PROVIDENCE -- You can't blame Providence Bruins backup goaltender Maxime Gingras for believing he has spent more time in the air than in the net this season.
To Gingras, it seems as if he has hustled his way through air terminals more than he has skated at hockey rinks.
Gingras has traveled throughout the country much more than he ever expected. About the only good thing about his air travels is that Gingras has piled up his share of frequent-flier miles.
After playing 68 games as a star goaltender for the Richmond Renegades of the East Coast Hockey League last year, the 5-foot-6 Gingras planned on this season being an upgrade for him at a higher level.
Instead, last year's ECHL Goaltender of the Year and Rookie of the Year has spent a good portion of the 1999-2000 season looking down on the U.S. while flying over it.
Gingras, a native of Loretteville, Quebec, started the season as Providence's backup to veteran Kay Whitmore when John Grahame opened the year with Boston because of Byron Dafoe's contract holdout.
Then, after Dafoe had signed and Grahame had returned Nov. 15, Gingras began his odyssey Nov. 25 when he flew off to Richmond on loan to the Renegades.
On Dec. 1, Gingras was on the move again. He packed his gear and flew across country to Houston after being reassigned to the Aeros of the IHL, where he appeared in only one game. His stay in Texas lasted until Jan. 6, when Gingras was recalled from Houston.
Eleven days later his bags were full again for another trip back to Richmond. However, on Feb. 2 Gingras found out he was headed even farther south because he had been loaned to Orlando of the IHL. There, Gingras was on the bench for one game but didn't play, then suffered a broken finger in practice.
Gingras's stay in Disney World territory lasted only nine days. On Feb. 11 Gingras was recalled from Orlando and loaned to Richmond. Six days later he touched down again in Providence when Grahame was summoned to Boston to fill in for the injured Dafoe and Robbie Tallas.
Through all his travels, Gingras hardly has put on his pads. He's played in only 17 games, including nine with Providence, for whom he has a 2.58 goals-against average. He appeared in seven games during his various stints with Richmond.
Needless to say, it has been tough for Gingras to stay sharp. ``One thing I've had is a lot of practices,'' Gingras said. ``I've been traveling a lot and I'm still learning about pro hockey.''
Gingras, who turns 22 in April, said the only way he can remain sharp is in practice. ``You have to put yourself in game situations with the guys. It hasn't been easy. It's not always fun traveling like that, but, still, you have to love the game of hockey.''
Despite not playing much, Gingras insists he has proven to himself that he can play in the AHL. Still, in his two appearances since his latest return to Providence, Gingras hasn't been sharp. He allowed four goals in a 4-1 loss at Saint John, and gave up two goals in a relief roll in Hartford Monday night.
``We're having a hard time scoring goals, and you don't want to give up bad goals, but you don't want to put too much pressure on yourself, either. You want to make the big stops to give the team a chance to win. When I'm in there I try to play loose,'' said Gingras.
Tonight, Gingras will be on the bench as a backup to Whitmore against the St. John's Maple Leafs at the Civic Center. But, with Grahame still with Boston and expected to be there awhile, at least Gingras doesn't have to worry about packing his bags quickly for another trip.