By LINDA BOUVET, LSSU Marketing and Sports Information

Lake Superior State's legacy of outstanding goaltenders spans the entire five decades of Laker Hockey. Behind every championship-caliber goalie was at least one great back-up working just as hard, while remaining behind the scenes. Guys like Brandon Reed, Sean Kulick, Willie Ciccone and Mitch Edmondson and helped Bruce Hoffort, Mike Greenlay, Blaine Lacher, Matt Violin, Jeff Jakaitis and Brian Mahoney-Wilson achieve great success at LSSU.

Junior Aaron Davis strives to do the same for Gordy Defiel and Nick Kossoff while continuously preparing for that chance to prove himself in a Laker game.

“It's definitely the hard part of the position,” said Davis of the reality that a limited number of goaltender spots are available on any given hockey team. “You're always fighting for a spot, and guys are fighting to keep their spot. I'm in a situation where I just have to work hard every day, earn everything I can, push the guys ahead of me. I do what I can to help the team. There is always a chance of injuries, something opening up. When that chance comes I have to take advantage of the opportunity.”

Urged by LSSU teammate Eric Drapluk, who was Davis's teammate at Coulee Region, and former LSSU assistant coach Doug Laprade, Davis enrolled at LSSU in the Fall of 2013 when LSSU's roster included three senior goaltenders. Injuries to standouts Kevin Murdock and Kevin Kapalka opened a spot for Davis as a practice player. Davis made the team midway through that year, and he regained his spot in 2014-15 after proving himself to new coach Damon Whitten. Davis was one of four goaltenders at the beginning of last season, but solidified his roster spot following the departure of Peter Megariotis.

“Aaron has always been positive with his role on our team,” Drapluk said. “He is one of our hardest workers on the ice and brings his competitiveness every day to the rink…Aaron is in a position where you never know when your next game might be. Goalies get hurt or have bad games all the time, and other goalies step up. I know Aaron wants his chance. He works hard for us. He not only gets himself better, but he is always willing to stay out longer after practice to help make us players better.”

Davis hasn't appeared in any games this season, but continues to work on his game and play an important role. While the personal rewards seem, on the surface, to be minimal, it's important to him to have fun on the ice, whether it's during a full team practice or small group session.  Goaltenders coach Terry Barbeau enhances the upbeat approach to goalie practice.

“He definitely likes to have fun, which is nice,” Davis said. “It's not always about business. The guy's been around a long time and still likes to have fun on the ice. It's nice to see. He's teaching me to be aggressive with my size, always reminding me to get up on my feet, get out of the net. He's fun to work with. He likes to work you hard, too. When you get down to it, he'll work you hard.”

“Aaron and I always work when the team is away,” said Barbeau, who has been a volunteer coach during three different stints at LSSU dating back to 1999. “We approach it the same way as if he is starting or not. He needs to stay ready in case he is called upon to help our team. He continues to work hard in those practices and realizes he needs to get better – like all players. His role at this point, like any other goalie on the bench, is to be a good teammate, and identify issues on the ice and make the goalie who is in the net aware of those issues…He is very positive in a tough situation, and I have a lot of respect for him in his role with the team and how he carries himself in that role.”

Davis, who is 5-8, 162 pounds, said he must come out of the net and play the angles more than Kossoff, who is 6-1, 183 pounds and has enough reach to sit back in the net. He noted that Defiel, at 6-0, 190, “does a little bit of both.”

“Aaron has always been aggressive,” Drapluk said. “As size is his disadvantage, Aaron's athletic ability and quickness definitely make up for that. From juniors to college he has definitely gotten better (because of facing guys with) a lot quicker releases, and harder and accurate shots. It's a hard adjustment for goalies, jumping from juniors to the Division 1 level, but Aaron has adjusted quickly with his tremendous work ethic.”

What works for one goaltender might not work for the other, but the three netminders like to compare notes.

“We all have some good laughs, and like to joke around,” Davis said. “We're definitely all different in the way we play, but we all get along. Both are really good guys.”

Davis describes the Lakers as a young team climbing the ladder – and much looking forward to evening their Taffy Abel Arena record after a 2-5 start on home ice.

“Obviously we're doing really well on the road,” Davis said. “We're getting some big wins out there. We want to bring that intensity back here, give the fans a good game to watch…We're hanging in every game that we play. That's something that's a little bit different from last year. All of the games have been close.”

Years ago, Davis's mom, Kristin, attempted to steer her youngest son away from the intense pressure of the goaltender position. His dad, Loren, “was ok with it, but probably didn't realize how much it was going to cost.”

Davis's oldest brother played high school hockey in Minnesota and his middle brother played basketball. Davis remembers studying the goaltenders during his brother's high school hockey games.

“Even at a young age I'd watch his games,” Davis said. “The puck would be on one end and I'd be watching the goalie at the other end. I was always interested in the position and what the guy was doing down there.”

Davis's brother went on to play lacrosse St. Olaf's College, and Davis enjoyed a successful junior career with the Coulee Region Chill and Texas Tornado after an impressive senior year at Mound-Westonka (Minn.) High School.

“Texas was coming off the Robertson Cup win the year before,” Davis said. “Unfortunately we didn't get there that year, but Texas was a cool place to play. It was right outside of Dallas…I'm from Minneapolis, which isn't a small city by any means. But Dallas made it seem small.”

Ryan Ess (founder of Devenir Goaltenders) has coached Davis since he was in the ninth grade. Now Davis is a member of his mentor's coaching staff during the off-season.

“He's been a huge part of my hockey development,” Davis said. “It almost came to a point where I know everything he knows, so I've been teaching it to his younger students. He still points out things I'm doing wrong, but more than a coach he's now a good friend of mine…I enjoy working with the kids. It makes you appreciate the game that much more. You're not only learning more about the game, but helping kids develop their game, seeing kids become better and succeed.”