How impressively deep do the Victoria Royals appear to be in goal?
Consider this oddity.
Rookie Griffen Outhouse was named Tuesday as the Vaughn Western Hockey League goaltender of the month for February, even though he hasn鈥檛 appeared in a game since a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Giants on Feb. 17.
Veteran Coleman Vollrath has started, and won, the past five Victoria games in February.
鈥淐oleman has been good. I have to make sure I鈥檓 prepared and ready to go when called upon,鈥� said Outhouse.
Royals coach Dave Lowry is not an impulsive crease rotator and has been known to ride the hot trapper.
鈥淪ometimes, it just works out that when a goalie is going well, he keeps the net for a while, and it鈥檚 hard to take it away from him,鈥� said Royals GM Cam Hope.
That would be the 20-year-old Vollrath of late. But earlier last month it was Outhouse, who turns 18 on March 13, and is considered the Royals鈥� goaltender of the future. Outhouse was cited for his undefeated 5-0-1 record in February with a shutout and 1.58 goals-against average and .940 save percentage.
鈥淚t鈥檚 what you want out of a rookie goaltender 鈥� to come in and fight to play lots of games,鈥� said Hope. 鈥淭he team plays well in front of both guys. That鈥檚 the important thing 鈥� that both feel good heading into the playoffs.鈥�
The Royals have allowed the second-fewest goals in the WHL this season.
The bulk of the work has been put in by Vollrath (29-13-2), who has 48 appearances and a 2.36 goals-against average and .914 save percentage. Outhouse (14-3-4) is from tiny Likely in the sa国际传媒 Cariboo and has 23 appearances and a 1.83 goals-against average and .939 save percentage.
Lowry encapsulated his pleasant dilemma: 鈥淕riffen has proven he can play and compete at this level with consistency. Then you look at Coleman鈥檚 numbers and he has played well.鈥�
Despite Vollrath鈥檚 five consecutive starts, fans haven鈥檛 seen the last of Outhouse this season.
鈥淏oth guys will see action moving ahead [to the end of the regular season],鈥� said Lowry.
That has to be encouraging news for Outhouse. Not that he should have any shortage of appearances in the years ahead as he backstops a youthful and emerging Royals team.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to the end of this season, and also to the future, because it looks like we are going to have good teams for several seasons,鈥� said Outhouse.
Victoria has the most points in the WHL and is second in winning percentage behind Kelowna. The Royals are in Vancouver on Friday before meeting the Giants on Saturday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in the back end of the two-game set.
