If you are a Rochester Knighthawks fan you do not have to worry about the goalie position. You have one of the best in the game in Matt Vinc and your back up is the best second string goalie out there in Angus Goodleaf. The question is though who will be the third string net minder in 2015. Last year the team signed retired veteran Mike Thompson to step in when Goodleaf got injured but once he came back the team got rid of Thompson and went with two goalies the rest of the way. This offseason the team still only had just Vinc and Goodleaf up until Tuesday when they signed a young talented goalie in Don Alton and just yesterday signed the owner’s son Brandon Styres. Both these players were drafted in 2013.Alton went early on with the Philadelphia Wings and Brandon the last pick of the draft to Rochester. In 2013 Styres went to camp to impress as the last pick taken and he did well in the last quarter of play in a scrimmage vs. the Minnesota Swarm. It was just not enough to make the roster. For Alton he made the Wings and dressed as the back up for a handful of games while Brandon Miller was sitting out. Don also saw some end of game action in two contest before he was released by the Wings.
This summer BStyres was the main goalie playing for Junior B Niagara Thunderhawks where he started 10 regular season and 6 playoff games. In those regular season games Styres won 8 of them. In the playoffs he split 3 wins and 3 loses. Styres also made 496 saves for Niagara only letting up 122 goals this summer. He also suited up for one game with the Six Nation Rebels where he made 23 saves and got the win.
For Don Alton this was his last summer of junior play and he reached a huge dream of winning the Minto Cup with the Six Nation Arrows. The last couple summers Alton was playing along side current Syracuse goalie Warren Hill but Don still put up some good saves making 196 of them. This summer Don and goalie Doug Jamieson who will be taking faceoffs at OCC this spring were co Ontario goalies of the year. Both played huge parts in the Minto cup Victory. Alton made 303 saves and let up 89 goals in 8 wins and 3 losses this past regular season. In the playoffs he posted a 4-1 recorded as a starter.
Both these goalies will get some great work in at training camp and for both it will be their second NLL camp. Just for Alton it will be his first with the Knighthawks. He will still know many of the players on the team since the Hamilton native grew up playing for both Rebels and the Arrows. He should feel right at home. Between both these goalies look for Alton to be the one to make the team as the third goalie. He will either be on the active or the practice roster but he will being learning and waiting for his time to crack this Knighthawks roster.
