Top U.S. goalie passes on big college ticket for the Rangers
John Gibson will have his work cut out for him with the goalie-heavy Rangers.
It wasn’t easy calling the coaching staff at the University of Michigan with the bad news.
“It was probably one of the hardest phone calls I’ve made,” said goalie John Gibson, who opted out of a full scholarship with the Wolverines to join the Kitchener Rangers.
“It was just something I had to do.”
Gibson thought long and hard about his journey north. He sat down with his parents Sue and Jack and agent Kurt Overhardt before making his decision.
“They told me to go where I would feel most happy and where I could see myself developing the best,” the 18-year-old said. “I felt like Kitchener provided all that. I feel like it’s a good fit for me.”
And so Gibson, considered one of the top junior goalies in the United States, brings his 6-foot-3, 205 pound frame to the Aud later this summer. He joins a crowded crease that includes Mike Morrison and Franky Palazzese, though rumblings have the Rangers shopping Morrison to the Oshawa Generals.
In Gibson, the Rangers have a stud in net. The Pittsburgh native spent the last two years with the U.S. national development team, posting an impressive record of 9-4-3 with a 2.38 goals against average last season. He also backstopped the Americans to a gold medal at the Under-18 world championships this past April.
Not bad for a guy who was cut from his high school hockey team.
Gibson committed to the Rangers in late July after visiting the Aud and seeing a bit of the city. He says the Blueshirts have a solid reputation south of the border. Defenceman Ryan Murphy also passed on positive reports about the club.
“Kitchener is a good program,” said Gibson, who is currently at the U.S. national junior evaluation camp in Lake Placid, N.Y. “It provides more of a pro-like schedule so that’s what I’m looking forward to. I’m going to be one of the older guys to help carry the team. I’m expecting a lot of work.”
Gibson started his hockey career on the blue-line but kept helping out the goalie, so his parents suggested he give the position a try. He has been between the pipes ever since.
The butterfly-style goalie was a fan of Tom Barrasso and Marc-Andre Fleury as a kid, but admits his frame mirrors that of Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price.
Gibson, who was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round (39th overall) this past June, expects to be at Ducks training camp in September before rejoining the Rangers.
He’s still learning about Kitchener, but was pleased to hear former Penguins Dennis Bonvie, Paul Coffey and goalie Wendell Young all suited up for the club in their youth.
And though not a Justin Bieber fan, he has heard that the teen idol is from nearby Stratford. Gibson may even have one of his tracks on his iPod.
“I think I put it on a couple of years ago. I’m not the biggest fan.”
If Bieber shows up to a game, that may change.
“Maybe if he does, I’ll download a few songs or something like that,” he said with a laugh.
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