He may be flying solo in between the pipes, but Nelson Junior Leaf Marcus Beesley isn’t letting the pressure get to him as the team heads into its last weekend of regular season play.
“The more I play, the better I feel in the net,” he says. “So I’m actually pretty happy with the way things are.”
The 18-year-old rookie spent most of the season splitting ice time 50-50 with fellow newcomer Darren Hogg. But when Hogg injured his leg during a road trip game against the Golden Rockets in early January, Beesley found himself the sole defender of the Leafs’ net.
Since then he’s played 11 games straight, picking up five wins and six losses. And with Hogg now confirmed to be out for the rest of the season, he’s facing at least another half dozen — more if a playoff series with Beaver Valley goes the Leafs’ way.
But Beesley shrugs off any suggestion that being the Leafs’ lone goalie might be a lot to handle.
“I’m a guy that thrives on a lot of playing time,” he says. “Obviously I’m not happy that Hogg got hurt, but it’s an opportunity and I feel I’ve stepped in and done a pretty good job in his absence.”
That’s not to say there haven’t been bumps in the road. When the two back rivets in Beesley’s skate popped out during a home game against the Kelowna Chiefs, Trail midget goalie Jeremy Mandoli stepped into the net long enough for him to perform some quick first aid. But minutes later Beesley was back to continue the game with his blade taped in place.
And, he admits, there is “a little bit” more riding on his performance in net now.
“I’ve pretty much got to hold the team in there, and it’s a lot on my shoulders. But I’m pretty much used to it and I thrive in that kind of situation,” he adds.
There are also side benefits. With playoffs starting next week, Beesley says he’s looking forward to being “the guy in net every night. I should be as much fun in the KI as it was in minor hockey.”
The Leafs play their final home game of the regular season Saturday against the Creston Valley Thunder Cats at 7 p.m. at the Nelson and District Community Complex.
Playoffs begin February 14, with an away game on the Beaver Valley Nitehawks’ turf. The series shifts back to Nelson for games three and four next Friday and Saturday at the Nelson and District Community Complex.