Rookie Watch: Top 3 Goaltenders

There has been a heavy rookie presence in goal this season, and these 3 goaltenders have all had impressive starts for their respective teams. These are the 3 goaltenders to watch for the remainder of the season.

Finding elite goaltenders in Canada seems to always be a tough task. At junior international events, Canada rarely has a goaltender of high-potential. These three goalies have the potential to change that narrative. 

These three netminders have been able to jump into the OHL and make an impact right away. Starter or backup, each goaltender has had an early effect on their respective team. 

The NHL Draft eligible goaltender made his first impressions at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he helped guide Canada to gold. Carter George was able to steal the crease away from WHL goaltender Gabriel D’Aigle in the first game of the tournament, and he never looked back. 

Last season, George spent the majority of his time with the St. Marys Lincolns in the GOJHL (Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League), but was able to get into 10 games for the Attack. He still qualifies as a rookie for this season, and this will be his first full season with the team.

George began his rookie OHL season with the momentum from winning gold at the Hlinka Cup, prepared to start a large number of games for the Owen Sound Attack as their starting netminder. In his first start against the Barrie Colts, George earned first star as he made 31 saves on 33 shots in the win.

In the net, George is a calm and poised goaltender, and he isn't super active compared to other goaltenders. He is disciplined positionally and doesn't get out of position often. 

Currently, George has five of the Attack's six wins, a .929% save percentage and averages 2.18 goals against. These numbers are good for 4th in the league among goalies. He has started ten of the Attack's twelve games, which is a huge number for a rookie, even a starting one. 

George is a definite name to watch out for in the 2024 NHL Draft, and should be one of the top eligible goaltenders from the CHL.

Jack Ivankovic was the first goaltender taken off the board at the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, as the Steelheads took him 7th overall in the first round.

Ivankovic is one of the most highly touted goalies coming out of the draft in recent memory, and there is reason to believe that he will be a top goalie in the league in no time. Ivakovic stole plenty of games for the U16 Mississauga Sens last season, and was undoubtedly the best goaltender in the draft class.

He has played in four games thus far, with a 2.92 goals against average, and a .911% save percentage. Ryerson Leenders has had an especially phenomenal start to the season, which has made it difficult for Ivankovic to start more games. Nonetheless, Ivankovic will get to learn from Leenders, and he will push him from the backup position.

Ivankovic is set to represent Canada at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in PEI this coming week, which will put him on the international stage. He is projected to be the better goaltender on his team, and this will give him a chance to shine as "the guy" in net.

From the NOJHL to the OHL, Landon Miller also played a few games with the Greyhounds last season (5), but is still considered a rookie. Miller was a 2nd round pick in the 2022 Priority Selection, and will now get his shot to play a full season with the Soo. 

The 2006 born goaltender is eligible for the NHL Draft, but will have to battle for starts with Charlie Schenkel. Schenkel is getting the majority of starts early on, and he is winning games but he is having trouble keeping the puck out of the net. Miller has played in seven games this season, but has only started three of them. He has been relieving Schenkel in many high scoring affairs. In one of his starts against the Frontenacs, he was able to earn his first career shutout, which puts one feather in his cap.

He may not have the best numbers early on, but the potential is certainly there for Miller. The Soo netminders have some thick defence in front of them, with Kirill Kudryavtsev, Artu Karki, and Andrew Gibson, to name a few. Even still, they have had trouble keeping the puck out of their net. As the season continues on, Miller should earn some more starts, and hopefully those numbers will get better as the Soo's defence improves.