Justin Pogge, Jeff Glass, Stephane Fiset, Trevor Kidd, Manny Legace, Jamie Storr, Marc Denis and Steve Mason.
Jimmy Waite, Jose Theodore, Roberto Luongo and Carey Price.
After watching 20 years of World Junior tournaments those are the goalies who either backstopped a Gold medal squad, or were so outstanding that their performances left a permanent mark on my brain, there is a possibility the mark may have been caused by alcohol abuse, but I am not a doctor.
With the debut of one World Junior stiff replacing another, I thought I would caution all you keeper league junkies "Don't Believe the Hype". For 20 years Canada has trumpeted the Team Canada starter as a future star and rarely if every does this occur. From the TSN coverage you would have believed that Justin Pogge, Marc Denis and Stephane Fiset were the next Patrick Roy, when nothing could have been further from the truth. One longs for the days when CBC used to cover the tournament and misidentify Dale Craigwell for Tony McKegney.
It is easy to see greatness in goaltenders playing behind defenses made up of players like Dion Phaneuf, Chris Pronger, Braydon Coburn etc. With the amount of TV revenue on the line TSN has turned this tournament into a personal showcase for whoever Pierre Maguire has a hard on for at that moment. His man love for these teenage boys would be considered illegal in 49 US states (California excluded). But the bubble that exists during the last two weeks of December is not reality.
How many of the first list of goaltenders have actually become NHL stars? Zero. Steve Mason will be no different.
This brings me to the second list. The four goalies listed in the second group put on four of the greatest performances I have ever witnessed in that tournament. I do not know wether Jimmy Waite caught lightning in a bottle but he was unbelievable in 1988 and was the player most responsible for that victory. He is the only player on the list who never became the star that I though he would be. Waite enjoyed a great start to his pro career going 34-14-4 for the IHL's Indianapolis Ice, but was never able to replicate that success in the NHL. He never won more than 6 games in the NHL and never realized the potential he showed for those 2 weeks in 1987-88.
Jose Theodore was also spectacular between the pipes during the 1996 tournament but was overshadowed by Jarome Iginla. The 1996 team was a team short on star power, but those two put the team on their shoulders and carried Canada to it's 4th straight gold medal. You can tell in the World Junior tournament when a goalie is playing on a level above the competition and Theo was the first one to reach that level since Waite. His star rose to supernova but burnt out just as quickly after the 2002 MVP campaign.
In 1999 Roberto Luongo put on the greatest performance by a Canadian goalie that I have ever seen. Luongo dragged Canada to the finals and was unbelievable in the final game as Canada was outshot 40-18. The Russians needed OT to capture the Gold medal. That performance screamed future star. Unfortunately Mike Milbury was wining and dining Rick Dipietro's mom and preparing to give Luongo away for 25 cents on the dollar. How does this guy have a job again? But I digress. Luongo struggled initially in his first stint in the NHL, but eventually developed into the dominant goaltender he had shown during that 99 tournament.
The 2007 tournament was dominated by Carey Price. In 6 games Price finished 6-0 with a 1.14 GAA while registering 2 shutouts. A phenomenal 5 on 3 kill against the US in the 3rd period and the legendary Canada/US shootout helped Price (with help from Toews) capture the Tourney MVP. His individual performance was only outdone by Luongo. From there Price won the CHL goaltender of the year, the Jack Butterfield trophy (Calder Cup MVP) and made the jump to the NHL at the age of 20.
Steve Mason is a solid goaltender who played on the powerhouse London Knights, and a Kitchener Ranger team that didn't even need him to get the Memorial Cup Final in 2008. The glow of the World Junior experience has yet to fade, but once it does, Mason will likely be exposed for the average NHL goalie he is. A Trevor Kidd, Manny Legace career is nothing to sneeze at, but for fantasy purposes, the hype will never match the performance.
updated @ 5:15pm
On to tonight's starters
Ottawa Senators @ Carolina Hurricanes
M. Gerber (vs Hurricanes, 6-3-0, 1.92 GAA, .936 SV%) firm
M. Leighton (vs Senators, 0-1-0, 6.00 GAA, .813 SV%) probable
Barburner in Carolina tonight. Two career backups, lots of redneck fans, gasoline prices declining....Hey Ma....BOOM!
Montreal Canadiens @ Columbus Blue Jackets
J. Halak (vs Jackets, 1-0-0, 2.01 GAA, .939 SV%) firm
S. Mason (vs Canadiens, 0-0-0) firm
After dissing Steve Mason this game is shaping up as Mason standing on his head and a general fuck you in my direction. Who am I kidding, nobody reads this.
Atlanta Thrashers @ Buffalo Sabres
J. Hedberg (vs Sabres, 8-2-1, 2.44 GAA, .922 SV%) firm
R. Miller (vs Thrashers, 6-2-2, 2.31 GAA, .921 SV%) probable
Keeper league alert, add Onedrej Pavelec, you may thank me later.
Dallas Stars @ Anaheim Ducks
M. Turco (vs Ducks, 17-8-6, 2.12 GAA, .919 SV%) probable
JS Giguere (vs Stars, 12-17-3, 2.76 GAA. .896 SV%) likely
Right about now Marty Turco is very happy with the Avery/Ott show as it is taking all the attention away from his shitty play. That being said, Turco can be had for a bargain basement price right now, seek out the impatient owners and steal away.
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