Sockeyes relied heavily on Kevin MacKay who backstopped them to both the Pacific International Junior Hockey League and provincial Junior B playoff championships.

Wyatt Russell is serving up the same kind of goaltending for the Sockeyes in their playoff run this year.

"Wyatt has matured as a goalie and helped us through," says Richmond coach Ron Johnson, whose club faces the Delta Ice Hawks in the best-of-seven playoff final starting 7:15 p.m. Friday in Ladner.

Russell raised his game yet another notch over the last three games of the Port Coquitlam series, which Richmond trailed three-games-to-none. He made 33 saves in Monday's Game 7 after turning aside 38 in a 1-0 Richmond win in Saturday's Game 6 and a 40-save effort in a 5-2 Sockeyes win last Thursday.

Selected as the PIJHL's top goaltender and most improved player for the 2003-04 season, Russell is a likely prospect to play Junior A next season.

"It comes down to the commitment of a player to improve and achieve his goals," Johnson says. "He's a very, very hardworking kid."

Being the son of famous actors Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn has cast him even more, perhaps unfairly, into the spotlight. But Russell has dealt with the added pressure well.

"He's getting better and better at shutting the door when he has to," Sockeyes general manager Ken Kirby says.

Russell, 17, says "in order to get to the next level you have to stop (the shots) you need to stop. I'm not looking for great saves but ones that are solid."

Although Russell didn't play much last season as MacKay's understudy, he says he learned a lot from him.

The Sockeyes were also cautious not to expect too much from him too soon.

"Even though he didn't play a lot, the experience we had last year you just can't replace," Johnson says. "Even when he was sitting on the bench he was learning how to win and what it takes. Kevin was a great inspiration and leader for Wyatt."

Johnson also praises the role goaltending instructor Paul Fricker has played in Russell's development. Fricker puts a lot of time into his work and you need a good coach and teacher like that, Johnson says.

Russell has steadily improved since failing to make a Los Angeles Midget A team four years ago, to the point where he's now the top goaltender in the PIJHL. He had a 2.59 goals-against-average in the regular season and is 2.45 in the playoffs.

"I'd kill to get on the ice, but Wyatt (Russell) is playing outstanding," said back-up goaltender Brandon Grant.