Cooper Michaluk made a major statement last Saturday.
The Smokies goalie, who celebrated his 21st birthday the day before, backstopped Trail to a 4-2 win over Blackfalds, ending the team’s four game losing streak.
The sterling 26-save performance, including a superb stop on the very first shot, came in his first game back from the three month rehabilitation of a partially torn hamstring suffered in late October.
Michaluk says he had a nostalgic moment standing in the tunnel before leading the team onto the ice.
“It was like playing my first junior game all over again,” said Cooper.
“I had a little nerves, you don’t know what you’re expecting, I didn’t know how my body would feel or whatever was going on, I just took it as a kid, just was smiling, was happy with everything that was going on, it was a really big moment for me and my family, it was awesome,” explained Michaluk.
A scary moment came just 20-seconds into the second period.
Michaluk was run over in a goal-mouth collision with Blackfalds forward Nikita Ivaschenko, but emerged unscathed.
“I haven’t been hit like that in over three months,” joked Michaluk.
“It’s kind of fun, I’m all for that, I like competitiveness, going to the crease, I like guys giving me their best every game,” he added.
“It happens, I’m putting myself in that position too, I’ve got to make the save, I’ve got to go push to the guy so if he wants to come through me that’s fine I guess, I was happy, it didn’t hurt,” Michaluk mused.
Michaluk was brilliant throughout the game, especially in the final five minutes with Trail leading 3-2.
Michaluk’s best saves were on back-to-back, point-blank shots while he was on his stomach in the crease, stretching his leg to make the second save.
Michaluk says that’s what goal tending is all about.
“There’s going to be games where you’re up a goal, or down one goal, or you’re even,” he said.
“My job at the end of the is to stop every puck that comes at me and I’m going to try my best, it’s not going to happen every time but if I can put myself in a position to make a save then I’m going to do that no matter what,” Cooper explained, adding that the injury was not a factor, mentally or physically.
“My hamstring didn’t matter during the game, if it’s going to go, it’s going to go, but I had to make every save and I that’s what I knew I was ready for,” stating that the bottom line was a team victory.
“We’re warriors, so you have to go into the game and you have to battle and you have to try to make every save and that’s what I did,” added Michaluk.
Cooper said he focused on staying positive throughout the three month healing process.
“It’s scary, there’s always a thought that you might never be back or the thought that you might never be the same,” he reflected.
“It’s nice just to take it day by day and make sure you just work on improving one thing at a time and let the healing take over,” said the veteran net minder, who admitted it was difficult at times to remain patient.
“I think it was maybe Dec. 6, was the first time I stepped on the ice and I was like, wow, this feels so good, I want to play a game right away,” stated the former WHL goalie.
“You’re eager, you’re young so the body just wants to get going and get back into you’re routine, hockey is my life, it’s been my life for the last six years really,” said a thankful young man.
“It was a blessing just to be able to be at home and be taken care of and trust the people who were looking after me and just go with their time line.”
Ironically, Michaluk’s last victory before his comeback was also against Blackfalds Oct. 24 at Cominco Arena. He suffered the injury the next night in West Kelowna.
Michaluk now has a 10-1 record this season, with a 2.65 GAA and a .905 SP.
Trail’s lone game this weekend is a Friday night showdown against the Silverbacks in Salmon Arm.
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