Wednesday, March 24, 1999
BY JOHN PACKETT
Times-Dispatch Staff Writer
W hat else does Maxime Gingras have to do -- other than grow a few inches -- to move up to the next level of pro hockey?
The Richmond Renegades' diminutive goaltender has pitched seven shutouts this season, shattering the previous East Coast Hockey League record of five. He also shared another shutout with Terry Friesen. Gingras, 5-6, is tied for second in the league with a goals-against average of 2.27. His save percentage is .924, second-best in the ECHL.
So why hasn't some American or International league team -- or a National Hockey League club, for that matter -- signed Gingras to a contract?
"Size is an issue," said Bill Dineen, an NHL star for nearly two decades, who also coached both the Philadelphia Flyers and Hartford Whalers and now scouts for the St. Louis Blues.
"But there are successful small goalies in the NHL. It looks like Gingras competes very well. If he keeps it up, somebody has to give him a chance."
Gingras, of Loretteville, Quebec, weighs about 150 pounds with all his gear on. He played two seasons with the Laval Titans (Quebec Major Junior League) and finished fourth in the league with a 2.99 GAA and five shutouts last season.
Gingras, 20, came to the Renegades after the season began. He initially was in training camp with the Michigan K-Wings (IHL) before being sent to the Dayton Bombers. He was released because the Bombers had two contract goalies. Richmond claimed him off waivers, and he spent one day with the Renegades, before being offered a tryout with the Orlando Solar Bears (IHL).
The Solar Bears liked him but thought he needed experience at a lower level, so Gingras came back to Richmond. He allowed only one goal in his pro debut, then blanked Chesapeake in his next outing. The rest is a matter of record.
"I've seen small goaltenders play big, and I've seen big goaltenders play small," said Warren Strelow, the San Jose Sharks' goaltending consultant, who has worked with Gingras this season. "Max plays big. He's a real competitor. Someone's going to sign him."
The majority of the successful goaltenders in the NHL now are 5-11 or taller, but there are smaller ones such as Fred Brathwaite (Calgary Flames), John Vanbiesbrouck (Philadelphia Flyers) and Arturs Irbe (Carolina Hurricanes) who have performed well. Brathwaite is 5-7, and Vanbiesbrouck and Irbe are 5-8. Darren Pang was only 5-5 when he spent three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1980s.
Gingras' lightning-quick reflexes and technical skills have let him overcome his size at the ECHL level. But many scouts will tell you that because he's so small, more skilled players will go for the top corners and just under the crossbar. The goal cage is 4 feet high and 6 feet wide.
Gingras had a stint with Orlando in November, which showed he wasn't ready for the next step. He gave up three goals on six shots in his IHL debut against the Chicago Wolves before being pulled. He returned later in the game and didn't allow another goal.
"I did not play well, but good goalies come back hard," said Gingras, who returned to Richmond and went 3-0-1 in his next four starts.
Gingras has remained with the Renegades, compiling a 26-12-3 record and setting a franchise record for wins in a season. He was named to the ECHL all-star team and started for the Northern Conference squad after winning the skills competition. In addition, the 20-year-old is a strong candidate for ECHL rookie-of-the-year honors.
Gingras said it's been disappointing that no one else has offered him a tryout after what he's accomplished this season.
"But I'm having fun here and having a good season," he added. "They're probably going to wait until the end of the season, until the end of the playoffs [to evaluate him]. It's always been like this for me, so I just have to keep on working.
"I've played a lot. Seen a lot of shots. My first year as a pro couldn't have been better than this one, and it's not done yet. I just want a chance. That's all I want."
The Renegades plan to have him around for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs, which is where Gingras could really make a name for himself and increase his chances of being offered an AHL or IHL contract.
"If our team does well the rest of the way," said Richmond coach Mark Kaufman, "he's going to get what he wants. Guys like Max, maybe because of his size, people are going to be nitpicking at his game. But the bottom line is this: His final evaluation will be made at the end of the season. He's only 20 years old. There's no rush for him to get to the next level.
"Let's face it. He's a long shot, but up until now, he's beaten the odds."
The Gingras File