Lancers Call On Veteran 'Hot' Goalie
Omaha Lancers Coach Mike Hastings had a tough call to make entering the playoffs.
He needed to decide which of his goalies, both ranked among the top netminders in the United States Hockey League, would start the best-of-five first-round series against Des Moines. He went
with experience when he selected Ray Fraser over Marty Magers, and so far Fraser has responded with his best hockey of the season.
The 20-year-old from Calgary, Alberta, stopped 80 of 83 shots as the Lancers swept the Buccaneers in three games. After allowing one goal in Game 1 and two goals in Game 2, Fraser capped the series with a 7-0 shutout victory in Game 3.
"We had no idea who coach was going to start until just before the series," Fraser said. "He showed confidence in me, and I didn't want to let him down."
Fraser leads all goalies in the playoffs with a 1.00 goals-against average and a league-leading .964 save percentage. But he'll be tested in the second round as the Lancers face the challenge of the Sioux Falls Stampede, which led the USHL in scoring during the regular season. Game 1 is tonight at 7:05 in Sioux Falls, S.D. The series will move to Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.
"Ray has really stepped up for us," Hastings said. "He was outstanding in the series (against Des Moines), and our team has really responded to his strong play."
Buccaneers' Coach Tom Carroll agreed with Hastings' assessment.
"We ran into a hot goaltender, and that can make all the difference," Carroll said. "They're a
team playing with a lot of confidence right now, and that's what is making them so tough to beat."
Fraser began the season with the unenviable task of following Dan Ellis, who is now with the
University of Nebraska at Omaha. In his one season with the Lancers, Ellis registered a USHL-record 11 shutouts and a league-leading 2.25 goals-against average.
Fraser also was forced to carry the early load when Magers was sidelined by surgery to correct
a heart ailment. He played well as the Lancers remained in contention in the West Division
during the first half of the season, but a hand injury sent Fraser to the bench.
The 18-year-old Magers responded with strong play. He finished with the lowest goals-against average in the league at 2.32, and Fraser was fourth at 2.42.
"Overall, I was happy with the way my season went," Fraser said. "But there were some ups
and downs in there. It's a long year, and there are going to be high points and low points."
Fraser finished the regular season with a 19-10-3 record and a league-leading five shutouts.
Magers was 16-5-3 with three shutouts.
"Marty and I knew it was going to be a tough call for Coach to decide who would start in the
playoffs," Fraser said. "But either way, I looked at it as a positive. I knew Marty would do a great
job if he'd been picked."
Fraser said the friendly competition between the goalies in practice and the goaltending
guidance offered by Assistant Leigh Mendelson have been instrumental in his strong postseason play.
"Marty and I push each other, and that's a good thing," Fraser said. "And Coach Mendelson has helped both of us a lot."
