Generals’ Jeremy Brodeur shines on Thanksgiving

Oshawa shuts out Guelph thanks to outstanding goaltending

Jeremy Brodeur helps Oshawa snap a 3-game losing streak by shutting out the Guelph Storm.  George Redak

Jeremy Brodeur shut the door again.

For the fourth time this season, the Oshawa Generals netminder finished the game with a perfect save percentage, en route to a 2-0 victory over the Guelph Storm (1-4-1-0) Monday afternoon.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Gens (4-3-1-0).

Brodeur made 24 saves in the game, including a key stop late in the first when the 18-year-old stood his ground on a breakaway by Kyle Rhodes.

“First of all I have to give Brodeur credit,” said Stephen Desrocher, the assistant captain. “He has been unbelievable for us this year, stopping everything.

“He is playing great, giving us the best chance to win”

Bob Jones, the Generals head coach has also been impressed with the form of his goalie so far this season, with all his team’s victories being shutouts.

“I think it’s remarkable,” said Jones. “I don’t think anyone anticipated him to have four shutouts this early in the year. We are really thankful he is in net and he has been the unsung hero thus far.”

Although the Generals have struggled to score this season, defence and goaltending have carried the team to four hard fought victories.

“The start of this year really gave me a lot of confidence,” said Brodeur. “Having confidence like that made me work a little harder in practice and things are clicking right now.

“If I can do my job well when our team (limits) the other team to 24 shots we can hold teams to a low amount of goals. A lot of credit to them”

Brodeur’s praise for the defensive performance that took place in front of him is well justified.

Coming in support of his goaltender on multiple occasions, defenceman Desrocher had another strong game at both ends of the ice, scoring the game winner late in the first.

With the puck at the point, the Toronto native moved into the high slot and wristed a shot through traffic that beat Justin Nichols.

“I’m just getting pucks to the net as much as I can and try to make plays offensively whenever I can and I get the opportunity. As I’ve said before I’m worried about defence first and that’s our main goal to be strong defensively and the offence comes with that.

The Generals were the first on the scoreboard thanks to Desrocher’s fourth goal of the season. The defenceman is on a tear so far, averaging a point per game in eight contests. Anthony Cirelli and Kenny Huether dished out the assists.

Stephen Desrocher looking to score through traffic, something he has been very successful with this season.

Stephen Desrocher looking to score through traffic, something he has been very successful with this season.

And it wasn’t just on the offensive end that the 19-year-old was helping his team.

Eight minutes into the second period a bad turnover by the Generals in neutral ice led to a 3-on-1 for the Storm. The last General in front of Brodeur was Desrocher.

Showing great composure, the assistant captain calmly blocked a cross-ice pass snuffing out Guelph’s best opportunity of the second period.

“We are playing a strong defensive game, limiting their chances as much as we can and limiting their shots,” said Desrocher.

The Generals outshot the Storm 32-24 with Nichols making 31 saves to keep his team in the game.

It was an empty netter from centre ice that sealed the game, the goal scored by Huether with assists going to Michael Dal Colle and Jacob Graves.

Next on the schedule for the Generals is the North Bay Battalion.

About this article

By: George Redak
Posted: Oct 12 2015 9:03 pm
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