Broncos Goaltending

Evidently that's what a thunderstorm looks like in Swift Current?

The forecast continues to call for rain and thunderstorms... Which we can only hope keeps meaning sunsets like that one.

September is looking to bring with it another season of Blenders music (and unlike the weather we can guarantee this for you)... Shann Gowan was in studio this AM

And as promised this morning I did mention I'd throw my thoughts on the "questionable" goaltender situation in Broncos camp... Once again, there is no question marks.  Landon Bow plays probably 60 games this year, probably with Travis Child as his backup at 17 playing the odd game here and there.  I think the legend of Eetu Laurikanen is really making alot of people uneasy about Landon Bow, but let's look at the situation.  Eetu was basically a Tim Thomas type of goalie... Worked off his reactions, made some flashy saves, but at the end of the day was a high risk high reward goaltender (unable to win a championship like Thomas did)... Landon Bow is far more fundamentally sound (at least where the North American game is concerned)... His preparation and mindset are the only things that will be tested this year as far as I'm concerned.  Essentially we now have more of a Ben Bishop/Mike Smith goaltender locking down the crease... And to be honest when you think of the defensive core coming back for the Broncos this year (mixed with a big bodied goaltender) I think keeping pucks out of the net will be the least of this team's concerns. I think the biggest thing making people uneasy about Bow (and I noticed this even after Bow's starts last year) is that he doesn't make the "big save" like Eetu did... But anytime you see a goaltender making a "big save" it's because something went wrong that put him(or her) in that situation.  Bow takes pucks in the chest, covers them up, whistle, face off win(if all works out) and up the ice offensively.

Applause to Mark Lamb as he has followed the (now proven) goaltending factory in Edmonton (past two goalies in Brossoit and Jarry high picks).  Basically Goalie A comes in at 17 and backs up Goalie B (18 or 19).  In his 17 year goalie A rides pine, gets reps in practice, is a "true" backup.  In goalie A's 18 year goalie B is in his final year (either 19 or 20), goalie B during the regular season plays about half the games but the playoffs are given to goalie B so he can basically leave his final mark on the league.... You continually follow this process, you continually develop goaltenders (by the ability to give young goalies experience learning from the older guy and eventually allowing that younger goalie to push your older guy).

FINEPRINT*** Cam Krell is not a WHL analyst or coach and does not consider himself to be an expert on this situation whatsoever... He just has opinions and likes to share them on this blog