University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Goaltenders Enjoy Close Bond
2/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
By: Tyson Peters, Athletic Communications Student Intern
MINNEAPOLIS - The No. 2 Golden Gopher women's hockey team has enjoyed superior goaltending in recent years. Making up the current group is Amanda Leveille, Shyler Sletta and Sidney Peters.
The trio boasts career save percentages of .949, 1.000, and .938 respectively. In addition to that, none of them has allowed more than an average of 1.10 goals per game throughout their career.
"We're all really hard-working and trying to do the same thing, which is stop the puck," Leveille said. "We all know our roles on the team and each of us fit well into those roles. The communication we have with each other is special. Not a lot of teams have goaltenders that all get along and are willing to work together the way that we do."
Sletta echoed Leveille's sentiments about the trio's supportive connection.
"I think what it really comes down to is that we all have each other's backs," added Sletta. "It doesn't matter who's playing because we all push for each other and want each other to do well. Being able to support each other and let everyone do their own thing is huge for us."
Getting along off the ice and away from the rink is an important part of social cohesion for any team, and that rings true for this group as well.
"We're all really good friends off the ice," Leveille said. "I've known Shyler since my freshman year, and she took me under her wing when I wasn't having the greatest year because I wasn't in the game a lot. She helped me see the situation for what it was and told me how I can learn. Then I had that same opportunity when Sid redshirted last year to help her cope with that same feeling."
"Goalie is definitely an individual game within a team sport," Peters said. "It's not like the rest of the players where you're part of a line and expected to click together. For goalies, it's so important to be supportive of each other. We have one another's backs, and we all want each other to be successful. We're here to compete with each other and make each other better, but at the same time, we have the same goal in mind, which is to get the win at the end of the day."
Sletta, a senior, has enjoyed her years with the Gophers and had positive things to say about what she was able to learn during her time with the program.
"This team has really taught me about persistence and values," Sletta said. "It's taught me about values that will help me in my future. One thing that I'm still learning is how to savor it because my time here really is almost over. There's no going back once it's done, so I'm trying to enjoy every moment."
On the opposite end, Peters is in her first season of eligibility after redshirting her first season. She reflected on what her two goalie teammates have done for her since arriving.
"When I first got here, Shyler was very welcoming. She was one of the first people to have me over to her house, cooked me dinners and showed me the ropes, which I'm very thankful for," Peters said. "Mandy has just been a great friend along the way. We're two years apart in terms of eligibility, but only one year apart in age, so she's one of my best friends on the team. I can't say enough good things about her."
Meanwhile, Leveille, a junior, has played the majority of the games for the Gophers over the past two seasons and consistently competes in net at a very high level.
"What helps me maintain that level of play is just working and practicing often," Leveille said. "Being around my goalie coach especially helps. Even in a game where I don't necessarily give up a goal, he'll tell me what I can improve on, things that could lead to giving up a goal later. This team overall is really fantastic, which I say all the time, so that helps me stay calm in the net. I know I have the best in front of me."
All three goaltenders have the same destination in mind to finish the season, but the paths each of them took to becoming a goalie are very different.
"I didn't really want to be a goalie to start off with," said Leveille. "As a kid, I never wanted to come off the ice, so I just got put in the net because that was the only place where you didn't have to come off. I remember my dad telling me I used to cry when I was a player, and I'd go as far as laying on the ice and refusing to come off. In order to stop my frustration, they put me in net so I wouldn't have to come off. Eventually I learned to like it, but at the start, I really wanted to be out skating. Now it's something I really enjoy."
Similarly, Sletta and Peters tried out goaltending without knowing what they were getting into.
"Everybody had to try it out initially," reflected Sletta. "When I tried, I was fairly decent at it, so my dad nudged me towards it. I kept playing that spot and ended up having a lot of fun with it. I definitely had a lot of inspiration from my uncle, who was a goalie for Prior Lake High School, and my dad was a forward on that same team. I had the best of both worlds to get perspectives from with those two."
"When it came down to being a goalie, I just loved the equipment," said Peters. "As a kid, that was it for me. I just wanted to wear all the equipment and try it out. Once I got out on the ice, I ended up having a lot of fun trying to stop the puck, so it turned into more than just liking the gear. Maybe it's a silly reason to start, but at that age, the goalie helmet was the coolest thing."
In the Gophers' first series against Minnesota State this season, the three goaltenders all got equal playing time in a series sweep, which is somewhat of a rarity.
"That was a cool series because we all got to play two periods, which is pretty special," said Leveille. "Coming away with the sweep made it more special because that's something you aim to do every weekend."
"I think we all appreciate the playing time, but also the briefness of the playing time because everyone got to stay fresh and relaxed," reflected Sletta on that weekend. "It made it easier for us to stay up and stay sharp."
Looking forward to the first round of the WCHA tournament against Minnesota State this weekend, Peters is really interested to see how exactly the game will play out.
"Mankato is fun to play against because you never know what you're going to get with them. Some days we come out and there isn't a ton of competition, but other days they come out and it's a battle," said Peters. "We just need to make sure that we're prepared. I know all three of us will be ready."
The Gophers (29-2-4) host Minnesota State (3-30-1) in the first round of the WCHA tournament at Ridder Arena on Friday night at 7 p.m. and again Saturday at 4 p.m. Game three of the best-of-three series, if necessary, is set for 4 p.m. Sunday.
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