“He’s a bookworm guy,” Canzanello said. “The TV shows he does watch, he reads books during commercials.”
That wasn’t always the case.
“I got away with fudging a few book reports in high school, but as I’ve grown up, I’ve gotten into it,” Jakaitis said.
This does explain the cerebral nature of the goaltender’s game. Jakaitis is the first to admit that at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, he’s not the biggest guy between the pipes. But his lack of mass is made up for with quickness, good technique and, most importantly, a knack for anticipating what’s coming.
“Players get dumber from the net out,” joked head coach Brian Gratz, a former netminder with a touch of bias when it comes to goalie intelligence.
But Gratz knows what he has in net with Jakaitis, who paired with Derek MacIntyre helps form one of the better goaltending duos in the league. That combination of mental and physical abilities has helped Jakaitis post enviable numbers in his first year in Dayton — a 7-4-1 record, a 2.49 goals against average and .932 save percentage, which ranks third in the Central Hockey League.
“He brings it every night,” said the coach, unafraid to call Jakaitis the best goalie in the league. “Jeff has great character and work ethic. He’s smart and his ability to read the play is what separates him from other goalies.”
Jakaitis has shown sharp focus on the ice despite plenty going on his life. After a successful season in Italy playing with Brunico SG, Jakaitis returned to the States and trained this summer in search of a gig. He was at the Syracuse Crunch (AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets) camp when news came from his partner Jen in Myrtle Beach that their baby was on the way.
“I caught an 8 a.m. flight out of Syracuse and got into Myrtle Beach about 12:30,” he said. “It was a little bit of a hike from the airport to the hospital. I got there at quarter to one and he (Liam) was born at 1:03. I was really happy I was able to make it.
“There’s nothing in life like it.”
Jakaitis came to Dayton shortly after and between his books and Skyping his new family, he’s established himself as a premier CHL goaltender.
Outnumbered
You could watch hockey for a decade and not see a 6-on-3 power play. Unless you’re a Gems fan. Dayton has faced two of those rare situations in the past couple weeks, both on home ice. The 6-on-3 would typically arise late in a game, when a team takes two consecutive penalties and the power-play team pulls its goalie.
Unwritten rules, for what they’re worth, would suggest that a team has to do something really obvious to get that second penalty called. Maybe not. Gratz or his players won’t offer any opinions on the officials’ mindset in those two instances, both of which resulted in goals. The good news for the Gems is that they won the games, a 4-3 shootout decision over Arizona on Nov. 12 and last Saturday’s 4-3 victory over Bloomington.
Outnumbered Part II
Dayton is a banged-up squad. Brett Lutes is still out after taking a cheap shot to the head from Evansville’s Mario Larocque. Tim Hartung remains sidelined with a lower body ailment and now defenseman Paul Ferraro is on the shelf (upper body). The Gems might have as few as 17 players dressed for tonight’s game with the IceMen.
“We’ll approach the game like we do every one, which is to impose our will,” said Gratz.
The depleted numbers aren’t ideal, but the Gems will compensate by playing a simple game and using more players in different situations — look for Kyle Bochek and Jonathan Ornelas on the penalty kill, for example. Short shifts are also a must.
Gems of the week
They were the killer B’s last Saturday against Bloomington. Linemates Bochek, Tom Boudreau and Erik Boisvert reunited and led the Gems in a much-needed 4-3 win. Boudreau scored Dayton’s third goal, assisted by both line members before Boisvert bagged the eventual winner on the power play.
This week at Hara
Tonight: Evansville IceMen, 7:00 p.m. (Thirsty Thursdays, $1 Draft)
Saturday: Fort Wayne Komets, 7:30 p.m. (Guns and Hoses Night/Teddy Bear Toss)
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