Skip to content

Battalion seeking better goaltending as OHL's top team comes to town

'I think both of them are aware of their statistics and I know both of them would like better statistics and I think they know they have nowhere to go but up'
ThilanderSimeBall
Adam Thilander (3) clears the puck out of harm's way in front of goaltender Julian Sime. File photo by Tom Martineau.

Academically, a mark of 85% is an achievement, but in the goaltending world, that’s a number that is considered unacceptable.  

Unfortunately for the North Bay Battalion, both Julian Sime and Mat Woroniuk sport save percentages below 0.86, where a passing goaltending save percentage grade is traditionally 0.90 or above.   

Julian Sime has carried most of the goaltending load so far this season.  

The former Mississauga Chargers netminder is sporting a 1-3-2 record.

He also allowed late goals twice on the weekend in a pair of losses to Barrie and Hamilton.  

“I think for right now my mindset is to really step up in the game even though I am playing well, whatever the case may be, it is time to really close out these teams because we are playing a very good game but as of right now it is really about stepping up and if that is practice, always competing to make the save, whether it is going wide, something like that, it is just to step up right now,” said Sime before practice on Wednesday.  

Battalion head coach Stan Butler was fairly blunt with his analysis of his goaltending so far this season. 

“I think both of them are aware of their statistics and I know both of them would like better statistics and I think they know they have nowhere to go but up,” said Butler. 

“They are both good kids and I am sure they will work extremely hard to become better.“

Butler says it starts with the goalies making stops at crucial points of the game. 

“I think there are times in games when, as a goalie, to win games you have to make big saves and that was something Jake Smith always did,” he said.  

“The game might have been 4-3 but he makes that save when it’s 4-3 and we end up winning the game. I think we have been in numerous situations where we have needed the big save at a crucial time and unfortunately it has not happened.” 

Whether it’s Sime or Woroniuk, either goaltender has a tough task at hand tonight as the Troops host the league-leading Sarnia Sting who are on an eight-game winning streak with an impressive 9-1 record to start the season.   

They are an extremely fast team, they have highly skilled forwards and a good goalie and anytime you win eight games in a row you know they are a good team.  

Butler admits he’s disappointed in his team’s 3-4-2 start including a six-game losing streak. 

The Battalion will go into the contest without Brady Lyle who requested a trade earlier this week and veteran Brett McKenzie is expected to return to the lineup after missing the past two games with a nagging injury he sustained at a main camp in the AHL.  

See related story: Local Battalion product wants out 


Reader Feedback

Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
Read more