We're nearing the end of the SMJHL regular season, and with it teams are starting to go with their backups to get their starters some rest before the playoffs. Some teams have proven to be more comfortable with this than others, and justifiably so when you look at some of their stats, so here we'll analyze how each teams backup goaltender has performed for them.

The Nevada Battleborn are the only team that have not actually played their backup yet, with C.K. Supernaw starting all 46 games for them so far, posting a solid .917 save percentage and 2.35 goals against average. The Battleborn's 2nd highest TPE goaltender is King Leaf, with only 162 TPE, so Nevada's reluctance to play their backup is understandable

Next is the Colorado Raptors backup, Tyrone Banks. Tyrone has appeared in 7 games, with an impressive 4-1-0 record. His save percentage and GAA are rough, with a .897 and 2.92, respectively. But the only stat that really matters is the win-loss record, and Banks is doing fine in that regard and is definitely a positive for the Raptors so far.
Now onto the Vancouver Whalers backup, Keisuke Suzuki. Suzuki has 8 appearances under his belt so far, and has a respectable 4-2-1 record, combined with a .913 save percentage and 2.42 GAA. For a backup these are pretty good numbers, and are actually better than the Whalers starter in record, save percentage, and GAA. Vancouver has to feel comfortable with a dependable backup like Suzuki behind Jon St. Ark

Next is Roddy Ross of the Carolina Kraken. Roddy Ross is a 155 TPE backup so the expectations are low, and so far he is living up to them. He has a 3-5-0 record and an abysmal .879 save percentage and 4.14 goals against average. While these numbers can't all be attributed to poor play by Ross, as the Kraken starter's stats aren't much better, Ross isn't doing himself any favors.

Now we have the Maine Timber, and their backup Bloody Oath. The Timber have had a really rough year, and it has affected their backup goalie as well, as he has a 2-8-1 record along with a decent .913 save percentage and poor 3.97 GAA. These stats point towards a team defense that hemorrhages shots against and makes life rough for their goalies, although Oath seems to be handling it decently with a 9.13 save percentage

The first backup we're gonna look at that has a shutout is the Detroit Falcons' backup, Podan Podanovic. Sporting a 4-1-2 record with 2 shutouts, he has a .914 save percentage and a 2.47 goals against average. A fairly strong record, anytime you can get two shutouts from your backup you can go into every game with them in net truly believing that they're going to give you a chance to win the game, and that can go a long way for a team.

Next we have the Anchorage Armada's backup, Kojo Murata. Murata has a strong 8-4-1 record, a below average .908 save percentage and pretty strong 2.25 GAA. The GAA are much stronger than the save percentage, which probably speaks more to the team defense than anything else. Regardless he has a respectable record and is playing well enough that Anchorage can feel confident putting him in the net

Onto the powerhouse Kelowna Knights we have Benjamin Blue-II. Blue-II has a 9-4-1 record, which at first glance looks okay but pails in comparison to the Knights starter's record of 27-2-1. Blue-II has a .897 save percentage and a 2.47 GAA. The save percentage is disconcerting when you look at the team in front of him, but as a 209 TPE goalie it shouldn't be too surprising to see Blue-II struggle a little bit on an independent level

The Newfoundland Berserkers have one of the more promising goalies in rookie backup Evgeni Petrov, who has an absolutely sparkling 1.79 GAA to go along with a .911 save percentage and solid 10-4-1 record. The Berserkers have to feel lucky to have a backup like Petrov to rely on when they want to rest starter Hugo Gronroos, and the future looks bright for him after a solid performance so far.


I won't be looking at Anaheim, Quebec City, or St Louis here, as they all have more 1A-1B goalie situations rather than the traditional starter-backup loadout that most teams do. Nothing wrong with either way, but I just wanna stick to backup goalies here.

Approved! +5 TPE @GrannyPanPan