BOSSIER CITY, La. – After struggling to keep players healthy throughout the regular season, the last thing the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs needed was an injury-related crisis in the post-season. Entering the second game of the Northern Conference Finals against the Rapid City Rush, that’s just what they had.
Number one net minder John DeCaro was lost in the third game of the playoff series against the Colorado Eagles with an injury to the groin. Veteran Ken Carroll took over in net and the Mudbugs signed rookie Parker Van Buskirk as an emergency back-up.
When Carroll was sidelined with a groin injury after Saturday night’s Game One overtime loss, head coach Scott Muscutt was forced to start Van Buskirk – probably not the best scenario heading into one of the most important contests of the year.
Photo Credit: Stockton Thunder
This year, he made a few stops in the ECHL, with 21 starts for the Utah Grizzlies and the South Carolina Stingrays before ending the season with the Florida Everblades. He also had a call-up to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League.
When given the opportunity to sign with the Mudbugs on March 30th, Van Buskirk seized the opportunity and although he found out he would start Game Two on short-notice, he proved to be more than up to the challenge, helping to lead the Mudbugs to a 4-3 win over the Rush, stopping 26 of the 29 shots he faced.
“I thought he did an outstanding job…to step in the way he did for us (and) he made some huge saves for us,” Muscutt told the Rapid City Journal. “When we lost Johnny DeCaro we went shopping and a lot of the guys had played against (Van Buskirk) in the playoffs last year and thought he would be a good addition to our hockey team. He faced a lot of pressure both early in the game and late in the game, which is the toughest time for a goaltender and I thought he did really good for us.”
The six-foot, 205 pound native of Windsor, Ontario native is best described as “composed”. He doesn’t try to be fancy and isn’t looking to be the star. He works the crease, makes plays and allows his teammates do their jobs. As a rule, he wants to be a stable influence in net. Even his helmet lacks the usual adornments popular amongst his peers. Van Buskirk has joked that it already had a “snowstorm paint job,” and that was a good symbol for the way he plays.
While the goalie assignment for Wednesday night’s Game Three hasn’t been decided, Van Buskirk is ready if his name is called.
“I will try to tighten up if I am fortunate enough to play in Game 3, because I was not that pleased with the two goals in the third period (in Game Two),” he said. “I want these guys to know that I will be calm and I can be a calming influence.”
Contact the author at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com
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