TISDALE — When it came to where he wanted to play midget AAA hockey, 17-year-old rookie goaltender Bryson Garton was firmly focused on guarding the crease for the Tisdale Trojans.
“Tisdale has always been my No. 1 choice to play,” the Lampman product said. “I like the town – it has helped our team become close quickly. I also come from a small town, so it made the adjustment a lot easier.”
The Trojans are thrilled to have Garton, who played the last two seasons with the Estevan midget AA team.
Head coach Darrell Mann said he “gives us a really good one-two punch.”
Tanner Martin, Tisdale’s other netminder, has set team and league records with seven shutouts this season.
Mann said his goalies succeed in different ways. The veteran coach said Martin focuses on getting square to pucks, while Garton “does whatever he can to keep the puck out of the net. … He is more of a battler. He battles and battles.”
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Garton had an 8-3 record and a 2.62 goals-against average in 13 appearances with the Trojans.
Garton relishes his opportunities to help the Trojans win.
“The best part of being a goalie is being the guy who has to make a big save in a huge game,” he said. “It’s a lot of pressure, but a lot of fun and is very rewarding.”
This season Garton battled an injury that kept him out of the net from Nov. 10 to Jan. 13.
When asked what kept him motivated and involved with the team during that span, he said. “It didn’t take much motivation, considering the guarantee of the long season with us hosting [the Telus Cup Western Regionals], because the end goal is winning a national championship. When I was injured we were always at the dressing room hanging out as a team. We had some some poker nights or just Luke [Arndt, the team’s captain] getting the boys together to get some bonding in.”
Mann has praised the way that Garton supported the Trojans while he was out of action.
That has certainly continued since he started playing again.
“He’s a really great teammate for our guys,” Mann said. “When he is not in net, he cheers on our guys and cheers on Tanner.”
Garton, who billets with Rick and Sherry Ellis, has appreciated the people involved with the Trojans.
“I’ve enjoyed the winning culture that Tisdale has around the hockey team – coaches and players included,” he said.
