Phantoms: Cal Heeter's bad week
It's been a bad week for Cal Heeter.
The rookie goaltender for the Adirondack Phantoms was the net-minder for the start of Wednesday's Phantoms game against the Connecticut Whale.
He didn't make it to the 2nd intermission.
After being attacked by the Whale offense for four goals in the first 28 minutes of the game, Terry Murray benched Heeter and replaced him with the Phantoms newest goaltender, Brian Boucher.
It wasn't long after the game when Cal would find out that game would be his last for the time being in an Adirondack Phantoms jersey. Thursday afternoon it was reported that he was being sent down to the Trenton Titans of the ECHL. In newspaper reports with the Trentonian, Heeter remarks that he was surprised to be sent down.
In his first game in a Trenton Titans jersey, he allowed a goal that would go on to be the game-winner, and out of frustration, he shot the puck over the glass and into the stands, which immediately earned him a game ejection. According to Mike Ashmore of the Trentonian, a similar incident two seasons ago sat a player for 12 games, so Cal Heeter could be seeing some time off soon.
But the Flyers' move to send him down to the ECHL shouldn't be shocking. Since the Flyers picked up Brian Boucher, every game was going to be a tryout-style game. For the longest time, Scott Munroe was receiving the wrong end of the proverbial stick, but that changed when Heeter allowed 4 goals on 20 shots on Wednesday. Now granted, Heeter has made some phenomenal saves for the Phantoms, keeping them in games. And also that not all goals allowed can solely be blamed on the goaltender, but the Phantoms are in a situation they've seen far too much the last few years - near or in last place of the Eastern Conference.
Allowing 4 goals in two of your last three starts with a save percentage of under .900 isn't going to help climb out of the basement.
High School Hockey: League Roundup
Staying on the rink, it's a trying stretch for the Saratoga Springs Blue Streaks, who first get a taste of what could be a potential first round State Playoff opponent in Suffern, the defending Division I State Champion.
What the Blue Streaks learned is that they've got some work to do. They fell 3-1 on Friday night at Weibel Ave Rink, getting their lone goal from Nick Winters on the power play. The loss was the Blue Streaks second of the season, the first being against the team that tossed them from the state tournament in the semifinals last year, Pittsford.
It doesn't get easier this week for the Blue Streaks, with matchups coming up against Shenendehowa (Wednesday) and Shaker/Colonie (Friday). Shenendehowa's only league loss came against Saratoga earlier in the season, a 2-0 decision. Shaker/Colonie has yet to face the Blue Streaks, and have the home advantage for the game on Friday. Both games could go a long ways towards determining who takes the #1 seed in the upcoming Section II Sectionals, which gets under way in only two weeks.
It's also been a tough road for the Glens Falls Indians this season. Outside of winning The Stick over Queensbury on January 8th, their season has been rough, resulting in a 4-13-0 record. This past week, John Myers picked up a hat trick as the Indians went on to beat winless Guilderland/Mohonasen 5-0. However, the Indians could not keep up the winning momentum, as they fell to Niskayuna/Schenectady 8-1 on Saturday.
Regardless of how the Indians fare, they will have a Sectional matchup against Queensbury at the Glens Falls Civic Center on Thursday, February 21st. In the Spartans only game this week, Teddy Nolan got bruised badly by the Shenendehowa Plainsmen, allowing 4 goals in the first period before being replaced by Joe Robinson as the Plainsmen shut out the Spartans 5-0. Kevin Miles with a pair of goals for the Plainsmen in the win, as Brian Walter and Ben Farstad combined for a 16 save shutout. The Spartans have a couple tough league games this week, hosting CBA on Tuesday before traveling to LaSalle on Saturday.
High School Hoops: Game Preview
Our next game is on the hardwood as we see how the girls are doing in the Foothills Council. We're traveling across the Hudson River to South Glens Falls, where the Bulldogs will host the Glens Falls Indians on Tuesday night. This game will be a battle for second in the Council, with Glens Falls hosting a 4-2 league record and a 7-3 overall record vs. South Glens Falls' 5-3 league and 9-4 overall.
We last saw Glens Falls back in December as they won over non-conference foe Hoosick Falls 65-50. In that game, the Indians took advantage of a 21-8 third quarter on their way to victory. Skylar Girard led the Indians with 22 points, followed by Meresa Mason's 18. For the season, those two are the leading scorers, followed by Monica Harvey.
It's our first look at South High this season. Alexis Smith is the leading scorer, and is supplemented by Sydney Coon's team-leading 18 threes. Kasey O'Brien is to be watched from the free throw line.
The Indians won the first round, 41-36 at Glens Falls. Who'll take the 2nd round? Find out when our broadcast hits the airwaves at 7:15pm Tuesday night on FOX Sports Radio 1230.
