NAHL Names Nichols Third Star of the Week
September 27, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
WENATCHEE, Wash. - One of head coach John Becanic's favorite sayings goes something like this: We can't allow the other team's goalie to beat us, to be the No. 1 star of the game. Of course, Becanic has an equal but opposite theory when it comes to his team's goaltending.
Newcomer Robert Nichols (Dallas, Texas), who celebrated his 19th birthday earlier this month, has already shown that he can be a star goaltender for the Wild. Nichols recorded his second shutout of his young NAHL career Saturday, making 30 saves on 30 shots to help the Wild earn a 3-0 victory over division rival Alaska.
Nichols was rewarded Tuesday for his second no-no of the season when he was named the league's Third Star of the Week.
"He's a fierce competitor in everything that he does," said Wild assistant coach Chris Clark, trying to explain the young goaltender's early success. "I think that's why he's getting the results he has."
Statistically, Nichols is the No. 1 goaltender in the NAHL. He leads the league in goals-against average (.33) and save percentage (.988). Only Janesville's Tony Kujava has more shutouts (3), and he has played three more games than Nichols.
Becanic has said that Nichols reminds him of former NAHL and current NHL star Tim Thomas, who helped the Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup in June.
"That's accurate," Clark said. "Much like Timmy, [Nichols] throws technique out the window and just finds a way to get in the way. That doesn't mean he's not technically sound, just that he will do whatever he has to do to make the save. At the end of the day, that's all that matters ... and I think that's something you can't teach."
Nichols is 3-0-0 on the season and has given up just one goal on 85 shots, but he is still facing stiff internal competition from Greg Lewis (Mars, Pa.) for playing time. Lewis, 20, owns the league's sixth best goals-against average (1.67) and is tied for 11th in save percentage (.930).
"Knowing that you have two goalies that will stop the puck if you make a mistake is a big relief," said Clark. "It sets us up for a lot of success, I think, because each guy wants to be 'the guy'. They each want to wear the driver's hat and take us to great places."
North American Hockey League Stories from September 27, 2011
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