Vitals:
Position: Goalie
Year in School: Junior
Catches Left
Height: 6-2
Weight: 187
Hometown: Williamsville, NY
Major: History
Previous Team: Indiana Ice (USHL) last season
NHL Considerations: 5th round pick of Phoenix (sorry you got stuck in that organization Brett) in the 2006 NHL Draft.
08/09 Stats: 35-17-2, 2.59 GAA, 0.910 save %
07/08 Stats: 16-10-3, 2.63 GAA, 0.888 save % @ Boston U
09/10 Role: Fighting for the starting spot in goal, and I think he’ll win it as the season goes.
08/09 Recap: After being let go by Boston U, Brett landed in the USHL w/ the Indiana Ice. Its safe to say he had a great season. He was a work horse, he lead the USHL in minutes played and wins by nine over Mike Lee, and was 4th in save %. In the post season, he was nothing short of dominate. In the finals it was a battle between the league’s best in net against Fargo and the aforementioned Mike Lee, but Brett got the better of it and helped his team to the Clark Cup. In the playoffs, he led the playoffs in GAA and wins (obviously) going 9-4-1, 2.36 GAA and .920 save %. He was All USHL 1st Team along w/ Craig Smith.
Biggest Strength: I saw him play once last season, and while the Gamblers didn’t challenge him much that night, I liked his positioning. Reminded me of Brian Elliott; the key word in that sentence is ‘reminded.’ I have a lot of hope for Brett.
Biggest Weakness: As the rumors go, he was let go by Boston U because he had a bad attitude and was not good for the team, or something along those lines. Will he bring the baggage to UW or did a year in the USHL and the second chance clear the slate? I’m all about 2nd chances.
09/10 Thoughts: Brett comes in as the new goalie on the block and should start the season fighting w/ Scott Gudmandson for the starting role. Many have hypothesized that Eaves will rotate one each night, and guessing I’d have to agree, but I think Brett will eventually take the reins and be the regular in net. He has the potential and background to be the next in the line of great Badger goalies.
On message boards, people question his past issues and I’d ask Badger fans to give him a chance before passing judgment.
Prediction: 23 games, 2.35 GAA, 0.917 save %*
*Regular season only
Photo from uwbadgers.com
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