By LINDA BOUVET, LSSU Sports Information Director

No matter how clearly the role of a third-string goalie is defined, it's a job that only gets tougher on the psyche as the years go by. It takes an athlete of strong character to accept that position, especially after he's had a taste of playing time and success.

"If you do what you can to help the team, they'll help you in return," said Lake Superior State junior goaltender Mitch Edmondson, who bypassed junior hockey and came to LSSU after completing his high school career at Traverse City-West.

Edmondson is the "Maytag repairman" of Laker Hockey. He is always on call, but the phone doesn't ring often.

"Mitch has an amazing attitude," said LSSU goaltenders coach Don Muio. "He has accepted the role fully, and it's probably the hardest role on the team. He's playing third-string and getting pounded with pucks, day-in and day-out. There's always a chance he's going to play, but not much."

After watching every game from the stands throughout his first two seasons at LSSU, the call finally came. Edmondson started in goal during the Lakers' exhibition game against Windsor on Oct. 25 and stopped all nine shots on goal for a 7-0 shutout victory.

"It was on my birthday," Edmondson said. "It was a blast to finally get out there and get a little action that wasn't the Blue-White Game. It makes you want to get out there and do it again. I also got to play in a game against Alaska, and that gets you fired back up."

Edmondson served as the Lakers' back-up goaltender when junior Pat Inglis suffered an ankle injury and was sidelined from Nov. 1 through Dec. 6.

"I knew it was a void I'd have to fill, being a back-up for Brian (Mahoney-Wilson)," he said. "Coach said at the end of last year, if someone gets hurt that I'm right there. I'm ready for it. When everyone is healthy, I still need to practice and be ready to go at any time."

Edmondson knows that he would have been further ahead in his hockey career if he had played juniors, but he didn't want to take time off from school. He has no regrets.

"He certainly could have benefitted from a year or two of juniors," Muio said. "It's the speed of the game at this level. Technically, Mitch is pretty sound, but he's been programmed at more of a slower pace. It's hard to develop that at just practice. You really need game situations. I've never seen him down in the three years I've know him. He's had a couple opportunities to get some action. The biggest complement I can give him is that he's got the respect of his teammates, Coach Roque and the other goaltenders. He's the epitome of a team player."

The opportunity to walk on at LSSU was presented to him by his high school coach, former Laker captain Anthony Palumbo (LSSU '89). Edmondson was already a fan of the program.

"I used to love watching hockey on TV," he said. "I must have been watching Fox Sports-Detroit and I was glued to the TV. I fell in love with the Lakers. I remember in elementary school we painted t-shirts, and I tried to paint the anchor logo. I went to a couple Ferris State games (which were closer to home). I don't know what it was about the Lakers, whether it was their colors or the way they played."

Palumbo told his players stories about the LSSU's national championship days and showed them pictures. Edmondson credits another national champion, Muio (LSSU '73), for helping him understand what it takes to succeed at the Division I level.

"Coach Muio is hands down the best goalie coach I've had in my whole career," Edmondson said. "He knows the position so well. He knows the answer to any questions I have about what to do in certain situations. A lot of times he tells you to get back to the basics and kind of sets you straight. He won't change your style of play, but will take what you have and go with it."

Muio works with the goaltenders about once a week.

"We do a lot of skating," Edmondson said. "The key to the position is skating and movement. We do a lot of shooting drills, and make things fun for the shooters. We catch a lot of pucks, working on hand-eye coordination. We do this one drill where we tip the puck down with the stick. Jeff Jakaitis did that one real well, and I want to get there too...My freshman year, it took the whole year just to get used to the speed. Players are so much more developed after playing years of juniors. The shots come from different angles. Guys can shoot without stopping their feet. I had to get used to that and the speed of the game."

Edmondson said his goaltending style is closer to Inglis' than Mahoney-Wilson's.

"Pat and I like to go down and butterfly," he noted. "Brian stands up a little more. It's a different type of stance. I've been trying to play like Pat as the years go on. It seems easier for me."

When he's not in the lineup, Edmondson describes himself as "another set of eyes" for Inglis and Mahoney-Wilson.

"Brian, Pat and I all help each other," Edmondson said. "Jakaitis was a big help my freshman year. The 'D', the forwards and the goalies, we all look out for each other. Don't get me wrong, there's competition. But at the end of the day, we're all brothers."