North Stars' goaltender, Joel Grzybowski has seemingly only gotten better the more pucks sent his way, as the goalie has posted a .963 save percentage over the five games this post-season in which he has faced 40-or-more shots. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Between the pipes

Grzybowski shines for Stars, provides rock en route to finals

Apr 9, 2019 | 5:00 PM

At just 19 years old, Joel Grzybowski has been around the junior hockey game for quite some time.

Now in his third full season with the North Stars, Grzybowski has already amassed 89 career regular season SJHL games, in addition to an additional eight over the last three seasons split between the Saskatoon Blades and Victoria Royals of the WHL.

Beginning his hockey career at a young age, it wasn’t all too long until the Hafford, product transitioned from skater, to his true passion in goal, moving back between the pipes in his first year of Atom hockey.

“I just thought it was the coolest position out there,” Grzybowski said of the move. “The first game I remember getting beat 13-0, but I loved it, so I was goalie ever since.”

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Coming off a campaign that saw Grzybowski start just 16 games for the team last season, the goaltender blew his previous high of 26 (set in 2016-17) out of the water this year, suiting up for a league-best 44 games, and playing over 200 minutes more than his closest competition, while posting a solid 2.77 goals-against average and .908 save percentage in the process.

Grzybowski said handling his vastly increased workload this season as the starter for the team was a bit of a learning experience.

“There were a lot of ups and downs [this year],” Grzybowski said. “There were stretches where I didn’t play my best, and then there were stretches where I was playing really good. I guess I just learned from those hills and valleys what it takes to be consistent during the playoffs, and I think that’s what’s helped me.”

While starting 76 per cent of his team’s games may sound like a lot to handle physically, Grzybowski said more taxing than the physical toll was the mental one, in moving from backup last year, to starter for the team this season.

“Definitely that’s a big part on the mental side. I would feel great physically but some nights when you’re going in there on a three [games] in three [nights] road trip, with your mental side you really need to focus on what’s ahead of you. It’s definitely been an adjustment from last year, playing only like 16 games and then to what it is now, that’s quite the adjustment.”

Entering the finals coming off three-straight shutout performances against the Yorkton Terriers, en route to a four-game sweep, Grzybowski has been the Stars’ leading candidate for playoff MVP. He didn’t allow a single goal in 191 minutes, 37-seconds of play, contributing to a shimmering 1.40 goals-against average and .959 save percentage on the playoffs, each tops in the league.

Grzybowski’s four shutouts through the first two rounds double his regular season total, while also providing four of the five shutouts league-wide.

Perhaps more impressive than just the raw totals, Grzybowski has posted these numbers against Flin Flon and Yorkton, two of the top three offensive juggernauts from the regular season, who had each averaged over four-goals per game throughout the year.

If the Stars are to come out as league champions this season, Grzybowski has the potential to make some history as well. Since the turn of the decade, no netminder has posted greater than a .936 save percentage in leading their team to a championship. Grzybowski could be the first.

Facing a dynamic Melfort attack in the finals, the most lethal team offensively this post-season, the Stars will once again be counting on their goaltender to stand tall, and if the Stars’ playoff run has proven anything so far, it’s that the man they call “Gryz,” will do just that.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1