Best Goalie

[TheSnake22]

Well since it just came up, and we're doing pre-season forecasts...

Feel free to tell me who i am missing on the list, i know there are some people who should be on here, but not every team has a roster posted and i went mostly by the league website, and haven't seen most of the players from st. lou and the west...

[Matty30]

Being a "Dude in Canada" I have never heard of these American goalies so I voted for those I know. Actually, I have seen a few of them play during the PIHA finals when my team from Edmonton came down to Colorad Springs to compete in the Showcase but not having seen them enough, I guess I'll stick with the guys I know North of the border.

[thebenchman]

Mitch Hardin has my vote!

[whodere]

I agree with benchman, but D'Aloisio is great too.

[growl89]

well when he can put up numbers like joey and win the playoff MVP then maybe i'll listen to the arguement, tough to say that a rookie goaltender is better then last years playoff MVP don't ya think?

[PIHAGOALIE]

i have to give it to Kyle Mikel from the Fort Collins Catz, best goalie out here bar none.

[Troho9]

This is great, all we need is to give Joey D motivation for this season.

[JAX96]

Not to take anything away from Joe D. I've never really seen him play but you gotta figure with a team like the growl in front of you alot of Goalies will look good.

[imasieve30]

Ugh. Great. Does anyone have the number for a good physical trainer in the NJ area? I might need that. :p

[silverman56]

Joe D is the best hands down, I just dont believe a rookie could come in and do as good as Joe D.

[kicksave60]

I believe everyone of those netminders are solid.....I'd take anyone of them as my number 1.

[growl89]

i know we have a strong team... however, last season defense was not on our minds as much as offense... in a lot of the games we won we were outshot... 2 or 3 of the games in the Finals we were outshot... the typhoon outshot us a bunch of times. we rush 3 guys up a lot of the time leaving joey out to dry.. it's not as easy as you think for him

[born2runPROgm]

I'll go with our keeper (Mitch) as number 1.... but the most amazing thing about this kid is his passing and puckhandling abilities. It blew me away when I first started playing with him... He MAY even be a better passer than Jimmy V!!! lol...

[growl89]

this board cracks me up... has never even faced a shot in Pro... but he's #1 in the league?

[ISFN]

this board cracks me up... has never even faced a shot in Pro... but he's #1 in the league?


I agree.

But on a side note I know of plenty of "Pro" level players that dont play pro and/or dont even attend nationals (Narch and Torhs).

[whodere]

Growl89, the reason everyone is picking him as #1 is because he is the most highly regarded goalie behind Laurie and Buffalino, he may be the most highly regarded goalie to ever enter the league. Joe D is good but he has never made the mens team. I think Viamontes is better then Joe D anyhow.

[Troho9]

Ohh yeah well my dad can beat up your dad...

[whodere]

Ohh yeah well my dad can beat up your dad...


Okay that made alot of sense.

[Troho9]

Apparently you are taking this too seriously. It was a joke.

[whodere]

My bad I thought you were being sarcastic.

[Troho9]

No my dad can really beat up your dad.

[TheSnake22]

First, my dad is the world champion of ultimate dad fighting...

Second, i think it's impressive that almost every goalie i put up got a vote from someone, and that there are at least a few others out there who deserve consideration. it just shows how high the level of talent is becoming in PIHA. I'm sorry to the dude from canada lol... didn't know that we had any members from PIHA northwest. I think i meant it more in the way of there probably are some really talented players there and i wouldn't be surprised if one of them really is the best goalie... that and some of us a little disappointed that we haven't gotten more information from the teams north of the border...

The problem with "...has never even faced a shot in Pro... but he's #1 in the league?" is that PIHA isn't the NHL. This league isn't necessarily the highest level of Inline Hockey. It might be the best league, but you can easily argue that Narch and Torhs Pro are better, so saying he wasn't in the league last year doesn't hold much water. You're basically saying if someone signed Rob Laurie that he wouldn't be the best goalie in the league because he's never played PIHA before... Anyone who has played at the highest levels of tournament and international inline isn't making the same huge jump as a rookie coming into the NHL...

So i voted for Mitch because he's good, i'm a homer, and he could even beat up my dad... maybe...

[whodere]

Yea if Rob Laurie came into the league, would Joe D still be the best because Rob would be considered a Rookie in the league.

[cus32]

Growl89, I concur, but i can't wait to see what this rookie has.

My vote is a complete Garret Bailey for the Richmond Robs, yes Robs, because I have seen him do it in PIHA games that he has faced 40+shots. Joey D is good, no doubt, but Garret doesn't have much in front of him (not to knock Richmond), but what goalie wouldn't want to play with the Growl in front of them, offensive minded or not, come on! They made me feel as useful as Dennis Hopper was to Hoosiers, and I can hold my own.

Garret gets my nod.

Cus32

[GROWL]

A couple goalies omitted in my opinion.

Roger Lee
Marcus Neffield
Garrett Bailey
Mike Perry
Kyle D'Aloisio

My vote of course still goes to Joey. Until someone proves otherwise he is the best and most consistant I've seen in 4 yrs of this league. It's not about who is the most valuable goalie to their team cause I think that is a different topic altogether, then I vote for Neffield or Bailey.

[growl89]

i agree with you that there are players all over the country that are great players and im sure every goalie this season is going to be great, they are going to have to be with the fire power this season on all teams... the question was just about the league though and i was giving my biased opinion... now watch Joey is gunna poop the bed this season lol

[TheSnake22]

Too bad you can only have 10 items on the poll, or i'm sure i there could be at least 10 more names on there between the other goalies in the east, and the ones in the gateway and west that i don't know very well...

[Troho9]

You can add Nuno Costa to that list.

[MBurke]

I adjusted the system to allow for unlimited poll options.

Have fun.

[alex]

Joe D is the best hands down, I just dont believe a rookie could come in and do as good as Joe D.

Last year was Ryan Clemens' first season wasn't it? And he was League MVP and took the Fire to the Finals. And I think Hardin is better than Clemens, so I think he just might do it..

[alex]

Yeah and this poll might look a lot different this time next year if PIHA can successfully expand to California like it's being talked about. Laurie is just one of several incredible goalies out there that hopefully will join the league.

[TheSnake22]

i'm sure this poll will look completely different every year... it already looks completely different than it would have last season, and definately from the season before that... i've heard charley plans on having 60 teams 5 years from now or something crazy like that... but we're at 30, so maybe it's really not that far-fetched...

[whodere]

growl89, have you seen this kid play yet. I have both him and Joe D play so I can make the comparision. But I havent seen Clemmons play so I cant comment on him.

[thebenchman]

I have seen many of these goalies mentioned on here. Yews Mitch is a rookie as you may say. I can tell you he is mentally tought and when he is in net he can win games for you! I saw him year before last in New Orleans against a hyped up Canadian team and he shut them down. Rookie? ok Ill still say he is the best one out there. (when HE wants to be)

However, any of these goalies can and will do a spectacualr job for you. You cant go wrong at all with any of them!!

Ill add a couple Dave Garland, Jake Menzel......from here in STL...

[growl89]

hey.. yes i have seen him play for the Bandits, jr team usa etc... is my opinion biased... yes, as im sure yours is... i have seen joey d. beat rob laurie, last year at Torhs winter cup we beat Pama 4-3 then lost 3-2 in the semi's with the growl... does that mean he's better then rob laurie? no, i don't think anyone is, but how many goalies have a win against him on their resume? again, we can go back and forth and the bottom line is that they are both great goalies regardless of if we put them at 1,2,5 etc... cuz there are also viamontes and coleman and garland when he's on his game who can shut the net down as well... then out west you have clemens, whom without him, the finals games could have been blowouts...

[alex]

To stray slightly from the focus specifically on PIHA to just offering up an opinion on the best goalie at the PRO level of roller hockey period...I'd have to throw Jeff Reinhardt (not sure that's how you spell last name) into the conversation. I watched him play for Pama Cyclones and lead them to the Gold at NARCh Finals this year. He played just out of his mind, shutting out MPH, TORHS Champs, twice and then standing on his head in the Final against the Mudcats.

[MBurke]

To stray slightly from the focus specifically on PIHA to just offering up an opinion on the best goalie at the PRO level of roller hockey period...I'd have to throw Jeff Reinhardt (not sure that's how you spell last name) into the conversation. I watched him play for Pama Cyclones and lead them to the Gold at NARCh Finals this year. He played just out of his mind, shutting out MPH, TORHS Champs, twice and then standing on his head in the Final against the Mudcats.

That's probably Jeff Reynaert, formerly of the Detroit Mission Stars and Western Michigan University (ice). He currently plays in the UHL, I think.

[alex]

That's probably Jeff Reynaert, formerly of the Detroit Mission Stars and Western Michigan University (ice). He currently plays in the UHL, I think.

Yeah I have no idea how to spell his last name just to pronounce it. But that's definitely him.

[growl89]

good point he is another great one... he did shut down the net in the Narch playoffs

[imasieve30]

Ok time to chime in before Billy gets everyone rooting against me :p (Just kidding Bill, thanks for the praise.)

I've been playing goalie for about 12 years now. Unfortunately, when I started, roller hockey was still up and coming and not nearly as structured as it is today. I never played ice hockey at any level until about 4 years ago. The point is, I would never put myself in the upper tier of roller hockey goaltending.
The younger kids playing today are awesome. As the league continues to grow the talent coming in will just get better and better. Maybe last year, my numbers were good enough to get the credit I did. This year, who knows??? Its a tough sport for goalies in general and the great goaltenders will find a way to stand out. It may be stealing a series or having a high save percentage. It could be big playoff performances right to a championship or giving a sub-par team a chance to win every time they take the floor.

One thing is for sure, a team can't win without great goaltending. At some point, it will make you or break you. I pride myself in the experience I have now and the consistency I've had through out the years I've played. I would never expect to be considered #1 unless I earned it. With a new set of goalies coming in this season, I feel I'd have to earn it again. Plain and simple. But you wanna know what...

I love hockey,
I love being a goalie,
and I love a good challenge. :)

Best of luck to everyone this season, especially the goaltenders!

-Joe

[Troho9]

Wow I have tears in my eyes, that was so...from the heart. Joey will you sign my jersey?

[imasieve30]

Wow I have tears in my eyes, that was so...from the heart. Joey will you sign my jersey?


For those of you who haven't followed Troho's career, he has very little respect for goaltenders ever since he got a shut out donning the pads in an AIRHS Mens Silver regional game (cough, with the small nets, cough). :D

-Joe

[Troho9]

Joey if I recall I used your equipment in the same tourny you played in...against the same competition. By the way how many shutouts did you get that tourny? hahahahahahahahaha goaltending is a joke!

[imasamurai]

What about Jesse Creek. The kid is gunna make an impact in CT this year. You can also catch him playing for UCONN.