Richmond Renegades goaltender Maxime Gingras, the ECHL's Rookie of the Year, has played so spectacularly and has broken so many records this season that many people forget he is just 20 years old and 5'6".

While playing at the junior level, his critics told him he was too small to play pro. "I wanted to prove I could play pro with anybody, any size," he says, so he skipped his final year of junior eligibility to join the professional ranks.

Although he had good camps with the Michigan K-Wings and Dayton Bombers, both teams already had two contracted netminders. Richmond snatched him off the waiver wire, but the next day he was summonsed to Orlando's camp, where he signed a two-way contract with Orlando and was ultimately reassigned back to Richmond.

Although he wants to move up to the next level, with the NHL his ultimate goal, Gingras loves playing for Richmond.

Gingras, whose nickname is "Magic," was selected as a starter for the 1999 Northern Conference All-Star game, taking top honors in the goaltender portion of the skills competition, making 22 saves on 25 shots.

The first goaltender and first Renegade to be selected as ECHL Rookie of the Year, he has compiled a record of 29-12-3 with two regular season games remaining. His award will be presented at the Renegades' final regular season home game on April 3.

A group of Richmond fans started the "Max Pack," a fan club for Gingras, early this season. Co-chairman Garry Jarrell reminisces, "From the first time I met Max, I knew he was special." The purpose of the Max Pack is to support Gingras, no matter where he goes in his professional career. The Max Pack boasts over 100 members. Members of the Max Pack can be spotted in the Richmond Coliseum by the Gingras photo buttons with Max Pack ribbons, Magic Max hats and/or sweatshirts they sport. No single player in Richmond's history has developed this type of following.

Gingras credits Yves Dufort, his goalie coach from last season with the Laval Titan, and his family as the biggest influences in his young career.

With the playoffs looming, some of Gingras' critics are still skeptical, noting that the youngster has yet to prove himself in the post-season at the pro level. But as he dazzles audiences and stones snipers across the league, Magic may make a believer of his critics yet. Gingras quips, "Despite my size, I am a big goaltender."

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This article originally apppeared in In The Crease