Who Wants to be a Netminder?

Netminders are a special breed. They are quite often seen as a mad, solitary figure, perhaps someone who is a bit strange for enjoying being shot at with a 170 gram vulcanised rubber bullet. You do have to wonder what makes players think that it is a good idea. However, every team needs a good one and this season Coventry have found just that in JF Perras, signed during the summer from Elite League rivals Edinburgh Capitals.

“I have a brother who is five years older than me and he played. It’s just one of things back home, everyone does it, you know, 6am practices, parents drive you everywhere. I think my parents got more fun out of it than we did!” JF started out like most Canadians at an early ages and began life on the ice as a forward, but soon turned to netminding.

“It was about first grade (about six to seven years old). I don’t remember changing positions, but I do remember a day at school, it was picture day and I’d just broken my leg skiing. We got a picture of me in the crease on a wheelchair with my cast on!”

Children at that age generally have no fear in most things, so stopping pucks might not seem like a bad idea. However, being the goalscorer is generally the position that gets the most attention, so why do kids turn to being a netminder?

“A lot of kids like the fancy equipment, shiny new pads and like getting all kitted up. I think once you’ve tried it, it’s either something you love or you hate it. You still get the glory being in goal, everyone notices you if you have a good game. Or a bad game too, but no one notices you if you’re average and that’s the worst thing.”

As a netminder, you often have to work harder and on more specific training than the outskaters, “Thommo works us pretty hard, we do about an hour 15 mins to an hour and a half everyday on the ice. And then there’s all the gym stuff too. No big weight lifting during the season, I do a 30 min bike ride and other stuff, just to keep loose. During the summer is when I put the weight on.

"A few of my friends from back home get together in the summer, they’re all hockey players so we get together around June time. It’s more fun that way, and that keeps you interested. I should do more on my flexibility than I do, I have a couple of small jobs in the summer, but this summer I worked out hard as I knew it was going to be a good year.”

Despite all the hard work, JF does not want to change positions now. “You always think you can play out, skate round and shoot a few pucks. But as good as I think I am, I don’t think I could cut it out there! We shoot some pucks in practice, and have a bit of fun, but that’s it.”

Being able to play the puck is now a pre-requisite for a Blaze netminder, with past players Trevor Koenig and Jody Lehman both liking to get out and get involved in the play. “I used to come out a lot more before I came over. The ice can be so bad at times. I just try and keep it simple, I’m not going to make the fancy long pass.”

Earlier on in the evening, Coventry triumphed 10-2 over JF’s former side Edinburgh. Playing against former sides is something that is relatively new to JF, “I’ve not really switched sides in the same league before. I was traded once back in juniors and played my old team Erie (Otters) when I was with the Ottawa 67’s.”

In a lot of sports, former teammates often come back to haunt you. “I don’t think that’s the case in ice hockey. There’s another five players on the ice, it’s a team sport, they’re not going to get that perfect shot on that one-on-none breakaway that you get in practice.”

Perras can identify those players that are good and will cause him and the Blaze defence difficulty, “Belfast has a couple of good quality shooters, Cheverie and Deniset. You’ve got Tessier at Nottingham, and a couple of other guys with him. Sheffield are dangerous as well. It’s different to last season, you can see who’s going to give you difficulty whereas last year I was just getting bombarded night after night and it was all the same.”

Netminding certainly is not for the shy and retiring, or those who might be scared of getting a little hurt. By rights, he should be crazy. But JF Perras seems to be very comfortable and relaxed in the Coventry surroundings.

Confidence breeds success, which is exactly what the Blaze are looking for again this season with the Canadian backstopping the way.