A goalie’s job appears as critical as that of a quarterback, but there’s one distinct difference: the quarterback tries to make a play happen and score touchdowns while a goalie does what he can to prevent plays and to avoid goals. This is no easy task. The job of going out on the ice and getting in the way of a frozen hard-rubber disc flying at 100 mph seems a little crazy. A goalie is on their own. But if the goalie gets beat, the entire team gets beat. This position, the responsibility, the pressure cannot be played effectively without a distinct kind of mindset. Sounds easy, right? Not at all. This requires training the body to react to certain situations in certain ways. In a fast-paced, highly fluid game, however, it doesn’t always go as planned. The goalie may forget what he worked on during practice and operate on instinct, reacting in a game situation in a way one may not predict. Mindset and tactics, the invisible and the visible, become two crucial components to becoming a skilled, effective goalie.

Brendan Duff displayed this in the home and home series against Butte. He skated off the ice having played two phenomenal games and put two more wins under his belt, including a shutout. Brendan’s contribution expanded the Wolverines’ lead against the Cobras from three to seven points, giving Whitefish a better opportunity of maintaining the number four spot in the playoff run while also earning the player-of-the-game award.  He leads his own team in wins and ranks 21st in the league. “Duff is the most vocal goalie on the team, letting his teammates know where we need to be to help him out. I do anything I can if it means blocking shots, moving players so he can see the shot the whole way, or even giving him a tap on the pads to lift him up,” explained defenseman Frank DeHoff.

A netminder must assume responsibility for keeping the puck out of the net. Full responsibility. Every … single … time. And this can be a daunting task that requires mental toughness and confidence. Fortunately, Duff studies film, works with his goalie coach, and has the intellect to reflect on each game, learning from and preparing for his next contest. He even does the same routine to prepare for games: eats a Subway sandwich, gets plenty of rest, and listens to lyrics and music, erasing everything else from his mind. As soon as Brendan enters the rink on game day … game’s on! He starts to think about different situations,  different positions, and playing aggressively. He explained, though, that it never plays out the way he visualizes or intends. That’s the unpredictable game of hockey. “Because this is my last season of playing Juniors, I want to end my career with a bang; the idea that it is my last year motivates me,” explained Duff.

There’s no arguing that he ended the Butte home contest with a bang,  receiving the first Wolverine home game shutout with a 7-0 score on 40 saves. “Duff is a great person, an awesome teammate, and is always ready to play his best,” expressed Coach Joakim Falt. Falt has yet to decide who the starting goalie will be for the home series against the Lake Tahoe Blue but anticipates watching Brendan defend the net plenty in some of the future away games and increase his overall win number.