Skyhawks goaltender Jeff Michael. Photo by Matt Gordon. Coming off a superb performance in Temiscaming last Friday night, Skyhawks goaltender Jeff Michael has now crept his way to the top of the league leaders in statistics.
Skyhawks goaltender Jeff Michael. Photo by Matt Gordon.
Coming off a superb performance in Temiscaming last Friday night, Skyhawks goaltender Jeff Michael has now crept his way to the top of the league leaders in statistics. He is number one in goals against average (2.58), tied for first with 2 shutouts and is second in wins with 18. The Detroit native has come up big for his team lately; stepping in against the Royals Friday already down 3-1, he stopped 39 of 40 shots in regulation and overtime. He then proceeded to stop all 5 shooters he faced in the shootout to give his team the 5-4 comeback win. His coach attributes his success to the attitude he brings to the rink each day.
“He’s a proud guy … bottom line is he doesn’t like to get scored on,” said the ‘Hawks bench boss Ian Swalucynski.
After the shootout win in Quebec, Michael said his secret in the shootout is challenging his teammates in practice to create game situations; and Swalucynski agrees.
“He let’s you know when you don’t score and we let him know when we do score,” remarked the coach. “You can only take a guy chirping at you for so long until you want to score and throw it back at him,” he added.
Although it sounds like Michael might be a bit overconfident the coach was quick to point out that it’s all just in fun and that Michael’s work ethic was what really captivated him about the eighteen year old backstop.
“(In training camp) he was the first guy in the off-ice, the first guy in the on-ice … he was pushing himself and you could tell he had a real edge to him,” said Swalucynski.
Baytoday had the chance to sit down with Michael who spent the last few years in Ohio and joined the Skyhawks after playing for the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets last season. We decided to play 20 questions to give the readers a closer look at the mind of a goaltender.
1. Baytoday: Pizza or Burgers? Jeff Michael: Pizza, I love everything Italian. 2. BT: Wolverines or Buckeyes? JM: Ooooh that’s so tough, I was born in Detroit and moved to Columbus and there is a big rivalry there. My sister goes to U of M so I have to go with the Wolverines. 3. BT: Favorite NHL Team? JM: Gotta’ go with the home town Detroit Red Wings. 4. BT: Favorite Current NHL goalie? JM: Brodeur or Luongo, too hard to pick now. 5. BT: Favorite All-Time goalie? JM: Brodeur, I’ve loved him since I was a kid, I just like the way he plays. 6. BT: Best goal scored in the NHL so far this season? JM: I like the one where (Johan) Franzen deeked out Carey Price, that was a nice one. 7. BT: Best save in the NHL so far this season? JM: Luongo had some nice ones early on; big glove saves when he was stealing games. 8. BT: TSN or ESPN? JM: Gotta’ go with TSN because they show hockey highlights and ESPN doesn’t. 9. BT: Favorite road trip in the NOJHL? JM: Going back to U.S. soil when we visited the Eagles. 10. BT: Favorite thing about North Bay? JM: Coming to the rink everyday. 11. BT: Where is your dream vacation? JM: Florida, to visit the grandparents. 12. BT: What is your best hockey memory to date? JM: Getting to live a dream and play junior hockey here in North Bay. 13. BT: Where do you see yourself in ten years? Ian Swalucynski: My assistant coach (he says as he walks by us). JM: Maybe Swaz’s assistant coach, but either something in business or living the dream and seeing how far hockey will take me. 14. BT: Who pushed you to play hockey? JM: Nobody really, my dad was into baseball. The neighbor across the street who was ten years older then me, one day picked me up, strapped some pillows on me and started shooting pucks at me. A few black eyes and bloody noses later and here I am. 15. BT: Who is your best friend on the team? JM: (Riley) Ross is a good pal but I live with Batman, Solly McCann is Batman and I’m Robin so I have to say him. BT: What do you think of McCann’s mustache? JM: Well, it’s workin’ for him; he’s putting pucks in the net so you can’t tell him to shave it. 16. BT: What do you like most about being a goalie? JM: The ability to help my team win games. 17.BT: Who is the last player in the NOJHL (non-Skyhawk) that you would want to face in a shootout. JM: (Adam) Phillips of the Soo Eagles. 18. BT: Canadian or American girls? JM: Well I am really starting to like the Canadian accent but I have to say American. 19. BT: Thing you miss the most about home? JM: Friends and Family for sure. 20. BT: Best advice you have every received? JM: Go for your dreams; from my dad.
Although Swalucynski says he is not ready to name a number one goalie yet, Michael is showing that he is dependable in pressure situations and could be the front runner for the spot. Michael and his teammates will travel to Manitoulin for a game against the Islanders Friday night and whatever keeper gets the start he will have some extra help in front of him. Defenseman Brad Norkum will make his return to the lineup after being out for nearly two months with a wrist injury and the head coach couldn’t be more pleased.
“It will be the first time since December 12th that we have a full lineup, it will be nice to have 20 bodies in front of me,” said a relieved Swalucynski.
