Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
With Team Around Him, Saville Off to Hot Start
Oct 28, 2021 | Hockey
Omaha goalie Isaiah Saville has received plenty of early-season attention due to his team's hot start.
The junior from Anchorage, Alaska, has been named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's Goalie of the Week twice already this season. And his five victories in net have him in a tie for the national lead.
His No. 10/9 Mavericks are riding a five-game winning streak heading into this weekend's home series with Long Island. Their 5-1 record through six games is the best for the program in the past six seasons.
Saville, who has been between the pipes for all six games, has played a key role in that. His 1.81 goals-against average and .919 save percentage this season exceed his career averages in Omaha to this point.
The goalie downplayed the accomplishments this week, crediting his teammates for the early accolades.
"I don't pay much attention to it," he said. "The attention I get from it, I think it's more of a team award. You don't have good stats or wins without a whole team. … It's not just an individual sport, obviously."
The Mavericks have certainly done their part defensively in front of their netminder. Omaha has limited the offensive chances of its opponents, holding its foes to 22.7 shots per game on average in October.
Saville, though, has been stellar. He's surrendered only seven goals during his current career-best five-game winning streak. He quickly bounced back from an opening-night overtime loss to Lake Superior State to post a 1.39 GAA and .940 save percentage since to aid the Mavericks during their 5-1 start.
"I wasn't happy with my performance from the opening night," he said. "I've turned it around and showed that I have a good mindset. Here, we get treated like professionals, so we're expected to act like professionals. I think part of that is being able to flip your switch and make sure that you're mentally all there and you're doing the things that you need to do to get prepared for the next game."
Historically, Saville's start is one of the best by an Omaha goaltender to open a season. Statistically, it compares favorably to the one Evan Weninger had at the beginning of his college career in 2015-16.
The then-freshman also went 5-1 in his first six games as the Mavericks ascended to the highest ranking in program history. Weninger had a 1.69 GAA and .954 save percentage through those first six outings. When Omaha reached the holiday break, he was 10-1 and had three victories with 40 or more saves.
Saville is trending toward that type of first half. And due to the style of hockey the Mavericks play, he hasn't had to face nearly the number of shots Weninger did. Each foe, to date, has recorded 27 or less.
The junior, who said he has worked with goalie coach Rob Couturier to fine-tune his game, credited the early success to Omaha's ability as a team to stick to its game plan and identity on a night-to-night basis.
"It's incredible what we can do when we're all together and on the same page," he said.
The junior from Anchorage, Alaska, has been named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's Goalie of the Week twice already this season. And his five victories in net have him in a tie for the national lead.
His No. 10/9 Mavericks are riding a five-game winning streak heading into this weekend's home series with Long Island. Their 5-1 record through six games is the best for the program in the past six seasons.
Saville, who has been between the pipes for all six games, has played a key role in that. His 1.81 goals-against average and .919 save percentage this season exceed his career averages in Omaha to this point.
The goalie downplayed the accomplishments this week, crediting his teammates for the early accolades.
"I don't pay much attention to it," he said. "The attention I get from it, I think it's more of a team award. You don't have good stats or wins without a whole team. … It's not just an individual sport, obviously."
The Mavericks have certainly done their part defensively in front of their netminder. Omaha has limited the offensive chances of its opponents, holding its foes to 22.7 shots per game on average in October.
Saville, though, has been stellar. He's surrendered only seven goals during his current career-best five-game winning streak. He quickly bounced back from an opening-night overtime loss to Lake Superior State to post a 1.39 GAA and .940 save percentage since to aid the Mavericks during their 5-1 start.
"I wasn't happy with my performance from the opening night," he said. "I've turned it around and showed that I have a good mindset. Here, we get treated like professionals, so we're expected to act like professionals. I think part of that is being able to flip your switch and make sure that you're mentally all there and you're doing the things that you need to do to get prepared for the next game."
Historically, Saville's start is one of the best by an Omaha goaltender to open a season. Statistically, it compares favorably to the one Evan Weninger had at the beginning of his college career in 2015-16.
The then-freshman also went 5-1 in his first six games as the Mavericks ascended to the highest ranking in program history. Weninger had a 1.69 GAA and .954 save percentage through those first six outings. When Omaha reached the holiday break, he was 10-1 and had three victories with 40 or more saves.
Saville is trending toward that type of first half. And due to the style of hockey the Mavericks play, he hasn't had to face nearly the number of shots Weninger did. Each foe, to date, has recorded 27 or less.
The junior, who said he has worked with goalie coach Rob Couturier to fine-tune his game, credited the early success to Omaha's ability as a team to stick to its game plan and identity on a night-to-night basis.
"It's incredible what we can do when we're all together and on the same page," he said.
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