Truman Singleton had a dream weekend for a hockey goaltender.
The Prince George tier 3 player received the call from the tier 2 midget Cougars to join them during the Easter weekend at the Jasper Invitational Hockey tournament where he backstopped the Cats to a 3-0 record without allowing a goal and he scored his first goal since he strapped on the goalie pads seven years ago.
"I've been saying to my team for years that if we're ever up by two and they pull their goalie I'm going for it," said Singleton.
As it turned out, Singleton didn't need to score into the empty net. Due to the "fun" nature of the tournament, there was a shootout after every game in an effort by the organizers to get everyone involved.
"My reaction was all startled when my coach told me I had to shoot," said Singleton. "I was real nervous because I thought I had to use my goalie stick but I was able to use a player stick, which made me a lot less nervous."
But he had to skate down the ice, baring down on the goalie from Edmonton wearing his bulky goalie pads.
"It's hard to skate, especially when you're trying to deke the goalie," he said. "Being able to score on a goalie was awesome."
Singleton notched his first goal as a goalie just days before celebrating his 16th birthday Thursday. He vowed to someday surpass New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur in goals. Of the three goals Brodeur is credited with scoring in his NHL career, none were in a shootout against another goalie.
The 0.00 goals against average and the goal were both achievements, Singleton said he'll remember for a long time.
"Both are pretty impressive accomplishments for a goalie," said Singleton.
With his tier 3 midget Cougars team this season, Singleton posted one shutout. He couldn't recall his exact record but said he won more then he lost.
Singleton said he plans to workout all summer so when he attends training camp for the fall he'll be in better shape then he was last summer and won't be "flat", therefore giving himself an opportunity to perhaps crack the roster of the BCMML Cariboo Cougars or the tier 1 midget Cougars.
The tier 2 Cougars were the only B.C. team at the four-team tournament in Jasper. In their first game - when Singleton scored - the Cougars won 14-0 (five goals scored in the SO). The Prince George team also shutout Smoky Lake and a Calgary team to finish with the best record.
