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*UptownCord* · 06-23-2023, 01:18 AM

The thirteenth overall pick of the Season 71 SMJHL Draft, rookie goalie Bernard Lodge has been sensational for the Maine Timber. Having joined the team as a Draftable Free Agent at the end of the prior season and going on their run to the cup finals, Lodge already had a history with the team before the draft. He had played well in his limited starts, notching a few playoff wins including three against Carolina in the semifinals, but was that enough to be the first goalie off the board? The Timber management group thought so and they have been rewarded. Sitting at 50-9-4 with three games left in their season, the Timber have once again broken their franchise points record and have clinched the season title. The team leads the league in Points Percentage, Regulation plus Overtime Wins, Point Differential, and Goals Against. Additionally they are second in Goals For, only being 7 goals behind the Nevada Battleborn.

When Lodge is in the net, the Timber are 33-6-3. This mark is good for most wins by a goalie this season and is the second highest total in team points. Lodge's starts have earned the Timber 69 points while Luka Nogoalov's starts have earned the Battleborn 70 points going 32-9-6. However, Nogoalov has played 51 games while Lodge has only spent 43 in the net. Lodge has earned the Timber 1.604 points per game while Nogoalov has earned Nevada 1.372 points per game, meaning Lodge has been the more efficient goalie.

Detractors may argue that Lodge has only achieved this success due to the great skaters on his team's roster. While he does get to take the ice with some great players, the statistics show that Lodge deserves some of the credit. Lodge is first in the league amongst goalies in Goals Against Average at 2.65 per game and Shutouts at 6. Additionally, he is third in the league in Goals Saved Above Average at 13.05 and is tied for fourth in the league in Save Percentage at 0.905 percent. These stats show that Lodge has earned consistent success while starting 43 games as a rookie goaltender. Lodge has made a case that not only he is the best rookie goaltender in the SMJHL, but is perhaps the best goalie overall. This should certainly push him into Rookie of the Year contention as well.

He has not let the pressure of playing for a championship contending team get to him, but will he be able to sustain this success through the playoffs? If last seasons run means anything, then yes! Lodge started five games for the Timber, going 4-1. Over those 5 games, he faced 155 shots on goal, saving 140 of them, leading to a 0.903% save percentage, a 3.00 Goals Against Average, and an Overall Game Rating of 74. Maine is primed to make another run this season, so Lodge should have plenty of games to show it wasn't a fluke last time. Hopefully this Timber team can get over the hurdle and improve upon last season's finish.

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***Seany148*** · 06-23-2023, 01:21 AM

Pop off champ, what they don't know is that you're the one setting up Tingle for his goals

*CptSquall* · 06-23-2023, 10:49 AM

Approved, +5 TPE to @UptownCord

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