Top Level Tandem: Bruin goalies have shut down opponents this season

Published 8:02 pm Thursday, November 8, 2018

Kyle McClellan was just a little boy when he noticed those pads. Watching hockey as a youth, his eyes locked in on the goalie, not necessarily because he understood the position, but he thought it looked pretty cool.

“It’s definitely got to be the pads. When I was young, I thought those were the coolest thing in the world,” McClellan said. “I had my dad buy me some pads and it took off from there.”

Now McClellan is the one looking cool in the goalie pads as he and teammate Brett Miller have given the Bruins (11-2-0-3 overall) a one-two punch in the net that few teams can match. Both players are in their first NAHL season and both have started with a splash. McClellan is leading the NAHL in goals against averaged, shutouts and save percentage and Miller is second in goals against averaged.

Brett Miller makes a stop in practice for the Austin Bruins in Riverside Arena Thursday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

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Miller played junior hockey in Ontario last season and he has already made his college commitment to Division I Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

“Kyle and I have a great tandem going,” said Miller. “We push each other every day in practice and we’re always competing against each other. It’s helped out both of us and it’s shown in the games.”

Austin head coach Steve Howard wasn’t entirely sure what he was going to do after last season when the Bruins lost all of their top goalies. The team had tracked McClellan and Miller last year and Howard was thrilled when both of them ended up in Austin uniforms this season.

“Both goalies have been great,” Howard said. “I think they both get along real well and they like the situation and how things have played out this year. When you look at other teams in the league, a lot of them have a definitive guy who’s number one in the net, but it’s nice having two number ones here.”

McClellan was named NAHL goalie of the month for October and he’s also drawing plenty of interest from colleges. While he enjoys the time he gets on game nights, he’s certainly doesn’t mind splitting time with Miller.

“We just kind of battle back and forth and we learn from each other,” McClellan said. “You always look at other goalies your age to see what you have to work on and what you have to develop. I don’t see it as competition. We’re both here to get better and everything’s going really well.”

Both goalies have benefitted from the tutelage of Nick Lehr, who has stepped in as Austin goalie coach. Lehr played for the Bruins in his younger days and he also went on to play for the Minnesota Gophers.

Austin goalie Kyle McClellan stops a shot during the first period against the Magicians last month at Riverside Arena. Herald file photo

“Nick is awesome,” Miller said. “He’s a great goalie coach and he knows what he’s talking about. It’s good to have his perspective. He went through the same thing. If we’re struggling in practice or if we have an off night, he can talk us through it and help us get back on track.”

Howard has known Lehr since Lehr was playing bantams as a young teenager and he’s been thrilled with what he’s given the team as a goalie coach. Howard is also happy with what his goalies have done for the Bruins, who are currently in first place in the NAHL Central Division by one point over Aberdeen.

“These guys get along so great and they just want to keep winning games. I think either of them can do that,” Howard said. “They both move really well and their technique is good. They make the first save, and a lot of times the second and third one (in a rush).”

The Bruins will host Minot in Riverside Arena Friday and Saturday. Both games start at 7:05 p.m.

Kyle McClellan, left, and Brett Miller have given the Austin Bruins a solid goalie tandem this season. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

BY THE NUMNBERS

Kyle McClellan, who is from Manchester, Missouri, has record of 7-1-0-1 with 4 shutouts, a save percentage of 94.6 and 1.53 GAA.

Brett Miller, who is from Northville, Michigan, is 4-1-0-2 with a save percentage of 91.6 and 1.66 GAA.