Former Stingrays’ goalies making waves in the NHL

NORTH CHARLESTON , S.C. – One of the best and worst parts about being a fan of minor professional hockey teams is the inevitable departure of many of the most exciting players that come through your city. While it is difficult to lose talent especially in the middle of tight playoff races, the fact that fans can say, “I remember him when he was in the local sweater,” is a point of pride.   This is especially true when promising youngsters move on to the National Hockey League.     Two young and talented goaltenders that made impressions and had impact with the South Carolina Stingrays two seasons ago, are now making waves in the NHL. Goaltenders James Reimer, now with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Michal Neuvirth between the pipes with the ‘Rays’ NHL parent club, the Washington Capitals, are both remembered fondly when local hockey fans meet over a bowl of the local favorite dish- shrimp and grits.   They are also tied together in another manner. Reimer’s emergence as a top prospect came in part due to the roster vacancy created when Neuvirth left South Carolina when he was called up to the American Hockey League in the middle of the 2008-09 season. A late season trade brought in Reimer who had a magical ride in his short stay here in the Holy City area.   In truth, neither goaltender spent an enormous amount of time here, but claiming such players is still a part of the bill of rights for minor pro hockey fans.   Additionally, Reimer who claimed the Most Valuable Player Award for his play in the 2008-09 Kelly Cup final series win by South Carolina, became an instant favorite, as he was part of the solution to a major problem; a lack of established goaltending, that cropped up during the team’s run to and through the 2008-09 Kelly Cup playoffs. South Carolina seemed set in goal as the 2008-09 season began. Suddenly midway through the schedule the team lost both of the net minders who started the season here. First the call-up of Neuvirth took away the promising rookie. He and veteran Bobby Goepferth who was signed earlier that year from the defunct Augusta ECHL team made up the tandem that management and fans thought would lead the ‘Rays deep into the playoffs.   Unfortunately at least as it seemed at first, the young Czech Republic citizen played just 13 games here.   Neuvirth a 2006 second round draft choice of the Capitals had started slowly but his potential was evident. He had a record of 6-7 with a goals against average of 2.70 and a save percentage of 0.918 at the time of his call up. Despite his start here the flashes of potential he showed in the ECHL showed up quickly in Hershey. Neuvirth went on to win the MVP award in the AHL Calder Cup finals that season and led Hershey to two straight AHL Championships before he gained a permanent roster slot with the Caps this season       The permanent promotion of Neuvirth in 2008-09 was also devastating as it was coupled with the team’s loss of the other regular goaltender Goepferth who left in midseason to join a team in Europe. This double whammy left the ‘Rays struggling and caught current Peoria AHL Rivermen Coach Jared Bednar who was the ‘Rays coach and director of hockey operations at the time in a double bind. After using Ian Vigier out of the SPHL in goal, Bednar searched for a more permanent solution. Vigier held the fort well, until Jonathan Boutin arrived, in a late season trade with the Victoria Salmon Kings. Shortly thereafter Reimer arrived in another trade, this time with the Reading Royals.   Bednar had knowingly or unknowingly grabbed two of the most important lynchpins to the team’s 2008-09 Kelly Cup win. He had traded for two goaltenders and both could stop the puck. Before the regular season schedule ended Boutin got into 21 games, while Reimer played six regular season games, after joining the Stingrays in late March. Both goalies immediately flourished with the Stingrays. Despite their newness to the team, Bednar made a fundamental coaching decision once Reimer arrived. He would play one of his two new net minders until they lost and then insert the other who would play until they lost. Bednar carried this rotation into the playoffs and never wavered. Boutin posted a 12-4 record, appearing in 16 playoff games, while Reimer stepped in, playing in eight playoff games, really shining in the final series against a favored Alaska Aces team. Alaska entered the finals against South Carolina with the ECHL goal tender of the year Jean-Philippe Lamoureux, a rookie, who had led the league in the regular season in shutouts and wins. He came into the finals with a playoff’s goals against average of 1.65 and figured to be the “Ace in the goal” for Alaska. He played well but in the end was outplayed by the South Carolina tandem of Boutin and Reimer.   Boutin’s last loss, a 4-2 outcome in game six with one goal scored on an empty netter, featured an excellent effort by Boutin as he faced 35 shots. This close loss in game six to even the series set the stage for Reimer and game seven. Bednar said later on that, “I had complete confidence in both goalies. I think everyone in our locker room would have been comfortable with either Jonathan or James in net for game seven.”   Reimer answered the call in game seven, winning the seventh game, his third game in the finals, the MVP award and the Kelly Cup. He ended up with the MVP award on the strength of his three wins, while Boutin led the ‘Rays into the finals through the first three playoff series and contributed a win in the finals.   Reimer won his three games in the finals posting 1.64 goals against average and a .942 save percentage in the three pressure filled contests. The then 21 year old, had out-dueled the ECHL goaltender of the year Lamoureux. That playoff run by the 6’-2”, 208 lbs Winnipeg, Manitoba native, raised Reimer’s profile in the Leafs’ front office, although he still did not appear to be on the Maple Leafs’ top prospects list as a future starting goalie. A combination of injuries and inconsistent play by the two regular Toronto goaltenders J.S. Giguere and Jonas Gustavsson gave Reimer who has been playing with the Marlies in the AHL his chance about 20 games ago. The same magic he showed in the spring of 2009 in South Carolina quickly surfaced. Reimer has created a sensation among Leaf fans. They are suddenly in the playoff hunt and the Leafs’ resurgence can be tied directly to his arrival.   The former Western Hockey League Junior player has built a 12-4-3 record on goals against average of 2.98 along with a 0.929 save percentage. Twenty games ago the Leafs were dead, but today excitement although restrained is bubbling in Hockey’s Mecca. Neuvirth may have also been overlooked early on. His assignment to South Carolina after his 2008-09 Capitals and Hershey training camps was a bit of a disappointment to him.   His play a first seemed to reflect the disappointment but his potential was apparent. The Capitals already had one of the best young goalie prospects in the game in the young Russian Semyon Varlamov. A first round pick the in the same 2006 draft year as Neuvirth, he seemed to be a step ahead in the Capitals plans. While Neuvirth flourished in Hershey, Varlamov was playing extremely well with the NHL parent Capitals.     The play of Varlamov in the NHL and Neuvirth in the AHL and during several short-term call ups allowed the Capitals to let veteran goal tender Jose Theodore depart as an unsigned free agent last spring. This ushered in Neuvirth as Varlamov’s partner in goal. Injuries to Varlamov this year, have thrust Neuvirth to the forefront and he has responded. He currently has a record of 21-10-4, a 2.48 goals against average and a save percentage of 0.910. Both Reimer and Neuvirth may not have been here long enough for the beach sand to still be in their shoes, but are remembered fondly as former Stingrays who made it to the NHL. Fans continue to wish them well and look forward to the next generation of ‘Rays who make it to the big show. Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com