Prep hockey: The puck stops here; Palmer senior is at home in the net

Jan. 30, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

PALMER - Goaltenders are often known to be a little

different.

They have their quirks. They have their rituals. And goalies are generally a superstitious bunch.

Jim Isaacs is no exception.

&#8220I'm one of the weirdest people you'll ever meet,” Isaacs, a Palmer High School senior, admitted before his team was set to practice on Friday.

Isaacs may have a few superstitions some people perceive as weird - absolutely nobody is allowed to touch his glove and he talks to nobody an hour before each game - but Isaacs is also known as sort of an all-American boy, who loves the game of hockey.

Dubbed a, &#8220smart, hard-working, well mannered, all-American kid,” by Palmer head coach Dino Pagano, Isaacs has hockey roots that run deep, stretching back to a Canadian grandfather who taught him how to skate at 9 years old.

The son of a military man, Isaacs bounced around the globe with his family, living in California and North Carolina, and even as far off as Japan.

He's lived in Palmer for the last five years, but in his mind, the place Isaacs really resides is in front of his own team's net.

&#8220I love playing (in goal),” Isaacs said. &#8220Every time I get in the net, I feel like I'm home.”

Isaacs has been in goal for the last five years, ever since his days at the squirt level when his dad urged him to try the position - and now it's Isaacs' ultimate goal to have a career in hockey after high school.

&#8220I want to go as far as I can in hockey,” Isaacs said. &#8220That's why I work hard every day. Even when I'm hurt, I still go out there. I don't like being off the ice.”

After another stellar season between the pipes with the Moose, Isaacs should have that chance.

&#8220I really think he has a bright future in the game,” Pagano said. &#8220It seems like the natural progression to play one or two years of juniors.”

Isaacs said he doesn't care what level it is at, Junior A or Junior B.

He just wants to play.

Pagano said Isaacs has told him, he really doesn't want to be the center of attention, he just wants to play. But his play in the last three seasons has often made Isaacs the center of attention on the Palmer varsity hockey squad.

&#8220He's the backbone of that team,” said Wasilla head coach Bill Sturdavant, who coached Isaacs three years ago on a local club team. &#8220To see him progress from where he was, to where he is now is great. He really loves the sport, and it shows.”

For most of his career, Issacs has also been at the center of the action.

The Palmer squad has been a work in progress. For the last few seasons, the Moose have been building a program that is now competitive in the North Star Conference. But that process has provided the growing pains. And that has pretty much translated to a lot of pucks being thrown Isaacs' way.

There have been times during his career when Isaacs might as well have worn a jersey with a big red bullseye on it.

During his junior season, Isaacs faced 603 shots in 13 games, for an average, 47 per game, that is astronomical at any level.

During that season, he faced a career-high 72 against the Kenai Kardinals.

&#8220He never complains,” Pagano said. &#8220He never gets down on his team. Whether it's 20 shots or 70 shots he's the same.”

It's been better this season. He's only faced 502 shots in 17 games. But now Isaacs is to the point where he's used to facing 15 and 20 and 25 shots in a period.

&#8220I love being in the play,” Isaacs said. &#8220When (the puck) comes down I get excited.”

Isaacs initially played on the blueline as a young hockey player, before moving into the goal, but Isaacs feels is physical skills are better suited for in the net.

Pagano said Isaacs is a skilled goaltender, but what separates him from many other netminders are some of the other attributes.

&#8220Manners, work ethic, dedication - he's a real coachable young man,” Pagano said.

Plus Isaacs is a clutch player, and not easily flustered.

Even though he has a reliable goaltender who is used to stopping upwards of 50 pucks per game, Pagano said he does not really alter the Palmer game plan. He just knows Palmer's defense is always better with Isaacs in net.

Isaacs' work has become sort of a luxury for a Palmer squad that will be battling in the North Star Conference tournament this week, and that has afforded the Palmer senior a few perks.

Those perks have to do with Isaacs' quirks - most notably his pre-game ritual.

&#8220I let him have his pre-game warm-up,” said Pagano, the son of a goaltender. &#8220It try to stay away from him as he prepares.”

There is not a lot of leeway in Isaacs' rituals.

&#8220I stretch out an hour before the game,” Isaacs said. &#8220Nobody talks to me. I listen to my music. I'm by myself until we go out.”

Pagano said the team knows to leave Isaacs alone before game time, and always leave Isaacs' glove alone.

&#8220My glove is one of the things I am really superstitious about,” Isaacs said. &#8220I can't have anybody touch it.”

Isaacs said pretty much the only time he lets someone touch his glove is when a teammate scores. Other than that it's off limits.

There's always someone who's willing to test those limits.

&#8220Michael Hanson's my main problem,” Isaacs said with a laugh.

On a recent trip to the Kenai Peninsula, Isaacs said he left his glove on top of his bag of gear inside Pagano's van. The problem was, his teammates' gear was underneath all of his stuff.

&#8220Everybody was waiting for me to come out of the rink so they could get their equipment, because me glove was on top,” Isaacs said.

On the road trip to Juneau, Pagano said, Isaacs even brought his glove with him on the plane.

Pagano joked he knows Isaacs has some bizarre superstitions, and sometimes he's afraid to even ask about them.

&#8220But whatever he does works,” Pagano said.

Isaacs finds what works for him. He's never been to a single hockey camp. He said his biggest influences are his parents.

&#8220They're the ones who keep me going,” he said.

And he gains a lot of what knows by watching NHL games on television, and his beloved Colorado Avalanche play. Patrick Roy is his idol, and he tries to pattern his game off him. He said he also loves to watch Colorado goaltender Peter Budaj play.

Isaacs' work is not just on the ice. Pagano said Isaacs pays close attention to his nutrition, and he is also often in the weight room.

Isaacs also works in the summers to pay for his goalie equipment. Isaacs said his father wanted him to learn a lesson on value.

It all translates to one of the things that is most valuable to Isaacs, his time on the ice. And his consistent ability to stop the puck has made Isaacs Palmer's most valuable player over the last three seasons.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.