It took Dave Kern 134 seconds to epitomize his value to the Blast. After spending an entire year on the Blast practice squad in which he trained with the team daily, but didn?t play in games, Kern?s performance in a little more than two minutes replacing goalie Sagu earned him Player of the Game honors against New Jersey on Feb. 16.
The first shot he faced was a penalty shootout ? similiar to the ones in the National Hockey League ? which he saved, preserving a 4-2 lead in an eventual 10-6 win against the Ironmen.
“I was so proud, because he was ready,” Blast goalkeeper coach Karim Moumban said. “He was 100 percent ready. That means a lot for the backup goalie. That means we really have a backup goalie. If something happens, we don’t have to worry about anything.”
Kern, 27, has gone from third-string to undefeated, with a record of 4-0 with a 9.09 goals against average in seven games. His early success has been worth the wait after training last season behind starter Sagu and then-backup Brian Rowland, who was selected by Orlando in last year?s expansion draft.
But that didn?t stop Kern, as the native of Glenolden, Pa., was the only player who trained full-time with the Blast but never played in a game.
“It was a Catch-22. It was frustrating as hell knowing I wasn’t going to play,” Kern said. “But knowing in the years before, playing in the USL, I had a job bartending, and did some coaching, but to [now] play year-round and get paid for it, I’m going to take that.”
The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder is not just giving Sagu an occasional rest: He’s giving the Blast a chance to win whenever he’s in the net.
“Its very important because some teams, when the second keeper isn’t strong, the team will feel it,” Sagu said. “When I don’t play, he’ll step in to play, and nobody feels a difference.”
The work ethic Kern built last year has carried over to this year, leading to a perfect record entering tonight?s game at 8 at Chicago (13-8), which is tied with the Blast (13-8) for third place in the league behind Milwaukee (15-7) and Detroit (13-7). The Blast plays at Detroit on Sunday afternoon at 4:35.
“He’s done a great job, training and working his butt off every day,” Blast coach Danny Kelly said. “When he’s gotten into games, he does a great job. He’s won games for us.”
BLAST (13-8) VS. CHICAGO STORM (13-8)
>>Kickoff: Tonight, 8
>>Where: Sears Centre Arena, Hoffman Estates, Ill.
>>Radio: 680 AM
