The mental game of goaltending goes beyond the players donning the mask. A hockey coach has to live with the same uncertainty.
Make no mistake, Denver Pioneers coach Jim Montgomery is happy with his goalies, but as of Thursday he was unsure which one deserved to be the starter Friday in a series-opening game against Minnesota Duluth at Magness Arena.
“Both goalies, unfortunately, have been average in practice this week,” Montgomery said.
But it goes deeper than that. Montgomery isn’t sure if freshman Tanner Jaillet or sophomore Evan Cowley are equipped to take the lead role after rotating starts through much of the first half of the season. Both have played 14 games, but Jaillet has started four of the past five.
Jaillet had not allowed more than one goal in his No. 1-role stretch until losing 4-1 on Saturday at Miami (Ohio). Cowley was the main man until blowing a 3-0 lead in a 5-4 loss Jan. 9 at Nebraska Omaha.
“I think it was healthy (competition) when Evan, in everyone’s mind, was playing better and was considered the No. 1 guy,” Montgomery said. “And now that it has kind of flipped, Evan has lost some confidence and Tanner might not be ready to be No. 1. So I think they’re competing with themselves more than each other.
“But together, they’ve led us to a lot of victories and it’s comforting having two good goalies. I’ve told both of them, if you get the opportunity to play, and you play well, you’re going to stay in net.”
Statistically, Jaillet and Cowley are on common ground. In 626 minutes, Jaillet has a 2.01 goals-against average and .923 save percentage. Cowley’s numbers over 745 minutes are 2.09 and .924.
The big difference in the two is that Jaillet is 5-foot-11 in sneakers and Cowley is 6-4 in bare feet.
Their ages, relative to their class, makes them a unique duo. The freshman is 21, two years older than Cowley.
Jaillet, from Red Deer, Alberta, previously played for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League and was named the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s top goalie last season. Cowley was raised in Evergreen, played double-A hockey at Arvada and was selected by the Florida Panthers with the 92nd pick in the 2013 NHL draft.
“Whichever guy is going (well) is going to play. You’re battling hard in practice and waiting for your opportunities,” Jaillet said. “It’s good that we can battle and push each other in practice. We’re confident with whatever guy is in the net. The end result is what matters.”
Jaillet said his relationship with Cowley and third-stringer Greg Ogard is strong. “All three goalies are pretty close,” he said. “Good friendship, and we push each other in practice and pull for who- ever is playing in the game.”
Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or
Pair of prominent Pioneers
University of Denver goalies Evan Cowley and Tanner Jaillet have been excellent. Their statistics, with NCAA ranking in parentheses:
(Games || GAA || Save pct.)
Evan Cowley, sophomore 14 || 2.09 (23rd) || .924 (24th)
Tanner Jaillet, freshman 14 || 2.01 (13th) || .923 (27th)
— Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
College hockey preview
No. 7 Minnesota Duluth (14-9-1, 8-5-1 National Collegiate Hockey Conference) at No. 12 Denver (14-8-1, 7-6)
• What: Two-game NCHC series
• When: Friday (7:35 p.m.) and Saturday (7 p.m.)
• Where: Magness Arena
• Radio: 105.5 FM
• Notes: DU senior wing Ty Loney is doubtful because of a lower-body injury. A handful of Pioneers, including captain Grant Arnold, have been sick the past week but are expected to play. … DU split an Oct. 24-25 series at Minnesota Duluth, winning 3-1 and losing 6-1. … The Bulldogs are coming off a 2-1 victory over Minnesota but are only 1-3-1 in their past four games, failing to produce more than two goals in any game during that stretch.
St. Cloud State (10-13-1, 5-8-1 NCHC) at Colorado College (5-16-1, 1-11-1)
• What: Two-game NCHC series
• When: Friday (7:35 p.m.) and Saturday (7 p.m.)
• Where: Colorado Springs World Arena
• Radio: 103.9 FM
• Notes: CC has lost three consecutive games after winning two in a row. … The Huskies, the defending NCHC regular-season champions, have lost three of their past four.
Robert Morris (17-5-4, 14-3-3 Atlantic Hockey Association) at Air Force (11-13-3, 10-6-2)
• What: Two-game AHA series
• When: Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.
• Where: Cadet Ice Arena
• Radio: 1300 AM
• Notes: Air Force has a six-game winning streak, all in conference play, and has climbed to fourth in the AHA standings. … The Falcons played at Robert Morris in November, with both games going into overtime. Air Force won the series finale 2-1 after a 3-3 tie in the opener.
— Compiled by Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
