Published: February 04, 2009 11:41 pm      

MASTOVICH| Keserich man of the moment

Ian Keserich’s status was elevated from observer to No. 1 goaltender on Wednesday.

The Johnstown Chiefs netminder will return from a nagging back injury just as reigning ECHL Goaltender of the Week Kris Mayotte heads to the AHL with the Hershey Bears.

“I’m definitely excited to be back in. It’s going to be nice because the team is on a roll,” Keserich said on Wednesday.

“It’s a win-win situation. I feel like we’re going to play well and I’m going to play well. I changed up a couple things. I’m staying more square of pucks. I feel great. I feel more confident.”

The Chiefs travel to Elmira on Friday and Dayton on Saturday and Sunday. Mayotte signed a tryout contract with Hershey and practiced with the Bears on Wednesday.

Hershey goalie Simeon Varlamov (lower body) is bothered by an injury, and regular netminder Michal Neuvirth has been with the Washington Capitals while Caps goalie Brent Johnson (hip) faces the possibility of surgery according to reports.

“He looked good,” said Bears head coach Bob Woods, the former Johnstown defenseman, of Mayotte.

“It’s for the weekend. That’s the original plan anyway,” Chiefs coach Ian Herbers said of Mayotte’s situation. “It’s a good chance for Kris. Another American League team will get to look at him and that will help his career. We still have Ian Keserich who is back and healthy and had a good week of practice.”

Perhaps appropriately, Keserich will break into the lineup against Elmira.

He hasn’t played since Jan. 10 against the host Jackals, a 5-3 loss padded by an empty-net goal. A night earlier, Keserich made 38 saves at Elmira in the Chiefs’ only shutout of the season. Three of his last five starts were against the Jackals.

Mayotte started the past five games, winning three in a row to equal a career-high 18 wins.

“It’s perfect timing because my back is feeling great,” Keserich said.

“Sitting on the bench and watching, I’m getting a viewpoint of how our defensive strategy works and how our offense works. I feel I know where guys will be and I’ll be able to make the plays a little easier now that I know their tendencies.”

The Colorado Avalanche selected Keserich in the seventh round in the 2004 NHL Draft.

He is under contract with the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters.

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Defensive addition: Herbers signed 6-foot-3, 202-pound defenseman Russ Sinkewich on Wednesday.

Sinkewich played four seasons with Bowling Green, collecting five points and 131 penalty minutes in 95 games.

“He graduated in December and was ready to move on to the professional game,” Herbers said.

“His agent contacted us. He knew we develop our players and get them promoted. He’s a big defenseman with some mobility. He is from the Cleveland area and Ian Keserich knows him.”

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Familiar face: When he traded tough guy Mike Sgroi to Utah on Jan. 24, Herbers probably didn’t expect to see the 6-5, 230-pound enforcer in the North Division.

But after only one game with Utah, Sgroi was dealt to Elmira for future considerations on Monday. His first game with the Jackals most likely will be Friday against the Chiefs.

“We know his weaknesses and his strengths,” Herbers said. “I’m a little surprised to hear he’s in Elmira. He only played one game in Utah. I don’t know what happened there.”



Mike Mastovich is a sports writer for The Tribune-Democrat.