Probably the most pleasant surprise of the first half of the season has been rookie goaltender Maxime Gingras. The 20-year-old Quebec native has arguably been the best netminder in the ECHL thus far this season. Gingras joined the 'Gades in late October and made an instant impact.
It was, to borrow a Beatles line, a long and winding road for Gingras to Richmond. He practiced with four different clubs, and almost went to a fifth, before playing in his first regular season pro game. He went to training camp with IHL's Michigan K-Wings. Next came a stint with the Dayton Bombers. Max played well in a pre-season game but the Bombers chose to go with veteran goalies and placed him on waivers. The 'Gades quickly picked snatched Gingras off waivers, but before he could settle in Richmond, Orlando offered him a tryout. The Solar Bears like him but wanted Max to gain pro experience in the ECHL. Now it gets complicated. Orlando's ECHL affiliate is Mississippi, and the Sea Wolves were more than happy to have him, but Mississippi and Dayton have the same ownership group. By ECHL rules they cannot have player transactions. So Max's ECHL rights reverted to Richmond.
The 'Gades wasted no time in finding out what they had. He got his first pro start against Roanoke in The Freezer and played very well in a 3-1 win. His next time out he was brilliant in a shutout win at Chesapeake. Those efforst earned him ECHL Goalie of the Week honors.
Gingras could still be playing Major Junior hockey, but he chose to go pro early hoping to erase doubts about his size (5-6, 165). "I had nothing more to prove in juniors," he said. "I want to prove I can play with the big guys and play pro hockey".
His very solid play quickly caught the attention of the Solar Bears who recalled him for a week in November. Max made his IHL debut under tough circumstances on the road against the explosive Chicago Wolves. It, by his own admission, wasn't his best night. He gave up three goals in less than a period. "I did not play well, but good goalies come back hard."
Meanwhile, Terry Friesen had notched a shutout win over Hampton Roads but was also nursing a groin injury. The 'Gades were looking at four games in four nights and Gingras was sorely needed. So Max hopped off the plane and right back into the lineup, and came back hard. Max carried a shutout late into the third period of his return against Chesapeake, then finished his hectic week with a shutout of usually explosive Peoria.
Gingras has been making a habit of proving doubters wrong. He has had to overcome questions about his size at each level. He was bypassed in the Quebec Major Junior League's midget draft but turned into one of the top goalies in a league that has long produced many of the NHL's best. He was fourth in "The Q" in Goals Against Average and was amongst the league leaders in games played. But, even after leading the Laval Titans on an improbable playoff run, he was bypassed in the NHL draft.
He is beginning to attract NHL attention. Bill Dineen was an NHL star for nearly two decades. Later he coached the Flyers and Whalers. Now he scouts for the St. Louis Blues. "Size is an issue," Dineen said, "but there are successful small goalies in the NHL. It looks like Gingras competes, he is very quick. He's playing well. If he keeps it up somebody has to give him a chance." He has quickly had a taste of both the ups and downs of the pro game. Meanwhile "Magic" (his junior coaches tagged him with that nickname) has very quicly become one of the top netminders in the ECHL and a big fan favorite in Richmond.
'Gades coach Mark Kaufman is a believer. "Size isn't really an issue," Kaufman said. "He's done the job. He gives us a chance to win". Gingras' goal is the NHL. His first IHL stint did not go well, but his outstanding play in Richmond just about guarantees there will be more opportunities to move up. Max's plan is simple, "I just keep working hard, trying to improve and hopefully I'll get another chance to go up".