Friday, November 13, 1998
BY JOHN PACKETT
Times-Dispatch Staff Writer
Most of what happened to the Richmond Renegades last season wasn't pretty. They finished with the worst record in franchise history. They didn't make the playoffs. The coach lost his job. But something good did come out of all that mess.
Maxime Gingras.
Because the Renegades had the third-worst record in the East Coast Hockey League, they were near the top of the list when it came to picking up players off waivers this season. That's how Richmond wound up with Gingras, who has become the early leader among ECHL goaltenders.
When Dayton released Gingras in training camp, the Renegades quickly grabbed him, and after a tryout with the Orlando Solar Bears (International League), he was signed to an ECHL contract Oct. 20, four days after the season started.
"He's been a real source of inspiration, that's for sure," said Richmond coach Mark Kaufman.
Heading into tonight's (7:35) matchup with Toledo at the Coliseum, Gingras leads the ECHL in goals-against average (1.82) and save percentage (.940). The 20-year-old is the likely choice to help the Renegades (4-6-0) snap a four-game losing skid against the Storm.
Gingras relishes the opportunity to prove himself once again. He's 5-6 and weighs 148 pounds. He
doesn't take up much space in the goal.
But it hasn't stopped him from
performing well, ever since he switched from playing center to donning the pads when he was 9.
"Sometimes, when I have a new coach [in juniors], he sees me and doesn't want to take me," said Gingras. "I go back to double-B, and after four or five games, I come back. It happens to me three or four times. They don't think I can do the job. But size has never been a factor for me."
The native of Loretteville, Quebec, spent the past two years with the Laval Titan (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League). Gingras helped the Titan to a semifinal berth in the playoffs and finished fourth (2.99) in the league in goals-against average.
"I should have been drafted last year, but I was not because of my size," said Gingras. "I had a good year, but they don't think, in the long run, I can do it. That's why I turned pro this year, because I felt like I had nothing to prove there [QMJHL].
"I could have played one more year of juniors. But I want to prove I can play with big guys and play a lot of games."
Kaufman has been more than pleased to have Gingras guarding the Richmond nets.
"He competes so well," said
Kaufman. "He's very hungry to get out there and do the job. Size isn't really an issue."
Gingras makes up for his lack of size with amazing quickness and agility.
"Last year, I worked a lot on being bigger in the net," said Gingras. "So I don't have to rely on my quickness so much. I try to let the puck hit me more. Before, I was expending too much energy in the net, going from one side to the other, jumping all the time.
"Now I play more patient. I wait more and play big butterfly. When I have to be quick, I still have it. I don't rely only on my quickness."
Gingras believes he has what it takes to play in the NHL one day, but realizes he'll have to overcome the size factor in the minds of most teams.
"Sometimes it helps me, but I don't think you have to use that as motivation all the time," he said. "I have goals in life. Playing in the NHL is one. I don't have anything to prove to anybody. I just want to play in the NHL, that's all. I want to do it for me. That's why I work hard.
"When I have my chance to go to the next level, take it. Then start exactly the same pattern as I did here. Take it step by step."