NEWS PHOTOS JAMES TUBB
South Alberta Hockey Academy goaltender Zach Zahara and defenceman Nate Corbet square up to a puck in the second period of a 5-2 win over the Delta Hockey Academy on Oct. 16 at Big Marble Go Centre.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
“All Zach wants to do is be a player, that’s all he wants, and he’ll do whatever it takes and by any means necessary to do it,” South Alberta Hockey Academy head coach Brayden Desjardins says of goaltender Zach Zahara.
“He’s obviously a pretty special person, looking at him he’s a returning 17-year-old and sometimes it’s hard to come back to a league you were so dominant in, even last year. But to see the numbers he’s put up, it’s a testament to him and his work ethic. All he wants to do is be a hockey player.”
Zahara has led the SAHA U18 men’s team from the crease out this season, with a 7-2-2 record, two shutouts, a 2.05 goals against average and .936 save percentage. The Rockyview County product attributes his early season success to the team in front of him and the confidence he’s found in his second CSSHL season.
“Coming in, knowing that I am known in this league a little bit having played here last year, the reads in the game are easier because I know the game at this level and can just let the game come to me,” Zahara said.”
Heading into SAHA’s final game of the calendar year today against Edge, Zahara’s save percentage is first in the CSSHL and his GAA, win and shutout totals have him in the top three in the league. Desjardins isn’t shocked at how well his goaltender has started the year given the amount of off-ice work he puts in. He says on one of their last road trips he went to the hotel weight room at 8 a.m. and Zahara, who missed some games with injury, was already there working out.
Desjardins says it’s Zahara’s calm, consistent presence that has made his job easy as a player he can rely on every night.
“It’s nice to have a guy that can just stabilize a team,” Desjardins said. “He’s a super calm guy, he doesn’t panic. There’s a lot of things that he does you don’t see at this age. He’s a quiet guy but he’ll say what needs to be said and sometimes you don’t see that from a goalie. His leadership is unbelievable for us.”
That leadership quality the Medicine Hat Tigers prospect has doesn’t just stay at the rink. The net minder has been working with the U15AA SEAC Tigers goalies this season as a goalie coach, a continuation of working with the U13 team last year.
He says the small age difference makes it even more enjoyable and has mostly focused on the fundamentals with them.
“I think Gavin (McKenna) is only a few months older than most of those guys on that team, so I’m pretty much coaching guys Gavin’s age,” Zahara said. “When I was in bantam I’m sure I had a ton of stuff to work on, so we’re just going over basic stuff. Getting the fundamentals down is pretty key to make that major midget jump.”
One of SAHA’s principals is that they develop hockey players while developing people. Desjardins says Zahara is someone they have and will continue to use as an example.
“He’s a person we’re really proud grew up in SAHA,” Desjardins said. “Wherever he goes next, whether it’s with the Tigers or wherever it is, people are going to talk about the character he is and that’s something that we really wanted SAHA.
“He’s not a selfish person, he’s not afraid to see others succeed and be excited for guys. It’s just a testament to his character. So it doesn’t shock me that he’s out coaching and trying to pass on what he’s learned because he is an unbelievable resource for people.”
Zahara says he enjoys working with the next wave of goaltending and giving them the lessons he’s learned so far in his young career.
“Just trust the process and try your hardest on every shot. Some goalies just loaf in practice and don’t really give it their all. But work ethic has to be 100 per cent every day or you won’t get any better.”
