Every season early in the year, Ohio hockey coach Dan Morris typically alternates between starting goalies in games each weekend, playing one on Friday and the other on Saturday.
This season is no different with goaltenders Ryan Baksh and Chris Carlson taking turns between the pipes.
Having two goalies makes it tough for teams to get an advantage on a guy you've only seen once
said Morris. We're deep in the goalie ranks and you have to give everyone a chance to show what they've got.
Carlson, who is in his first season with the Bobcats, has played effectively with a shutout performance last Saturday against Michigan-Dearborn and said he favors the rotation between netminders.
Until it comes down to it I'm fine with it he said. Baksh has been playing well
I've been playing well
and I'm pretty happy with how coach has handled it.
Right wing Paul Warriner said he thinks the goalie rotation helps the team.
It's good for the team to know that we have two quality goaltenders behind us
he said. We play the same game no matter who is in the net.
Now in his fourth season with the Bobcats, Baksh is playing only once a weekend, a somewhat new concept to the senior goaltender. Although he shared time last season with Paul Marshall, he has found this season's rotation to be difficult to prepare.
It's difficult to focus because I've played in a lot of games the last two years
he said. Going from starting two games a weekend to one is difficult because playing two games a weekend keeps you in a rhythm.
At the midseason point, Morris said that he will likely end the rotational system and go with the player who is having the most success at the time.
Early in the year we establish who the go-to guy is going to be
he said.
Baksh hopes that can be his role, in his last season with the Bobcats.
It is coach's decision to do whatever he feels is best for the team
he said. I just have to go out there and prove that I am the go-to guy.
Throughout the first month of the season, Morris has usually played Baksh on Friday nights, while starting Carlson on Saturday. However, he said that there is a chance that he will switch the rotation this weekend against Eastern Michigan.
The Bobcats (5-1, 4-0) look to continue their five-game winning streak this weekend against the Eagles, a conference rival the Bobcats defeated in all four games between the two rivals last season.
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