Kelly's
save percentage (.922) ranked second among CHA goalies
in 2004-05. Photo
by Mark Hicks/WestSide Photography
Key
Statistics: Kelly went 10-10-1 with a 2.54 goals-against
average, a .922 save percentage and one shutout last season.
The numbers were marked improvements over his sophomore line
of 7-13-2, 3.54 and .903. And, contrary to unpopular belief,
Kelly’s NHL rights are not owned by New Jersey, despite
the fact that he made 666 saves last year.
What
He Does: Kelly had to share time with Findlay transfer
Will Hooper last season, but he was the Warriors’ undisputed
No. 1 tender by year’s end. Kelly attributes his improvement
between the pipes to an increase in stamina and agility training
– which came at the expense of weightlifting. He felt
lighter on his feet last season, and that’s important
for a goalie listed (perhaps generously) at 5-foot-10. Kelly
also noted steps forward in the departments of taking proper
angles, rebound control and puckhandling.
The
Bigger Picture: Hooper will still be in WSU’s
goaltending mix, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see
Kelly get 75 percent of the starts if he plays as well as
he did last season. He will be a senior co-captain on a Warriors
squad that has plenty of sophomores and juniors but not many
four-year players. And this will be the seniors’ last
chance to mimic their freshman seasons by getting to the NCAA
tournament. With the obstruction crackdown taking a bit of
the bite out of WSU’s clogging mind-set, the Warriors’
goalies have to pick up the slack.
According to Kelly: “Maybe them bringing
in Will did light a fire under my butt. We’re great
buddies, but I’m a competitive guy, and when I’m
out there, I want to win. So I came in in better shape. (My
sophomore season) was definitely a learning experience, but
it made me mentally tougher. Last year was a big improvement.”
