Drew Owsley has a new appreciation for one of his longtime
Western Hockey League rivals.
"I was going to tell him that I really appreciate what he's done the last three years," said the Prince George Cougars' 20-year-old goaltender about Seattle Thunderbirds' goalie Calvin Pickard.
"It's pretty remarkable what he's done. I always like to compete against him. Now I know what it feels like to kind of be him."
Pickard holds the all-time WHL record for shots faced at 7,777, and counting. Meanwhile, Owsley, after three seasons playing for the defensively strong Tri-City Americans has discovered what his former U.S. Division rival goes through each night as he's faced 1,381 shots in the Cougars' net this season.
Pickard has faced 1,583 shots in the T-birds' net this campaign.
With the Cougars (16-32-0-2) fighting to get back into the Western Conference playoff race it's a good possibility Owsley will get the call in net this weekend when the Kelowna Rockets (22-23-2-4) visit CN Centre for games tonight and Saturday at 7 p.m.
"I kind of like to be the work horse," said Owsley, having played in 46 of the Cougars' 50 games. "I think I play better when it's like that.
Owsley has posted a 15-27-0-1 record this season with a .903 save percentage and a 3.11 goals against average. In his four-year WHL career the Lethbridge native has a 91-60-2-3 record with a .909 save percentage and a 2.80 goals against average.
When Owsley glances at the league standings and sees his former team, the Americans (35-12-1-1) at the top of the west and battling for the league title, he admits it's difficult as he finds himself wondering: what if?
"Obviously it's tough," said Owsley. "You try not to look at what they're doing. The year hasn't gone the way we planned. Wins are tough to come by for us."
With 22 games remaining in the Cougars' regular season Owsley knows his days playing major junior hockey are nearly done and he's looking towards his future.
"Hopefully, I can get a chance at pro at the end of the year," he said.
"We'll see what happens after that. I'd like to go and play pro at the end of this year and then make a decision on next year; I've got a few options for some schools."
After playing four years in the WHL Owsley will have four years of scholarship money toward a Canadian post-secondary institution. As for his dream of playing in the NHL someday, Owsley knows his size - he's five-foot-eight, 170-pounds - is something he'll have to overcome.
"The NHL wants their goalies to be big nowadays," said Owsley. "I just want to keep proving people wrong. Hopefully, I'll get a chance, I think I deserve that with my play the last three years."
Owsley has played in 29 WHL playoff games compiling an 18-7-4 overall record.
Owsley said the Cougars need to pick up their game in the defensive end.
"I think we've been giving up too many quality chances lately," said Owsley. "If we take care of our end I think it's going to turn into
scoring chances for us."
