(UPDATED to add context and quotes from UMD senior defenseman Hunter Lellig.)
Big news out of Wednesday’s UMD men’s hockey media availability.
Junior Ryan Fanti, the NCHC Goaltender of the Week in two of the last three weeks and just named the NCHC Goaltender of the Month for November, will not play in this weekend’s non-conference series against Northern Michigan. Head coach Scott Sandelin announced Fanti is in COVID protocols, but is expected back for the Denver series next week. In the meantime, fifth-year senior Ben Patt will make his first career start — and appearance — Friday in Marquette.
It’s not an insignificant loss for UMD. Fanti has stopped 157 of 161 shots faced over the Bulldogs’ last seven games, a sparkling .975 save percentage. He has all four of his shutouts this season in those last seven games.
Patt has played in a UMD uniform, but never in a game that counts. He started the October exhibition game against Wisconsin in Chippewa Falls, stopping all six shots he faced in a scoreless first period. His only other appearances for the Bulldogs were in October exhibitions in 2017 and 2019.
“He’s got a great work ethic,” Sandelin said of Patt. “Competitiveness, too. I think you’ll see guys are excited. It’s a great opportunity.”
Sandelin said Patt “probably deserved an opportunity” when last season started in the NCHC Pod in Omaha, but Fanti quickly seized the job.
Sandelin was effusive in his praise for Patt as a person and teammate.
“Very vocal, very supportive,” he said. “That’s just as competitive.”
Senior defenseman Hunter Lellig echoed Sandelin’s sentiments.
“You have no idea,” Lellig said when asked how excited Patt’s teammates are for the beloved netminder. “Unfortunate, you know, that we have guys sick and hurt. But he’s got an opportunity to play two games and the boys are pulling for him all the way. Couldn’t happen to a better guy.”
Obviously, the circumstances aren’t the best, but Patt spoke Wednesday like a guy prepared to make the most of his chance. He noted he has family in the area, and he said he’s excited to get to play. Patt also said he’s trying to treat this the same way he’s treated every weekend at UMD, meaning he expects to be ready to go.
“I’ve tried every week to prepare like I could play,” he said, “and in reality you never know what could happen. It’s only fair for the other guys. My belief has been I could look to the guy next to me and believe he would be ready, so that’s how I’ve prepared every week.”
Patt said he’s talked to Fanti this week since getting the news.
“It’s unfortunate for both goalie partners (Zach Stejskal is out, as you probably remember, after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in October). I told Ryan, the reality is you have a little bit of time off. I’ll give you a bit of a break, and you can rest up for next week. I’ll take care of things this weekend and then we’ll hit the ground running again next week.”
A fixture in the locker room for a fifth year now, you can imagine the popularity Patt has with the players who will be charged with protecting him this weekend in Marquette.
“He’s the backbone of the team,” Lellig said. “Whether we’re up, down, he always brings the life. Always getting guys going, picking guys up if they’re down.”
Lellig referenced a season-ending injury he suffered at Wisconsin in 2019. The season before, Patt was forced to miss the second half of the season after having surgery on an upper-body injury.
“Leaning on a guy who’s been hurt before, knows how things are going,” said Lellig of the experience. “You know he’s there for everybody and just a great person, somebody you really want on your team.”
With Fanti and Stejskal both out, Patt will be backed up this weekend by senior Brady Anderson, recently added to UMD’s roster off its club team. Anderson has dressed for four home games this season, the series against Colorado College and Alaska.
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