It’s no secret the hockey world has witnessed a major shift toward larger goaltenders in recent years.
But Anthony Terenzio hopes to lead the next-generation revival of the little guy.
The 17-year-old rookie from New Canaan, Conn., was measured at just five-foot-eight when he reported to Halifax Mooseheads training camp at Cole Harbour Place on Tuesday.
But Terenzio is hardly waiting for a growth spurt to develop into a top prospect.
“I think I’m actually a little bit ahead of the curve,” Terenzio said.
“By the time I get to that (NHL) age, the (bigger) blocking style isn’t going to be as effective. Guys are becoming better shooters, and you’re going to need to have better reflexes and more athleticism to play in the NHL.”
The Mooseheads are big believers in Terenzio, who they selected out of Minnesota’s Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep school in the sixth round of June’s draft. So much so, they plan to trade one of their solid veterans, Mathieu Corbeil or Peter Delmas, so they can start grooming him as their future starter.
Terenzio hopes to show he has the skill to succeed in the age of Michelin Man stoppers.
“I can’t just go down and into a block and make a save like (bigger guys do) so I really have to be athletic and react quickly to play the way I do,” he said.
Even as a backup with the Mooseheads, Terenzio will probably get more starts than he would have had he gone the U.S. college route.
As he enters his NHL draft year, that’s fine by him.
“It’s more of a pro environment,” Terenzio said. “It’s my dream to play in the NHL so this was the best opportunity for me.”
Notes from camp
• IIHF spokesman Szymon Szemburg tells Metro a ruling on Martin Frk’s disputed transfer from the Czech Republic to Halifax will be made early next week, possibly on Wednesday.
• Defenceman William Legay was scheduled to leave camp Thursday night to preserve his NCAA eligibility. Cuts won’t be made until after Friday’s final intrasquad scrimmage.
• The Mooseheads visit the Saint John Sea Dogs on Saturday at 7 p.m. to open the QMJHL pre-season and host them on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at the Forum. An alumni game will precede Sunday’s game at 2 p.m.
• For the latest from Mooseheads training camp on Friday, follow @metroqfiles on Twitter or visit our Q Files blog at www.metronews.ca/qfiles.
