Thatcher Demko | #35 | G

[Tre Mac]

I kind of rather he play for a bad AHL team than a good one.  Get peppered nightly and help build the mental side of his game, something crucial for all goalies.  I think this will accelerate his development.  I still have the utmost faith in Thatchy D.

[theilluminati]

	Name	Team	GP	Min	GA	SO	GAA	W	L	OTL	SA	SAV%
1	*	Thatcher Demko	2	118:35	8	0	4.05	0	2	0	60	0.867

Edited October 25, 2016 by theilluminati

[DeNiro]

3 minutes ago, theilluminati said:

	Name	Team	GP	Min	GA	SO	GAA	W	L	OTL	SA	SAV%
1	*	Thatcher Demko	2	118:35	8	0	4.05	0	2	0	60	0.867

 

Everyone should have expected an adjustment period. Utica's Swiss cheese D hasn't helped either.

 

Those numbers can change very quickly the more he plays.

[theilluminati]

Just now, DeNiro said:

 

Everyone should have expected an adjustment period. Utica's Swiss cheese D hasn't helped either.

 

Those numbers can change very quickly the more he plays.

Absolutely, just haven't heard much about his first couple of weeks down there so I checked the AHL site for some early stats.

[DeNiro]

1 minute ago, theilluminati said:

Absolutely, just haven't heard much about his first couple of weeks down there so I checked the AHL site for some early stats.

 

Just for reference Cory Schneider had an 0.849 SV% and a 4.50 GAA after his first two AHL games, not that it means much this early.

[UticaHockey]

On 10/18/2016 at 0:51 PM, Tre Mac said:

I kind of rather he play for a bad AHL team than a good one.  Get peppered nightly and help build the mental side of his game, something crucial for all goalies.  I think this will accelerate his development.  I still have the utmost faith in Thatchy D.

As a goalie parent I couldn't disagree with you more. Getting peppered nightly leads to bad habits and lack of confidence. You want your goalie see plenty of quality shots but being peppered night after night on a bad team is not a recipe for success.

[Boudrias]

15 hours ago, UticaHockey said:

As a goalie parent I couldn't disagree with you more. Getting peppered nightly leads to bad habits and lack of confidence. You want your goalie see plenty of quality shots but being peppered night after night on a bad team is not a recipe for success.

 

15 hours ago, UticaHockey said:

As a goalie parent I couldn't disagree with you more. Getting peppered nightly leads to bad habits and lack of confidence. You want your goalie see plenty of quality shots but being peppered night after night on a bad team is not a recipe for success.

The excuse for so many goal tenders coming out of the 'Q' for decades was that the number of shots in a weaker defensive style game helped their development. However I understand what your saying.

[canucklehead80]

Made 29 saves on 32 shots last night vs Providence. Still looking for his first win, but has improved each start. Hopefully Utica can start to score. Seems they've got the same issue as the big boys...13 goals in 6 games.

Edited October 29, 2016 by canucklehead80

[elvis15]

There's a 'Mask Madness' contest going on right now and both Demko and Bachman have their masks in the current poll. Some cool ones in there and Demko's currently 3rd!

[winthecup]

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Canucks Now‏@CanucksNow

Thatcher Demko has his first professional win tonight after Utica beat Hartford 3-2 in OT. He made 29 saves & was named 1st Star. #Canucks

[Junkyard Dog]

4 minutes ago, winthecup said:

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Canucks Now‏@CanucksNow

Thatcher Demko has his first professional win tonight after Utica beat Hartford 3-2 in OT. He made 29 saves & was named 1st Star. #Canucks

 

Nicely done.

[UticaHockey]

Nice first professional win by Thatcher Demko tonight. Gave up a weak one in the first period but clamped down after that. He came up huge late in the third period when the ref lost his composure and handed the Comets three minors at the same time including an unsportsmanlike on Pedan and a bench minor on Green. Stood on his head to kill a full 2:00 minutes of 5 on 3 and 2:00 more minutes of 5 on 4 to preserve a 2 - 2 tie and send the game to OT.

Edited November 13, 2016 by UticaHockey

[Mackcanuck]

NEWS 1130 SportsVerified account ‏@NEWS1130Sports  41m41 minutes ago

Just talked with goalie Thatcher Demko who collected his 1st win in the AHL over the weekend. #Canucks #Comets

 

NEWS 1130 SportsVerified account ‏@NEWS1130Sports  40m40 minutes ago

Demko : "First win was definitely a relief, it's something I was looking forward to. I have had a slow start in Utica." #Canucks

 

NEWS 1130 SportsVerified account ‏@NEWS1130Sports  40m40 minutes ago

Demko says NCAA to pro hockey is tough, "I'm close to figuring it out, it's not going to happen over night." #Canucks

 

NEWS 1130 SportsVerified account ‏@NEWS1130Sports  40m40 minutes ago

Demko on goalie coach Rollie Melanson : "He's using my raw talent & giving me structure and better understanding of the game. " #Canucks

 

NEWS 1130 SportsVerified account ‏@NEWS1130Sports  39m39 minutes ago

Demko says shots are quicker and heavier in pro hockey and way more traffic in front of you, tougher to track shots from point. #Canucks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Green Building]

On 11/14/2016 at 8:15 AM, Mackcanuck said:

NEWS 1130 SportsVerified account ‏@NEWS1130Sports  40m40 minutes ago

Demko on goalie coach Rollie Melanson : "He's using my raw talent & giving me structure and better understanding of the game. " #Canucks

 

After hearing that Melanson was stepping aside from the Canucks for family reasons I didn't hear any news about him, that I remember anyways. Nice to hear he's been making the trek from his New Brunswick home to Utica at the start of each month to see the goalies there. 

[WTG]

Here's that sick demko save from todays game

https://streamable.com/qsix

[Rush17]

Tsn1040 just said Bachman got pulled from the game tonight. Believed to be due to an injury.  Good chance Demko may be Utica Comet's new starter until his return if the report is accurate.  Sounds like Gartieg might get the bump up the AHL.  (From the ECHL)

Will be interesting too see. I could see them splitting the load if Bachman is indeed out for more then a week.

[stonecoldstevebernier]

Just noticed that Demko has an article posted about him on the front of the IIHF website.

 

Quote

Demko to keep promise Goalie prospect balances school and pro game 19.11.2016
Team USA goalie Thatcher Demko makes a save against Canada's Max Domi at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship. Photo: Richard Wolowicz / HHOF-IIHF Images
Thatcher Demko is currently in the middle of learning what professional hockey is all about in his first season with the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League, but once the offseason rolls around, he’ll be returning to his old stomping grounds. The San Diego, California native is a Human Psychology major at Boston College where he spent the previous three seasons with the Eagles. Despite turning pro, Demko plans on completing his degree, which includes a Philosophy minor. “I promised my parents I would (finish) so I'm going to try to look into it again this summer, try to see if I can go back, chip away at it,” said Demko. “I'm only six classes away (from graduating).” Originally a 2014 second-round pick (36th overall) of the Vancouver Canucks, Demko is now working full-time with new goaltending coach Dan Cloutier. Cloutier, a veteran of 351 NHL games, was promoted from goaltending consultant working primarily with the club’s prospects, to goaltending coach last June. Demko and Cloutier, who is based in Vancouver, communicate often via telephone, and the game plan for the first-year pro includes an adjustment in playing style. “Just try to be a bit more simple, play in the crease a little bit more, let the play come to me instead of attacking a lot,” Demko said. “I feel like I've been getting a lot better at it. Got to be patient with it, and just keep working on it everyday.” The 6-foot-4, 194-pound goaltender had a memorable 2015/16 season at Boston College where he posted a 27-8-4 record to go along with a 1.88 G.A.A. and a 93.5 save percentage in 39 regular season appearances. For his solid junior season, Demko was named the 2016 Co-Player of the Year by the Hockey East Association, a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and the recipient of the Mike Richter Award as the most outstanding goaltender in NCAA Division I men’s hockey during the regular season. Despite the successes at the college level, Utica Comets coach Travis Green knows the organization has to take a patient approach with Demko as he learns the pro game. “It's a different jump for goalies,” said Green. “I think it'll be a bit of a waiting game, see how he does. Our goalie coaches have worked hard with him. Big kid, he's got a good attitude, works hard and the rest will just fall in to place with time. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon.” Demko’s first games at the AHL level have been nothing to write home about – two wins in six games to go along with a 3.48 G.A.A. and an 87.6 save percentage. As Demko begins his pro career in the Canucks organization, he finds himself following the footsteps of another Boston College alumnus in Cory Schneider. Schneider, now in his fourth season with the New Jersey Devils, was originally a first-round draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks and spent three seasons with the Eagles before turning pro. “He's one of the better goalies in the NHL now, he was one of the best goalies at Boston College ever,” said Demko. “I run into him every now and then during the summers at Boston College, he comes and works out there. “He's a guy that you sorta try to follow his path a little bit. He's had quite a bit of success, so it's good to see.” Similar to Schneider, Demko also had an opportunity to represent Team USA internationally. At the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, Demko made four appearances going 1-1-1 while posting a 93.9 save percentage and a 1.74 G.A.A. as the Americans finished in fifth place. In spite of the finish, the 20-year-old understands the long-term impact of the international experience. “It's just a lot of fun. You never know when you're going to be able to represent your country again,” he said. “Anytime I get the opportunity, I want to take advantage of it. I'm a proud American. I love watching the American side of hockey grow and just get better each year guys like (Auston) Matthews, (Jack) Eichel, (Dylan) Larkin - some of the younger guys that are proving America is growing. “I think it helps you to get experience on big stages and those are important games so it's good for you.” He may be a pro now, but his experiences at both Boston College and with Team USA are ones Demko will continue to rely on as he looks to take the next step in his hockey career. DHIREN MAHIBAN

 

[-AJ-]

On 11/18/2016 at 11:12 PM, WTG said:

Here's that sick demko save from todays game

https://streamable.com/qsix

This needs more attention. This save was insane and would be on all the highlights in the NHL, never mind the AHL.

[UticaHockey]

13 hours ago, Rush17 said:

Tsn1040 just said Bachman got pulled from the game tonight. Believed to be due to an injury.  Good chance Demko may be Utica Comet's new starter until his return if the report is accurate.  Sounds like Gartieg might get the bump up the AHL.  (From the ECHL)

Will be interesting too see. I could see them splitting the load if Bachman is indeed out for more then a week.

With about 7 minutes left in the game Bachman pulled something, possibly a groin, when making a save and needed some assistance leaving the ice.  Demko came in and made 4 saves and while he looked a little shaky on the first two he survived the pressure in the final minutes and help the Comets hang on to a 2 - 1 win.

 

There has been some grumbling in Utica about Green's usage of Demko because Bachman has been getting a majority of the starts.  Looks like it will be Demko's net now but you still hate to see an injury be the reason. 

[73 Percent]

2 minutes ago, UticaHockey said:

With about 7 minutes left in the game Bachman pulled something, possibly a groin, when making a save and needed some assistance leaving the ice.  Demko came in and made 4 saves and while he looked a little shaky on the first two he survived the pressure in the final minutes and help the Comets hang on to a 2 - 1 win.

 

There has been some grumbling in Utica about Green's usage of Demko because Bachman has been getting a majority of the starts.  Looks like it will be Demko's net now but you still hate to see an injury be the reason. 

Stat watching demko this season has been disappointing. what does he look like in between the pipes on your end? think he would fare better if he had more starts?