Goalie Thiessen makes good impression in AHL debut
By Tom Venesky
tvenesky@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter
WILKES-BARRE – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins goaltender Brad Thiessen admits he was a little nervous before he made his first AHL start Saturday in Bridgeport.
Having the jitters would be expected of someone whose last regular season game action came last season at the collegiate level.
But if the 23-year-old Thiessen was nervous when he took to the ice for the opening period, he had little time to show it.
In the opening minutes of Saturday’s game Thiessen was faced with a decision that would dictate how his night would go. With the Penguins on the power play, the puck squirted into their own end with a Bridgeport player bearing down. If the Bridgeport player reached the puck he would have a sure breakaway, so Thiessen had to decide if he should leave the crease and race for the puck or stay in net and try to make the save.
He opted for the race.
“We kind of got there at the same time and I was able to knock it to the corner,” Thiessen said. The bold move not only prevented a breakaway chance, it calmed Thiessen’s nerves and quickly got him into the game.
Although the Penguins ended up losing the game, 2-1, in overtime, Thiessen played well – stopping 27 of 29 shots. He said the game reinforced his feeling he could play on the AHL level after spending the last three seasons with Northeastern University. Thiessen was a Hobey Baker finalist last season after posting an impressive 2.12 goals against average and a .931 save percentage in 41 games.
Despite his collegiate success, Thiessen knew he would have to adjust to a few different elements in the AHL.
“There’s a lot more traffic in front, guys are a lot bigger and you have to fight for your space in the crease,” he said.
Pittsburgh goaltending coach Gilles Meloche worked with Thiessen before the game and gave him some advice – keep things simple and don’t try to do too much.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach Todd Reirden said Thiessen executed that game plan perfectly.
“I was really impressed with his composure in the net and his confidence outside playing the puck,” Reirden said. “He made every save he was supposed to and a couple he wasn’t.
“Everyone knows what their first game was like playing forward or defense. But it’s magnified when you’re the last guy back there. Right now we’re really happy with how he played.”
With John Curry having a firm hold on the number one spot in net and veteran Adam Berkhoel in Wheeling working the rust off from offseason knee surgery, it’s uncertain how many more AHL games Thiessen will get this season.
But no matter what the number is, Thiessen is confident he can handle playing in the AHL.
“I think I can play at this level and hopefully Saturday gave the organization confidence in putting me in there and not worrying about it,” he said. “We all know what John Curry has done here and he’s a great goalie. I’m just waiting for my chance to get in there again and show them what I got.”
