Opportunity knocks for Lewiston’s No. 2 goalie.
LEWISTON – Looking at a Lewiston Maineiacs’ team photo and assuming none of the players were wearing their pads, it would be easy to think that Brandon Verge was one of the players’ younger brother.
“I saw a kid walk by during training camp, right near the beginning,” said Maineiacs assistant coach Ed Harding. “I had to ask someone who he was. Honestly, I thought he was someone’s younger brother because I had never seen him without his pads on.”
At 6-feet, 1-inch tall and weighing just 151 pounds (soaking wet, perhaps), Verge isn’t the most physically intimidating goaltender off the ice. On it, however, the 17-year-old is starting to carve a niche for himself.
“He’s come on very strong in the last couple of weeks,” said Harding. “He’s maturing very quickly.”
The understudy
Verge is no stranger to being No. 2.
Last season, at 16-years-old, Verge made the Sherbrooke Castors as a camp invitee. He served as a backup to Red Wings prospect Drew MacIntyre as MacIntyre led the Castors into the second round of the QMJHL playoffs.
After the playoffs, and after Sherbrooke relocated to Lewiston, the franchise made a draft-day trade with Moncton to bring Matt Davis to Lewiston as a No. 1 goalie.
“I just kind of sat back last year and learned a lot,” said Verge. “This year, too, I kind of came in knowing that it would be Matt’s job to start with. I just wanted to show people that I am capable of playing. I was waiting for my opportunity.”
The chance
The chance Verge was waiting for happened late in November. Davis went down with a back injury.
“You never want to see your teammates get hurt,” said Verge. “You cheer for your own guys, too, you know. That said, at the same time, here was a chance to play more and to prove myself.”
The first few games for Verge were tough. A bad bounce here, an odd-man rush there, and he was starting to get frustrated. That boiled over in a game against Val d’Or. After getting torched for four goals on 13 shots in a 5-3 loss, Verge was pulled in favor of Maxime Joyal. Joyal got the next start, a thrilling last-second win over Drummondville.
“That was a big game for me,” said Verge. “I went home after that game and told myself that I was sick of having a mediocre season. I wanted to play awesome for the rest of the season, or at least in every game that I had the opportunity. I feel like that changed me.”
His coaches agreed, saying that since the Val d’Or game, Verge has played with an increased sharpness.
“He moves to the top of the crease better,” said Harding. “We’ve been on him in practice about his work ethic, about playing hard like it’s a game, and I think it shows in how he is playing in the games now.”
What’s next
On Sunday, Davis made his first start in over a month, relegating Verge once again to the backup role. The coaches admit that the roles aren’t so much set in stone anymore.
“That in the end will be Mario’s (Durocher) decision,” said Harding. “Of course, we’ll have input, as will our goaltending coach, Stephane Waite, but ultimately it will be up to Mario, Verge and Davis.”
“All I can do is continue playing well,” said Verge. “I think I am doing that right now. Matt and I like to push each other. We’re friends, and we both want what is best for the team in the end.”
This season will also be Verge’s draft season, so it will be important for him to get as much ice time as possible.
“If Verge is playing well, and he’s hot, we’ll leave him in there,” said Harding. “The same goes the other way with Davis. It’s a good problem to have if you have two solid goalies.”
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