When Nathan Alalouf came to the Power Dodge Estevan Bruins’ fall camp in September 2015, he was a 19-year-old rookie on a team with two returning goalies.
Few expected him to make the team.
But he impressed during camp and in the preseason, and even took on on the No. 1 goalie’s workload briefly during the season.
After offseason knee surgery, he returned to the club this fall as the team’s projected No. 1 goalie. With the exception of a concussion midway through the campaign, he has held onto the starting goalie’s job all year.
And now he’s the first Bruin goaltender in 15 years to spend two full seasons with the club. The last netminder to do that was Billy Gerry, who was the team’s backup from 2000 to 2002.
“Chris (head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood) let me know that a week before the trade deadline went down, and then after the trade deadline, he said ‘Congrats on being the first in how many years to play two straight seasons for the team,’” said Alalouf.
Alalouf quickly became fond of Estevan and the love fans have for the Bruins. He was hoping to be back this season, but since the Bruins expected to have a young team, he wasn’t certain.
But it turned out well, and the club has won their division title for the first time since 2007.
“We had a very talented team last season, but it was just a lot of solo efforts, whereas this year we’re a fast, hard-working team,” said Alalouf.
Alalouf finished this season with a 16-8 record, a 3.05 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. He played well down the stretch, stopping 111 of 121 shots he faced in the final four games.
He has also served as a mentor for Curtis Meger, the 18-year-old rookie who was a star in midget AAA with the Regina Pat Canadians.
“I always try to teach him some things, or even just talk to him throughout the game, say, if a bad bounce gets in … to tell him that happens in this league,” said Alalouf.
