By Ethan Ready

Behind the Mask

Spruce Kings trio a dream between the pipes

Apr 28, 2021 | 6:01 PM

CHILLIWACK, BC – It’s a dream between the pipes for the Prince George Spruce Kings this year.

Carrying three goalies on the roster is unusual under normal circumstances, but this year has been everything but normal. But Prince George has been spoiled with arguably the best goalie trio in the entire league of Aaron Trotter (’01), Jordan Fairlie and Kobe Grant (’02), with the Spruce Kings ranking 2nd in goals allowed and combined goals-against average of 1.61.

A tremendous season so far given the circumstances.

“It’s definitely been different,” admitted Fairlie. “It’s a condensed season so we’re not getting many practices, so it’s a lot of just games. Living in a hotel for two months, I’ve never done that before. There are little changes but the game is still the same. We’re still here to win games.”

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“It’s been something to adapt to,” said Trotter. “I wasn’t expecting it coming into the start of the year, of course, having to go into a bubble. On the mental side, it’s definitely challenging.”

While all three are new to the Spruce Kings this season, Kobe Grant is the newest, being brought in after the Christmas Break. But after dressing as the backup to both Fairlie and Trotter, Grant was given a start against Merritt, resulting in a shutout in his debut.

“I just came into that game trying to have a good mindset,” said Grant, who spent short stints with both the Vernon Vipers and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the BCHL. “Whatever happens, happens. I was just trying to trust all of the work I had done to that point.”

Each of the three have had to adapt to the scenario, Fairlie admitting he’s been having virtual meetings with a sports psychologist.

“It’s actually a lot more challenging mentally,” explained Fairlie. “I’m just trying to stay in contact with family and friends, calling them a lot. There are a lot more games so you have to always stay a bit more mentally prepared so you actually have to put the time in and do all of the work to keep your mental game up. I see a sports psychologist, and it helps me with that, but it’s pretty mentally draining.

Trotter, speaking off of the comments of Fairlie, says because of the shortened yet packed schedule, it’s been easier to create consistencies.

“I feel like at points it’s tougher because of how consistently you’re doing it, and there’s no real time for rest in between,” says Trotter. “But I think once you find yourself in a rhythm it’s a good rhythm you find yourself in.”

While Trotter has started the most games, the three have winning records. Grant and Trotter each with a pair of shutouts. But each trusting the system as the rotation between the pipes has been working.

“I think we’ve all been playing well so it seems to be working out,” admitted Fairlie. “We’re playing a game every couple of days and if we were just running one guy it would be a burnout, so I think cycling through is probably the best way to go. That way we’re all staying fresh and that way we can all stay up mentally.”

With a three-headed monster in the blue paint now, it’s every coach’s dream. But makes it some stiff competition for minutes next season assuming things return back to normal.