Josh Leis was Plattsburgh State's main goaltender last year, but when the Cardinals played their first game of the 2011-12 campaign, it was newcomer Mathieu Cadieux in net.
Leis knew he would have to fight for his place between the pipes.
"We're all here to push each other. It's not just you come in and you get your spot guaranteed," the junior said. "You gotta work for it as well, every year. So it's good competition and, I mean, competition pushes everyone to be better."
Plattsburgh State (3-1), ranked No. 6 in the USCHO.com Division III Men's Poll, plays its home opener tonight against Brockport before hosting Geneseo for another SUNY Athletic Conference game Saturday.
Leis and Cadieux have both played in the early part of the season, and coach Bob Emery said he's not necessarily intent on finding a clear No. 1.
"I'm a read-react coach. I make my coaching decisions, ... my dress-list decisions based upon what I see," Emery said. "We've won here with one goalie, and we've won with two goalies splitting, so I don't care either way. Just want to win."
The coach added he's confident in the skills of all three goalies — sophomore Sam Foley is the other — and is looking for consistency from them.
Cadieux, from Oshawa, Ontario, is a sophomore who joined the Cardinals this season after playing junior hockey last year. In 2009-10, he was at Division I's Quinnipiac, appearing in six games.
He said like the 12 other new players on Plattsburgh's roster, he's trying to prove himself during any ice time he gets.
"I think everybody, if you get a chance to get on the ice, you gotta show 'em what you can do and you gotta try your best," Cadieux said. "It's pretty much the same for everybody. If you get a shot, you gotta make the most of it."
He made 31 saves in the Cardinals' season-opening 6-4 win at Morrisville and then saw Leis start the next three games. Last Saturday, Cadieux relieved Leis early in the second period against Buffalo State and was credited with the loss. He sports a 3.23 GAA and a .902 save percentage.
"I'd like to say that I'm a good positional goalie," Cadieux said. "I'm really calm in the net, which sometimes helps out the players."
Leis played 17 games as a freshman, and after alternating early last season, he backstopped Plattsburgh to the championship in the PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout and ended up appearing in 25 games. He went 17-5-1.
The Kitchener, Ontario, native played a strong game to beat Potsdam in his first start this season, allowing just one late goal, and earned a win at Fredonia before giving up three goals in just over 25 minutes Saturday. He boasts a 2.89 GAA and a .875 save percentage.
Emery has said Leis is at his best when he's aggressive.
"I need to challenge, be out of my net, play the puck and talk to my defensemen," Leis said. "And (then) I feel like I can play a really good game."
Leis said after practice on Wednesday that the goalies hadn't been told who would start against Brockport. He expected to find out Thursday or today.
The Golden Eagles (1-4-1, 1-3-1 SUNYAC) are coming off a 6-1 win over Geneseo last Friday. Ian Finnerty has 10 points for Brockport, and James Cody has eight, including a team-high four goals.
The Knights (4-3, 3-2) bounced back last Saturday by beating Framingham State, 6-1, in a nonconference game. Sophomore Zachary Vit leads them with six goals and six assists in seven games.
Emery said senior defenseman Matt MacLeod will be available for the Cardinals this weekend after starting the season on suspension.
...does a Natural Ht have to be in the same period??? didnt know that