Ben Bishop Enters an Exclusive Club

There were only four goalies at the University of Maine to have won 50 or more games wearing a Black Bear jersey prior to Saturday night – Garth Snow (66 wins), Scott King (66), Blair Allison (62), and Alfie Michaud (60). In a 4 – 0 victory over Providence College, Ben Bishop added his name to that list. Bishop made 41 saves, including 21 saves in the first period alone.

It’s an amazing feat because two years ago he wasn’t suppose to be a starter. Jimmy Howard was supposed to be the starter for the 2005-2006 season but he decided to sign with the Detroit Red Wings in the summer of 2005. Tim Whitehead had this blue-chip recruit in Ben Bishop who hails from the St. Louis area. Unlike most goalies who are no taller then 6’3, Bishop is 6’7. Before coming to Maine, Bishop spent one year with one of the premiere teams in the North American Hockey League, the Texas Tornado. He had a 35-8 record, with a 1.93 Goals Against Average (GAA), and a .920 Save Percentage (SV%) in the 2004-2005 season. The St. Louis Blues drafted him in the 3^rd round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

He stepped in as a freshman due to the Howard departure and led the Black Bears to the NCAA Frozen Four. They lost in the National Semi-Final to the Wisconsin Badgers. As a freshman he put up a 21-8-2 record, had a 2.28GAA and a .907SV percentage. Last year as a sophomore he won 21 wins again. He lost 9 games and was apart of two ties. His goals against was 2.14 which was the third lowest in Maine’s history. He also had a .927SV percentage. Maine went to the Frozen Four again-this time it was held in St. Louis. They lost in the National-Semi Final to the eventual National Champions Michigan State.

With all the accolades he still gets questioned because of his inconsistent play. A reader of the Portland Press Herald had this to say:

“He is NOT in that club - not even close!! He was an after thought recruit because that idiot of a coach Whitehead didn't think that Jimmy Howard would leave school early (Hello Whitehead - here's your sign!!) so he scrambled around that summer and found this over-rated 7 foot should be back up goalie. How many D1 head of the bus goalies are available to recruit in the middle of June?? Exactly! None and that's how this clown landed in Orono. He couldn't make the team that those other goalies played on, read again - could not make the team! Jeff Nord was a far better goalie than this "watch your head" joker! Look him up - ground breaker for the program. Bishop and Garth Snow should never be mentioned in the same sentence.
You must get a real kick out of this season Jen, being a UNH grad, but we all know how this story ends as it's the same every year.
UNH will not win the last game of the season.......again.”

-CanWhitehead!

It’s too early to tell if he should be mentioned in the same breath along with the other four goalies. He still has this year and next season. If he can lead the team to a National Title next season then he can enter the discussion. I don’t see him leaving for the NHL after this season because the St. Louis Blues have depth at the goaltending position. I believe the Blues want him to stay at Orono for more seasoning. Ben Bishop is not overrated. CanWhitehead! thinks otherwise but that’s his opinion. People thought Bishop had those great stats because of the players in front of him. I say look at the stats. He has a 2.51GAA and a .914SV percentage. Of course his record isn’t the up to par but that’s because the team has no offense. His record is 8-10-2.

That's My Take

Nathan Fournier

(Nathan also is a writer for MVN.com. He's the writer for the Asylum which covers the Lewiston Maineiacs of the QMJHL. He's also a regular contributor to the NHL Source also at MVN.com. He can be reached at fbbhgfan@aol.com)