A hockey team’s backup goaltender is the understudy; prepared to play every game, answer the call of duty at a moment’s notice and provide a reliable change of pace.
Midway through his sophomore season in the OHL, North Bay native Ken Appleby has done just that for the Oshawa Generals, all the while proving himself capable of taking the leading role and catching the eye of NHL scouts.
“This year I’ve felt a lot more comfortable,” said Appleby. “Last year I was kind of timid, but this year I feel more familiar with the different players in the league and how things work.”
The 18-year-old was recently ranked 33rd among North American goaltenders on the Central Scouting Services midterm rankings, while also being named one of 15 CHL goalies to watch for the 2014 NHL draft by the scouting body in November.
His commanding 6’ 4”, 207-pound frame stands out on the list. But despite the exciting prospect of being drafted to the big stage, Appleby’s primary focus is on his next game, whenever that may be.
“It’s just a good thing to see, it’s a confidence booster,” Appleby said of making the list. “But in the end, it only matters if you actually get drafted. All I can do is play hard and prove to them that I want to move up.
“There’s always that pressure. You kind of learn to embrace it and use it as motivation, but there’s always that pressure because it’s one of your goals to be drafted to the NHL. You don’t play any different though.”
Coming off his first ever OHL shut out in a 32-save effort against the Belleville Bulls on Jan. 22, Appleby’s confidence is growing with each and every game he starts. After missing almost a month of action with a concussion earlier in the season, the towering goaltender has backstopped the Generals to five wins, one short of his rookie season total.
“It’s a good thing to finally get, I’m just hoping for a few more of those,” Appleby said of his first clean sheet performance. “Some nights are going to be tougher than others, but you still just have to stop the puck.”
His stats so far this season tell the tale of a matured goaltender that continues to use each start as a chance to prove his skill. While Appleby’s goals-against average hovers at 2.87, slightly above his mark last season, his save percentage has improved to 0.912 despite already facing more shots this season than he did in his entire rookie campaign.
Appleby has also been under the tutelage of former NHL goaltender Zac Bierk, who was hired as the Generals’ goalie coach back in June. Bierk, who stands around the same height of 6’ 4”, has been able to tailor his advice to Appleby’s unique stature.
“I think we’re on the same page when it comes to trying to get him to be as efficient as possible while he’s in the net,” said Bierk.
“Working with him on mobility and speed in the net is just going to make his job easier. I think two of his best assets are his calmness in the net and obviously his size, so if he can do everything possible to not only get in a square position, but to do so quickly and efficiently, more pucks are going to hit him.”
The Generals find themselves atop the Eastern Conference with just 20 regular season games left to play. A large part of that success attributed to their solid goaltending duo, who together have allowed a conference-low 132 goals against.
While Appleby’s next start is unknown, he has the Generals’ February 16 road trip to battle the North Bay Battalion in his periphery.
“I’ve definitely had it circled on my calendar,” Appleby said of the prospect of playing his hometown team. “I most likely will get the start, I’ve talked to the coaches a couple of times and things seem pretty positive. It’s a big game, lots of friends and family will be coming.”
But Appleby still has the unenviable task of backing up one of the league’s best goaltenders in Daniel Altshuller, who is second in the league in wins and tin the GAA department. Altshuller was drafted 69th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2012 NHL draft and signed an entry-level contract with the big league franchise in December.
“It is still frustrating, obviously you want to play more,” Appleby said of his backup role. “But Dan’s a great goalie, he’s going to be an AHL or NHL goalie in a few years. All you can do is get in there, play well when you get the chance and learn from him.
“Even if you get drafted, you’re going to be a backup at some point in your life, so it’s just something that you have to adjust to.”
Bierk, who played 47 games for three NHL teams in his career as a backup, knows the role all too well.
“You’ve got to have the mentality that you’re going to be solid for the team,” said Bierk. “That’s part of the job of being a backup goaltender, which is something I can identify from my playing days; that is a challenge, to make sure that you’re not only physically ready but mentality ready to come and be solid for your team.
“If you’re Ken, you’ve got to just focus on the things you can control and develop as the athlete and not think of it so much as trying to prove yourself.”
Appleby hopes that the final stretch of the regular season will present more starting opportunities. With almost two years of major junior experience under his belt and Altshuller unlikely to return next season, Appleby is sure to have the opportunity to step up into a much larger role very soon.
