Graeme Gordon Silences His Critics:

This is posted on the Vipers website:

Graeme Gordon silences his critics

by Viper staff Added 2010-06-10

Graeme Gordon has had his share of detractors in his three-year BCHL career, but his brilliant play during the Vipers’ 2010 playoff run proved them wrong.

One save puts his whole season in perspective. The score was 2-1 for the Vipers against the Powell River Kings in the seventh game of the Fred Page Cup. Late in the game, the Kings were coming on strong. Unexpectedly, the puck caromed off a Viper skate to an unmarked Chad Niddery, the Kings’ leading scorer. Niddery fired a shot that seemed destined for the top corner. Graeme was caught at the other side, but he threw himself across the net and deflected Niddery’s blast with his arm, to knock the puck off the outside of the right post and out of danger.

If Niddery had scored, the momentum would have swung to the Kings and it’s quite conceivable that they would have won that series. The Viper season would have been over.

Although Graeme then had a so-so game in the opening game against Spruce Grove, he bounced back with solid goaltending in the remainder of the series. He also opened the RBC tournament with an average effort, but again bounced back with championship-calibre goaltending.

He was at his best when the chips were down. He shut out the Brockville Braves in the semi-final game and put on a clinic in the championship final versus Dauphin. His best save in the Brockville game was a lightning-quick glove save on Scott Arnold, who came in on a breakaway.

In the RBC final, he robbed Shane Luke and the Vipers immediately took a 1-0 lead when Cory Kane turned up ice. Then, with the score still 1-0 and the Kings threatening, he fashioned two acrobatic pad saves and the Vipers wheeled back the other way, scoring through Dylan Walchuk. Two more goals within 48 seconds gave the Vipers an insurmountable lead, but a 1-1 score would have been quite different than 2-0.

When asked why he played so well in the playoffs, especially in the big games, he replied “I’m a pressure player, always have been. When our season’s on the line, I don’t want it to end, so I tend to step up.”

Goaltenders come under pressure, especially from certain fans who expect perfection. He says that he doesn’t “pay any attention to that during the season. I did read some of the comments on the BCHL message board after the RBC and had a good laugh. But like Patrick Roy said, “I can’t hear what you’re saying, I’ve got my championship rings plugging my ears!”

Graeme Gordon’s goaltending style, as evidenced by that game saver versus Powell River, can be quite acrobatic. He moves very well for a 6’2’’ player. He says, “I rely a lot on my athletic ability. During the summer, I work on technique a lot, but as the season progresses I rely on instincts and reflexes. I just play aggressively; I try to play big and cut off angles, so the puck hits me. Every once in a while, emergency saves are necessary.”

Please note that it’s not easy playing goal for the Vipers, who outshot the opposition in nearly every game this season, often by a wide margin. Some would say that Graeme’s excellent statistics are a direct result of having a strong team in front of him. While there is some truth in that statement, note these numbers:

•Graeme recorded six shutouts this season, five of them in the extended playoffs.

•His consecutive shutout streak of 205 minutes, 57 seconds, over three full games and parts of two others, likely set a BCHL playoff record.

•His overall playoff save percentage of 91.56 was better than his regular season percentage of 91.21.

•His 1.90 goals against average, 92.40 save percentage, and 4 shutouts led all goaltenders in this year’s BCHL playoffs.

Numbers tell quite a story, but Graeme Gordon’s worth to the 2009-10 Vipers is measured in more than just statistics. Did he make the big save when it was absolutely necessary? Was he focused in the critical games? When he wasn’t playing, did he contribute through his cheerleading and positive attitude? The answers are yes, yes, and yes again.

As this article is being written, Graeme’s future is undecided. He says, “Hopefully, there’s still a chance for a Div 1 (NCAA) scholarship. If not, there are options at Canadian universities or in the pro ranks. No matter what happens, I’ve had two awesome years here. I want to thank Dr. Wray and his organization, and I especially thank Ferns for pulling me out of Merritt. It’s been unreal.”