THE WILD WIRE - BLOG #12

Dec 18, 2017

ROAD TRIPPIN’

Iowa Wild is wrapping up a LONG road trip this week, beginning tonight against the Cleveland Monsters (6 p.m. CT). Here’s a summary of the trip…

  • Record: 1-1-0-1
  • Goals For: 9
  • Goals Against: 12
  • Miles traveled via bus: approximately 900 (according to Google Maps)
  • Number of flights: 1 (from Chicago to Cleveland)
  • Cities visited: 4
  • Number of days on the road: 6 (so far…it will be a 9-day trip when it’s all said and done)
  • Number of different goaltenders on the roster at some point: 6 (see below)

GOALTENDING CAROUSEL

When Minnesota Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk got hurt a few days ago, the trickle-down effect immediately took place.

First, it was Steve Michalek, who got the call to the NHL to serve as Alex Stalock’s backup. Then, there was the possibility of Niklas Svedberg and Michalek switching places so that Minnesota could have the more experienced Svedberg up in the NHL in case they needed him to play a game or two while Dubnyk is on the mend. Getting Svedberg into Wednesday and Friday’s game with the Iowa Wild allowed him to stay sharp and also get back into a bit more of a groove since he missed a few games earlier this month with an injury himself. 

To replace Michalek on the roster, the Wild brought up goaltender Christian Frey from the Rapid City Rush (ECHL).  He watched as Svedberg got the win on Friday in Milwaukee.

But Svedberg got banged up in the 3-2 overtime win and after jumping on the ice briefly Saturday, he deemed he wasn’t even able to back up for the AHL Wild. Thus Adam Vay, who flew into Chicago to meet the team Saturday morning, got the nod and subsequently took the loss that night against the Wolves despite making 37 saves.

Vay was recalled from the Rush (they were on the road in Utah), which meant Frey was sent back, so Rapid City wasn’t forced to scramble too much to fill out their roster.

With me so far…?

With Vay starting Saturday and Svedberg unable to dress, local product Jeromy Semtner was signed to a tryout. For the record, he was super pumped to dress for an AHL game after previously playing only in the Federal Hockey League.

In typical emergency goaltender fashion, Semtner was “released” following Saturday’s game, so the Wild brought in C.J. Motte to complement Vay for the rest of the road trip. Motte, a member of the Quad City Mallards (ECHL) this season, was on a road trip with the team in Cincinnati, so he got on a plane Sunday and met the Wild here in Cleveland.

Motte is going to get the start tonight. It’s going to be his Wild debut and his 10th career-AHL game.

So in summary, the six goaltenders on the roster at some point in just under a week’s time:

  1. Steve Michalek (recalled to Minnesota last Thursday, one night after backing up Svedberg)
  2. Niklas Svedberg (2 games played on the road trip, then suffered an injury)
  3. Christian Frey (recalled from Rapid City – served as backup Friday in Milwaukee – then sent back to the ECHL)
  4. Adam Vay (recalled from Rapid City Saturday – started and took the loss that night in Chicago)
  5. Jeromy Sumtner (emergency backup – signed to a tryout for one day)
  6. C.J. Motte (QC Mallards – signed to a tryout – met the team in Cleveland – will start tonight)

As I mentioned earlier, the Wild and Monsters square off tonight. Iowa hasn’t lost back-to-back games in regulation since Opening Weekend, so I’d be shocked if the fellas aren’t ready to roll tonight!

With next Monday (my usual blogging day) being Christmas, I’m gonna take “the option” as we say in the hockey world (in reference to optional skates, which teams often have on game days as the season moves on). I’ll be in Philly over the holiday break, but will get back at ya in 2018!

Hope everyone out there has a great Christmas!

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