Take a Guess at the Best: Save Percentage
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My statewide projections continue with a goalie focused spotlight. Save percentage, like most stats, isn’t entirely indicative of a goalie’s ability to save the puck, but it’s pretty dang close. The best goalies around will still have a high save…
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Continue ReadingMy statewide projections continue with a goalie focused spotlight. Save percentage, like most stats, isn’t entirely indicative of a goalie’s ability to save the puck, but it’s pretty dang close. The best goalies around will still have a high save percentage, regardless of who is supporting them on defense. In this list, I’ll be looking at five goalies who I think will lead the state in their ability to save the shots that go their way.
Number One: Alex Sabev Alex Sabev 6'0" | Goalie Irondale | 2024 State MN , Irondale
Call it a hunch, a hot take, or anything in between, but I have rising senior Alex Sabev Alex Sabev 6'0" | Goalie Irondale | 2024 State MN as my top guy to lead the state in save percentage for the 2023-2024 season. Although his number was lower than some of the other guys below him on this list, Sabev’s circumstances made his .917 success rate even more impressive. Irondale’s defense was a young, relatively inexperienced unit in 2022-2023, and it showed against some of their stronger opponents. Sabev was, for lack of a better term, T’d up on for the majority of his junior season, facing an average of nearly 45 shots per game during his tenure in the net. Fortunately for Sabev and the Knights, their defense now has coveted varsity experience and a year together under their collective belt. This unit should begin to mesh as the season goes on, which means the Tri-Metro goalie of the year may be due for an encore at the team banquet this next winter. Expect some more hardware and a lot of saves from Sabev once the 2023-2024 season kicks off.
Number Two: Kam Hendrickson Kam Hendrickson 6'2" | Goalie Chanhassen | 2024 State MN , Chanhassen
It feels like I slighted this guy a bit considering he was the Class of 2024’s most efficient goalie this past year, but make no mistake, Kam Hendrickson Kam Hendrickson 6'2" | Goalie Chanhassen | 2024 State MN could very well end up as the best goalie too, and these top two spots are practically interchangeable. The Chanhassen product produced an unbelievable .940 save percentage during his junior year, the fifth best of any goalie across the state. Only four seniors ranked ahead of him, most of whom are playing at the next level. Hendrickson has already cemented himself as one of, if not the best goalie in Storm history. His save percentage, goals allowed per game, and number of shutouts (9) were all school records, and he still has one more year to go. The 6-foot-1, 180 pounder has one of the best glove hands in the state, and the acrobatics he pulls off are more akin to a gymnast than a hockey player. For now, he’s slotted as my second best, but the more I write about him, the more I wish there could be two number one spots to give out.
Number Three: Kai Weigel Kai Weigel 5'9" | Goalie Moorhead | 2024 State MN , Moorhead
I talked about this guy only a few days ago, but if I left Kai Weigel Kai Weigel 5'9" | Goalie Moorhead | 2024 State MN out of my top five goalies going into this season, I don’t know how I could live with myself. Weigel is a trooper in the net, and played nearly every minute of his team’s 30 game season, an impressive feat for such a physically demanding position. Not only did he play a lot, but when he was in, he dominated. His .930 save percentage in 2022-2023 was good for 10th in the state and third among Class of 2024 goalies, none of whom played nearly as much as Weigel. When people talk about goalies, they never really mention how they can go on “hot streaks” just like any other position. Fortunately, Weigel is a case study that shows just how much a goalie can heat up. During a 10 game stretch for Moorhead, Weigel saved 265 of the 274 shots that went his way, an absurd .967 save percentage that came late in the year when his team needed it. On top of this, he also went 10-0 during this unbelievable run. The recipient of the Spuds’ MVP award in 2022-2023, Weigel will look to anchor the net and keep his team winning, just like he always has.
Number Four: Ryan Rothfork Ryan Rothfork 5'9" | Goalie Rock Ridge | 2024 State MN , Rock Ridge
This guy has got a cool name, an unconventional build, and a keen ability to play hockey that makes me pumped to talk about him. Ryan Rothfork Ryan Rothfork 5'9" | Goalie Rock Ridge | 2024 State MN is a 5-foot-9, 145 pound goalie, putting him far into the smaller side of the position, even at the high school level. Despite this, Rothfork can play at a degree higher than many of his larger counterparts. The rising senior had a historic past season in the net for Rock Ridge, posting a 12-5-1 record in the net along with a stellar .932 save percentage and two shutouts. If there are any questions of the “degree of competition” this guy plays, they can be quelled with his performance against Hermantown. Facing one of the best teams in Class A, Rothfork saved 40 of the 42 shots rifled his way, good for a .953 save percentage. Although his team ended up narrowly losing the game, his incredible performance kept them in the fight until the very end. An All-Conference nominee last year, Rothfork is due for another big year in what will be his final go around in a Wolverine uniform.
Number Five: Michael Dubek Michael Dubek 5'11" | Goalie Winona | 2024 State MN , Winona
I’ve covered a fair share of goalies during my few months here at PrepHockey, and this is the first time I have heard of Michael Dubek Michael Dubek 5'11" | Goalie Winona | 2024 State MN . After seeing how he plays, I’m certain it won’t be the last time I hear it mentioned. A Winona Winhawk product, Dubek put up a solid junior campaign in which he saved 734 shots, posted a .916 save percentage, and had three shutouts in spite of his team’s subpar 10-14-1 record. These type of numbers on a losing squad is impressive, as it means Dubek thrived in the net even when under frequent duress. A top 30 goalie in the state for save percentage this last year, Dubek’s stock is only set to rise as the Class of 2023 clears out to make room on the leaderboard for the young guys.