By Mitch Bach

Netminder Bullion finding his groove

Jan 17, 2017 | 3:35 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Defenceman David Quenneville and Ty Schultz are healing up broken legs, but the team remains confident they can get the job done without them on the bench.

It doesn’t matter which position it is, every player is taking on a greater workload without the help of two veteran blue-liners. And that includes newly acquired back-up goaltender Mike Bullion.

The latest Tigers addition to the crease says he’s feeling more and more comfortable with his new team, and his 2-0 record proves it.

“Our team game has been incredibly strong in both of those games,” said Bullion. “I think maybe some of the problems that (the Tigers) had, sometimes it wasn’t a full 60 minutes. I think in both of those games, the team put in a full 60, and there was no let up.”

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Bullion got the nod less than a week after he was acquired on January 1st, leading his team to a dramatic 5-4 win over Vancouver at the Canalta Centre. From there, the 19-year-old took over the pipes last Friday, and secured another win over Swift Current. Although he’s allowed a combined seven goals on 45 shots, he’s came up with the big stops at the right time. 

And that puts confidence into a defencive end that’s hurting right now.

“He’s been unbelievable,” said team captain Clayton Kirichenko on Bullion’s performances. “He’s very sound back there, helps the d-men out a lot, plays the puck a lot. He’s really good at that, so it makes our lives a lot easier back there.”

Although Nick Schneider will still take the reigns in a majority of games, he isn’t expected to play nearly as much with Bullion’s arrival. The Calgary Flames prospect will have more time to rest up ahead of the bigger tests, such as Friday’s match against the CHL’s top ranked team, the Regina Pats.

Schneider is expected to start tomorrow night’s contest in Saskatoon, but he says it doesn’t matter who takes the pipes, the result will be the same.

“Mikey, he’s a really good goalie,” said Schneider. “I don’t think anyone can short change him. I think regardless of who’s playing, we know we’re going to put our best foot forward. Me and him talk about that, we drive to the rink everyday. We’re each going to be on our game when we play, and give our team a chance to win. That’s our goal moving forward.”