Minnesota’s Comprehensive Goalie Guide: The Big Nine (Part 2)
In the second installment of my two part article covering the southern-centric Big Nine Conference, my findings were relatively expected when covering the latter half of the final standings. For the most part, many of these teams that struggled lacked…
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Continue ReadingIn the second installment of my two part article covering the southern-centric Big Nine Conference, my findings were relatively expected when covering the latter half of the final standings. For the most part, many of these teams that struggled lacked a clear cut, rock solid goalie in the net that could stop opposing scoring chances and keep games close. There was one glaring exception on this list, but aside from that, let’s take a look at the projected 2023-2024 starting goalies for another set of Big Nine squads.
Rochester John Marshall: Thor Shelly
After a middling season that saw Rochester John Marshall place seventh in their conference, it is time for them to go goalie shopping, as their former senior starter Cody Vlasaty has departed. Luckily, the Rockets’ search could be cut short thanks to the stellar play of Thor Shelley last year. Appearing sporadically across the regular season schedule last season, Shelley posted a 2-0 record, a .918 save percentage, and only allowed an average of 1.76 goals per game. Although his primary role last year was mop-up work and handling “easy” matchups for the Rockets, Shelley still played at a high level, earning trust with both the locker room and coaching staff in the process.
Mankato West: Mason Schreiber
Taking the reins at goalie on a varsity squad is a hard enough task in and of itself. Doing it as a freshman is a completely different story, and Mason Schreiber is surely an athlete I will be keeping a close eye on as his career progresses. The freshman played all 27 games for the Scarlets, and his 1,400+ minutes in the net has to be near the top of the state considering he did not miss even a minute of any of his contests. His .869 save percentage is a great starting point considering his age, and he even tacked two shutouts onto his 2022-2023 stat line versus Anoka and Red Wing. The 5-foot-7, 150 pounder has three more varsity seasons to bulk up and improve his game, and so far, he’s set a solid foundation that is leagues ahead of any Class of 2026 goalie I am aware of. Schreiber’s career trajectory is only set to keep trending up, and his second season manning the net for Mankato West should be another stride forward in his development.
Faribault: Dustin Boyd
Faribault had a rough 12-14 season that was hampered by a lackluster offense and middling defense, making the task of playing goalie for the Falcons a difficult one to say the least. Despite this, Jacob Scherf did a good job anchoring the net in 2022-2023, posting a .909 save percentage in his last year on the team. Now that Scherf is gone though, the weight of the goalie pads now rest firmly on Dustin Boyd’s shoulders. The rising junior had an up and down 2022-2023 campaign, as to be expected for someone getting their feet wet on varsity for the first time. His .864 save percentage was bogged down by a pair of rough outings, and his 3-3 record between the pipes goes to show he was far from dead weight out there. I’ll need to see more of this guy to form a concrete opinion on his game, but as it stands now, he should be poised to take the spot as the Falcons main goaltender in 2023-2024.
Winona: Michael Dubek Michael Dubek 5'11" | Goalie Winona | 2024 State MN
Michael Dubek Michael Dubek 5'11" | Goalie Winona | 2024 State MN was an anomaly in my best save percentage article considering his team’s record and conference ranking, and he is out of place on this list too considering he is the first full fledged starter I’ve mentioned thus far. Despite Winona finishing 10th out of 12 teams in the Big Nine conference, Dubek was a big time bright spot that helped notch a few extra victories in the Winhawk win column. In 22 games for his squad, Dubek had an impressive .916 save percentage with three shutouts to match, all in spite of playing on a 10-14-2 team. His save percentage put him in the upper echelon of established Class of 2024 goalies, and odds are, he will be even better by the time he suits up for his senior season opener. I got this guy among the cream of the crop when it comes to goalies, and his final year in orange and white should be a fun one to watch.
Austin: Open Contest
After a dismal 4-20-1 season paired with a first round exit in the playoffs, Austin will need to get their ducks in a row one at a time if they want to turn this ship around. Their previous goalie, Ethan Knox, played surprisingly well considering his circumstances, posting a respectable .900 save percentage despite facing over 43 shots per game. Unfortunately, his replacement did not fare as well, although to be fair, this is a very hard situation to succeed in as a goalie right now. A complete overhaul is needed in Austin, and as for who will wear the pads this coming winter, it is anyone’s guess.
Red Wing: Ellis Petersmeyer
The second full fledged returning starter on this list, Ellis Petersmeyer takes the cake for toughest positon to be in as a goaltender. His 1-24-4 Red Wing squad allowed nearly seven goals per game, mostly due to opponents setting up shop in their defensive zone, then just letting it rip. Petersmeyer played in 25 games for the Wingers, and braved over 1,200 shots in the process. I’m not a math guy, but after a quick calculator check, that’s over 48 shots per game he has to endure. This kid is clearly a ironman, and his .871 save percentage is more than respectable considering the circumstances. He’ll be back for another year, and if Red Wing can get him a little more help on the defensive side of things, Petersmeyer could have himself a breakout senior campaign.