Wroclaw Times - Eagles wants to start all games

[Greg_Di 1,022]

Who says goalies can’t play all the games in a season?

 

Starting goalies have been playing more games recently as the quality of backups have dwindled. Why can’t they play all the games? Greg Eagles, for one, believes goalies can play every game, but coaches and GM's are just too risk averse and want to give opportunities to backup goalies.

 

There has also been rules set in some leagues that prohibit goalies from playing all games. In fact, no goalie has ever done it no matter what league you play in. It hasn’t been done in the VHL, NHL, AHL or any other major hockey league, though a few, including Eagles, want that to change.

Eagles has tried for it every season throughout his career in the Juniors, College and now in the VHLM, and it wasn’t like he couldn’t have done it. The problem was trying to convince the coaches to let him play them all.

 

“I always asked my coaches, Come on! One year. Let’s do it. This could be a world record. I’ll play all the games. You can pull me after 5 minutes if you want. Just let me start them all,’” Eagles said, laughing. “but it never happened, they were always worried I would get injured or tired. I came close here in San Diego but I sat out the last game, let’s just say I wasn’t to happy but I understand we are gearing up for the playoffs and the team wanted me to rest.”

 

Before starting in the VHLM Eagles said he wanted to play a full season during his scouting combine. Eevryone thought he was joking but the best goalies always want to be in the net every game.

Eagles when asked how serious he was about playing a full season responded with. “There is no doubt in my mind that I could do it and succeed. I’m still young and in shape and don’t tire as easily as some of the older guys, I take care of my body and am not injury prone”

It’s an interesting point. Why does a starting goalie need a few games off when no other player on the ice requires time off? Most players, barring injury, will play the full season.
 

Well if you ask this reporter its simple, the risk of injury is greater for a  goalie than it is for players. We spoke to Eagles goalie coach who said. “Goalies, especially, they’re going to be the ones that take high speed rubber pucks to the body and the ones that drop their body a significant amount of times throughout a game. They’re more susceptible to cramping and minor injuries”
 

In conclusion it breaks down to that the more a goalie plays, the greater the chance there is they suffer an injury that would put their team at a significant disadvantage. Because of that I don’t think we will ever see a goalie in any league play the full season.

 

More games played, leads to more injuries

 

“I don’t think you’ll see it,” Eagles reluctantly said. “Managers and coaches will be too afraid to do that but I would love to see more guys who wanted to do it. Maybe with some pressure things will slowly change, until then I guess I will just take my breaks when they ask me to”

 

 

Edited June 7, 2019 by Greg_Di

[Gustav 6,407]

You could always go to Davos and see if they decide to break the Louth rule again.