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| Jones and Zatkoff (photo: S. Slingsby) |
Some guys like to kick the soccer ball around before a game. Others like to rock out to their ipod. Some like it loud, some like it quiet. Hockey players have are all sorts of pre-game rituals.
For Kings prospect Rich Clune, apparently checking the line-up isn’t one of them.
Maybe it’s not a big deal though. Like the Kings one-two punch in goal last season, with Jonathan’s Quick and Bernier, Clune’s Manchester Monarchs featured their own dynamic duo in Jeff Zatkoff and rookie Martin Jones.
Despite their stellar numbers between the pipes, it’s not a position Clune has much interest in learning more about.
“Goalie is the toughest position in hockey to play,” said Clune. “I can’t even begin to walk a day in their shoes because I’ve never done it. It’s a lot of pressure.”
As for the play of one over the other, Clune started out with – “Jonesy could potentially be a starting goaltender in the NHL.” He then quickly retorted with, “Zats is a little bit older and it might take him a little bit more time to develop and it’s also about finding the right place and the right fit. He could also play in the NHL someday.”
And then back the other way, “Jonesy is going to be a starter in the NHL one day, for sure. With goaltenders you can’t really put a year on it though. Look how long it took Jon Bernier to get to where he is. And everyone knows how good he is.”
Occasionally, for whatever reason, people claim certain guys play differently in front of one goaltender or another. Is it a theory Clune subscribes to?
“As bad as this sounds, sometimes I don’t even know who’s in net,” shared Clune. “But, it doesn’t make a difference. When you’re talking about backing up one of your teammates and playing hard, I think…last year, and at the AHL level, you have to play hard every night. You have to play hard no matter who’s in net or if there’s scouts in the building or whatever. Sometimes you’re on the road and you’ve ridden a bus and you’re like, ‘Why am I doing this?’ You still have to play hard though and I think the guys play hard for either of them.”
To read what Clune had to say about Brandon Kozun click here…and to read his extensive comments on Bud Holloway, Oscar Moller and Corey Elkins leaving the Monarchs to play in Europe next season, click here.
Down below, there are also links to other related articles here on MayorsManor.
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