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Posted Feb. 1, 2002
Ams' Weiman tries to glove more ice
By René Ferrán
Herald staff writer
Tyler Weiman had hoped to use this season to rack up impressive stats and wow the NHL scouts following him during his draft year.
It hasn't quite worked out that way for the 17-year-old Tri-City Americans goaltender.
From the first day of training camp when first-year coach Troy Mick declared the No. 1 job open for competition, to the early-season trade for Joel Martin, to the constant shuffle between the two for time between the pipes, it's been a frustrating season for Weiman, a soft-spoken Lloydminster, Alberta, native.
"I don't like to sit on the bench, especially during my draft year," Weiman said Thursday from his hotel room in Vancouver, British Columbia. "I wish I could play every day. I feel the more I play, the better I do."
Weiman's recent streak proves his point. He started four consecutive games last week, opening with a drubbing at the hands of the Kootenay Ice when he got little help from his teammates. It concluded with a 38-save shutout of the U.S. Division-leading Spokane Chiefs on Saturday.
He's missed the last two games while battling the flu, but he's rested and raring to go tonight as the Americans (21-22-6-0) open a home-and-home series with the Vancouver Giants in British Columbia.
"I'm trying to take pressure off myself, not worry about the draft, about school, about my stats, but just focus on winning," said Weiman, who is 12-14-2-0 in 31 games with a 3.41 goals against average and .897 save percentage. "I know there are going to be bumps in the road but I've just got to go out and make the most out of my starts and hope everybody recognizes that."
When Weiman talks about "everybody," he's mostly speaking of NHL scouts. He fears they'll look at his decreased playing time and conclude he's slid from a 16-year-old season during which he seized the No. 1 job and posted a 3.77 GAA and .893 save percentage in 44 games for a 21-win team.
"That's the thing I don't want people to think," said Weiman, who appears to be avoiding that fate - he was ranked 12th among North American goalies in the latest NHL Central Scouting report and 138th among all players by Red Line Report.
"I think I've gotten better this year," Weiman added. "I know what to expect out there now. I've learned a lot. I think everyone knows that, not just the scouts but my teammates as well."
Weiman easily won the preseason battle with Tyson Motz for the top job - Motz was released two games into the season - but then had to contend with Martin.
Martin, 19, shared top billing in Lethbridge last season with former Am Blake Ward before being acquired in early October by general manager Bob Tory.
Martin is 10-8-4-0 with a 3.52 GAA and .903 save percentage.
"Bob and Troy talked to me about the trade before they made it, how if I went down they needed somebody who could take over the spot," Weiman said. "They were up front with me about it, and that made me feel good.
"But it's been a little mind-boggling. I know they also brought Joel in also to push me, and I didn't have a problem with that. It's made me pick up my game. There isn't any jealousy between us. We're not wishing anything bad on the other person. We both want to play; we're both pushing each other."
Mick said, "There's been no bickering between the goaltenders and the coaches so far. I've gotten their input on the situation throughout the season, and I've asked them to be totally upfront with me, to tell me if they're unhappy with ice time, to tell me how to improve the situation. And it's worked so far."
The question as the Americans hit the homestretch is who will get the No. 1 job in the playoffs. Mick knows he can't employ job sharing in the postseason and expect to get very far, and he's enjoying the difficulty his netminders are causing in this decision.
"I know you only go as far in the playoffs as your goalie takes you," Mick said. "The good thing for us is that we have two really good goaltenders who are both qualified to be No. 1. After Christmas, I told them we'd go with whoever's hot down the stretch, and now it's a matter of who steps up to the plate in the last 20 games."
NOTES: Tonight's game opens a busy Feburary during which Tri-Cities plays six games in 10 days, including its final homestand of the season - Vancouver on Saturday and Prince George on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Americans are 2-1 vs. the Giants this season, losing 6-3 in their only trip to Pacific Coliseum on Nov. 20. Vancouver is six points behind Seattle in the battle for the final West playoff spot. "Vancouver made some good trades to help themselves," Mick said. "They're a team playing for their playoff lives, and they work hard. We have to come out and outwork them." One of those trades sent F Jordan Cameron and Darrell May to Vancouver for F Rory McDade, who has three goals and 14 assists since the Jan. 10 deal. May has two goals and an assist since the trade, and Cameron has four assists. F Eric Johansson scored his 100th career goal in the second period of Wednesday's 4-4 tie with Seattle. Tri-Cities is undefeated in its last four games (2-0-2) and in its last two road games (1-0-1). It has yet to go unbeaten in three straight road games this season.
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