The best way to know if goalkeeper Elaine Chuli is having a good season in front of the Montreal team’s net in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (LPHF) is to check the circuit’s statistics page or to speak to Kori Cheverie. They will say more than the Ontarian, who seems rather modest and reserved by nature.
Thrown into the fray for only the fifth time this season, Chuli contributed to the 3-1 victory against the Boston team thanks to a 30-save performance Saturday at the Auditorium de Verdun.
Chuli has won all five of her starts thus far and along the way she has allowed just six goals, including just one in each of her last four games. Two of its five victories were acquired at the expense of the Minnesota team, while it was experiencing its best moments of the calendar.
Chuli had a tough mission ahead of Saturday’s encounter; that of improving already very impressive statistics in terms of goals allowed average (1.24) and save rate (0.961).
When he got up on Sunday morning, Chuli could say mission accomplished. His goals against average is now 1.19 and his save percentage stands at 0.962. These are numbers that give him first place in the league in these two categories.
However, the mission that really matters in Chuli’s eyes is the final score on the scoreboard. “It’s a good feeling,” she replied when a journalist pointed out to her that she was the only goalkeeper still undefeated among those who had played enough matches and minutes to qualify for the table. leaders.
“Most importantly,” added Chuli, “we got the victory and I’m happy. At every opportunity I try to give my club a chance to win. Our team continues to improve from game to game and that makes our job easier. »
Chuli’s performance also simplifies the job of head coach, Kori Cheverie, who can already count on the excellent and experienced Ann-Renée Desbiens. “It’s pretty nice for the coaching staff and the team to feel comfortable with one or the other of our goaltenders. We have two excellent goaltenders who will definitely help us in the long term, and who are helping us now,” said Cheverie after Saturday’s game.
“We’re going to continue to take it from game to game, and we’re not looking too far ahead. It’s simply a matter of knowing what the team needs at the moment, what [les gardiennes] what they need, how they feel and their level of fatigue. We analyze all that and also, we trust our instincts a little,” added the head coach of the Montreal team.
According to Cheverie, a healthy and productive relationship developed between Desbiens and Chuli. “They are two professionals, two competitors who want to play, and that’s a good thing. But they spend a lot of time together and, with [Marlène] Boissonnault, our third goalkeeper, they have a good relationship. »
“And the good thing is that our three goaltenders are so good that they make the others better,” Cheverie also said. “It’s something every coach wants to have. They maintain good relationships with each other and encourage each other. We are in a good position. »