Kirkland’s Tordjman continues to impress

BY MICHAEL PIASETZKI



Josh Tordjman would probably the first to admit he never considered himself the most talented hockey goaltender, or one who would naturally rise to the top of his chosen trade.

It’s always been about hard work for the 21-year-old Kirkland native. From growing up learning his skills in the Lakeshore Hockey Association to time spent with the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League West Island Lions through four years of riding the buses in the wilds of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

It’s always been about dedication to practice, a motto he’s lived by to prove to his so-called doubters he was not only capable of playing at the level he found himself at, but to excel. There have been doubters, the most famous being boyhood hero Patrick Roy. The former Montréal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender openly criticized him during last spring’s Memorial Cup, saying Tordjman, who was tending the pipes for the Moncton Wildcats, had been playing over his head during the tournament, and had let in a couple of soft goals during a game against the Peterborough Petes.

There were probably doubters as well when Tordjman turned professional this past summer, signing a three-year free-agent deal with the NHL Phoenix Coyotes. He would probably never progress past the minor leagues. The Coyotes never doubted his potential though, showing enough faith after he performed wonderfully during the team’s rookie camp, including winning the rookie shootout in Los Angeles, to start him during an NHL exhibition game at Rexall Place in Edmonton against the Oilers. Enough faith to trade goaltending prospect Philippe Sauve to the Boston Bruins on Nov. 14 to open a spot for him on their American Hockey League affiliate San Antonio Rampage after he had posted a 4-4-0 record with a 3.12 goals-against-average and a .900 save percentage with their East Coast Hockey League affiliate Phoenix Roadrunners.

“I’ve always been a guy who likes to compete,� said Tordjman, who through the years has been the beneficiary of not only tremendous head coaches, including Guy Boucher with the Lions and Ted Nolan with the Wildcats but of facing tons of shots on goal. “I tend to push myself as the level of play gets better. That being said, as the level gets higher, the defenceman become more aware, the systems more complex and players tend to know defensive their roles better. In junior, guys love to score goals and get the points. On the other hand, the pro ranks tend to be more demanding on the body and mind.�

At six-foot-one, 155 pounds, Tordjman is not an intimidating sight. He admitted he would like to bulk up a little, but it’s not a priority at this time. Making the next step to the NHL is something that could very well become a reality sooner instead of later in an organization that is not very deep in goaltending, but particularly if he continues to play like he did on Nov. 14. On that night, Tordjman turned in a splendid effort against cross-state rival Houston Aeros, making 55 saves, many on second and third efforts, during a 4-2 Rampage victory. The 55 saves, one short of a Rampage record, was his finest piece of goaltending since backstopping the Victoriaville Tigers to a 3-2 overtime victory over the Remparts in the 2005 QMJHL playoffs despite being out shot 62-23.

After the game, Rampage assistant coach Gord Dineen called it the finest exhibition of goaltending the city of San Antonio has seen in a long time.

As for his size, or lack of it, Tordjman and the Coyotes know there have been successful thin goaltenders at the NHL level in the past, most recently Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres, who stands six-foot-three but weighs only 160 pounds.

“The most important muscle in a goaltender’s body is really his brain anyway,� Tordjman said. “If you use your mind in the proper manner, getting better will only come with experience.�