Without question Ray Emery has been the best
goalie between the pipes at Flyers' training
camp so far. (Image Credits: Neat1325)
This offseason the Flyers made a tough decision. Martin Biron, who at the time was seeking a contract Paul Holmgren just could not finance, was allowed to walk in favor of a firecracker in Ray Emery, who spent the 2008-09 dominating the KHL, Russia's highest level of competitive hockey. While there though Emery's mouth and fist got him into a little bit of trouble once again. The talented, young goalie comes with his own career-long laundry list of on-ice and off-ice confrontations. His latest involved a KHL trainer, a hat, some words, and a couple of flying fists.
It seems only fitting that his mask includes symbols of his own fighting spirit. On the back is the depiction of the fictional, though legendary, Rocky Balboa, and on one side is the image of Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins. Joe Frazier, now at the age of 65 and living in Philadelphia, appears on the other side of Emery's helmet.
Recently Smokin' Joe ventured to meet Ray "Razor" Emery face to face at Flyers' training camp. Emery had in fact never met Frazier, someone who made a strong impression on the young goalie at an early age. Both talked over the differences between hockey and boxing. Frazier, worn out but not yet defeated by old age, assured the listeners that hockey was tougher than boxing could ever be. Emery on the other hand, youthful and ready to take the stage, was quick to point out how much effort it takes to stay stand in the ring round after round.
The Flyers' new starting goaltender knows a little something about fighting. He has been fighting his entire career. He even fought his predecessor, Biron, back when both had yet to put on the Flyers' orange. Now Razor's biggest fight of his life lies before him; now he must fight the doubts of those worrying he might be a great team's tragic downfall.
The Flyers do afterall have a great team this season. Arguments could be made for placing them at the top of the entire National Hockey League. While The Hockey News has picked the orange and black as the eventual Stanley Cup Champions of 2009-10, there are countless others who refuse to acknowledge the team with a goalie like Emery, who is being paid by the Ottawa Senators not to take the ice for them.
The fighters adorning Emery's cage certainly stand for something. While he appears humble in the presence of Holmgren, the man giving him a second chance to step foot in the ring, there is a fire burning inside Emery that Philadelphia has not seen between the pipes since the days of Ron Hextall. He will have to bring energy and all the effort he can give in order to keep his second, and likely final chance from slipping away.
So far during camp he has not disappointed. Emery belongs to a mesh of three players that brought a record attendance to the Flyers' practice facility in Voorhees, NJ on the opening day of training camp this past Sunday. While many wanted to get a glimpse of Chris Pronger's gigantic figure or the promising prospect James van Riemsdyk as he skated with Claude Giroux and Danny Briere, there was also a packed house wondering if this loose-cannon of a goaltender could once again bring them to the promised land of hockey.
He has been by far the best between the pipes for the Flyers these past few days of camp. Since he is the starter that is to expected. During the scrimmage he stopped every shot that came his way without a second thought. He was not the greatest goalie ever to play the game, but he did what he had to in order to keep the pucks out of the net. No one is expecting him to be Patrick Roy, Martin Brodeur, or even Bernie Parent. Instead they want to see the new netminder work effectively with his defense, stay consistent, and keep his head in the game.
To get his reputation back Emery will have to fight for every shred of credibility. In the end the puck does not care what you have done in the past, it is still going to find the net if you do not stand in its way. The defense will give Emery all the help they can, but in the end it is up to him whether he's going to fight to become a champion or fade away like the boxers who would never make the cut for his mask.
Emery sees NHL ice for the first time since leaving the Senator's organization tomorrow in Detroit's Joe Louis Arena against the Red Wings. He made it back to the ring, and now he has to grasp with his two fists at his chance to be crowned champion.
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