Vancouver Canucks Prospect G Thatcher Demko Records 1st Pro Win
Vancouver Canucks prospect goalie Thatcher Demko is experiencing a tough start into his professional career, but finally recorded a win with the AHL Utica Comets.
Things aren’t going too well for the Vancouver Canucks. Unfortunately, there isn’t much talent coming from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets, either. There has always been one bright spot, though, named Thatcher Demko.
The Canuck Way ranked Demko No. 1 among Canucks prospects and, along with Brock Boeser and Olli Juolevi, he is the one who has fans most excited.
So why have we heard nothing about him so far this season?
It’s simple: there was nothing worth talking about. Going into last night’s match-up with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Comets had a 2-8-0 record, looking about as bad as the Canucks. Demko had appeared in four of those games, all losses.
But last night, that was going to change.
Demko started his fifth professional game and finally recorded his first victory — a 3-2 in overtime.
Demko made 29 saves on 31 shots, improving his save percentage to .878. That still isn’t great, but there is little doubt that this was just the first of many career wins.
First of all, people often think the transition from junior or college to pro hockey would be easy for goalies. After all, they only need to stop pucks and who is shooting them makes no difference, right? Well, not quite.
Perhaps the most important goalie skill is the ability to track the puck, anticipate plays, and stay in position. As you can imagine, those things get harder when game speed increases, and it increases substantially between junior and pro hockey.
In addition, the Comets are obviously a really bad team right now. Demko has to face a ton of dangerous scoring chances and make the best of it. A 3.39 goals-against average is the result.
Starting consistently in Utica will be a tough, but important learning experience. Demko likely won’t break any win records, but he will develop into a professional goalie.
Don’t just focus on his stats. Demko is doing a good job.
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