Author: David Shama

Does life begin at 30 in the NHL? 

Well, that’s almost the truth for goalie Niklas Backstrom of the Wild.  Backstrom, 29, signed with the Wild as a free agent last June, having played for several years in his native Finland.  Yesterday he was named by the NHL as its First Star for the week ending February 25 after producing a record of 3-0-0 with 1.62 goals-against average and .933 save percentage. 

Since replacing the injured Manny Fernandez, Backstrom’s record is 9-2-1.  He has improved his season record to 13-7-4.  He ranks third among NHL goaltenders in goal-against average (2.23) and save percentage (.923). 

“I’ve tried to enjoy every moment out there because you’ve been dreaming about playing here and I am not that young anymore,” Backstrom said yesterday.  “I am really thankful to have a chance to play here.  I just tell myself don’t think too much, have fun and these are the games you are going to remember when you retire.” 

Backstrom said “every kid back home who plays hockey dreams about playing over here.”  He wondered, though, if his opportunity would come.  He had thoughts that he “missed” his chance so he’s grateful for the opportunity now. 

Backstrom played the past four seasons with Karpat Oulu of the Finnish Elite League, including back-to-back championship seasons in 2003-04 and 2004-05.  He won 104 of the 177 games he played in the Finnish league, with a 104-36-37 record. He had 18 shutouts in four seasons with Karpat and never had a goals against average over 2.17. 

He had an outstanding final season in Finland, compiling a 32-9-10 record. He ranked first in the league with a career-low 1.68  goals against average and finished second with a .939 save percentage.

The Wild (35-23-5, 75 points) are second in the Northwest Division, two points behind first-place Vancouver. They begin a three-game road trip Wednesday against the Calgary Flames, who trail Minnesota by two points in the division.

Backstrom is 1-1 with a 1.86 goals against average versus Calgary this season. 

Fernandez has been out with a knee injury since January 30.  Although Fernandez was the team’s regular goalie, Backstrom won two games earlier in the season he didn’t start.  A Wild spokesman reported that Fernandez’s return date hasn’t been decided.

General manager Terry Ryan is counting on some young pitchers to emerge in spring training and complete the pitching roster.  None of them has less experience than Kevin Slowey, the team’s second round draft choice in 2005.  Still, Slowey wouldn’t have received an invitation to the team’s major league camp if Ryan and others didn’t think it was possible that the 23-year-old right-hander will make the team. 

Last season Slowey pitched in the minors as a starter for both Fort Myers and New Britain.  With Fort Myers in High Single-A, he was 4-2 with a 1:01 ERA in 14 starts.  At Double-A New Britain the record was 4-3 with a 3.19 ERA.   His overall minor league numbers last year: 8-5, 1.88 ERA, 148.2 innings, 102 hits, 22 bases on balls, 151 strikeouts. His ERA was the best of any Twins minor leaguer.  He walked a batter only once about every seven innings. 

“He had one of those years statistically that really catches your eye,” Ryan said.  “He hasn’t been a professional that long but he’s certainly made rapid progress.”

Any conversation about the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Slowey is almost certain to include discussion about his control.  Ryan said he “pounds strikes” and that even as an amateur (the Twins drafted him out of Winthrop University in South Carolina) he was a “strike machine.”   

Talk to Ryan and you have the impression that Slowey, who only throws his fast ball at 88 to 90 miles per hour, has a confidence and maturity that is unusual for such an inexperienced player.   “You put him out there and he just has a mound presence,” Ryan said. “He’s confident.  He’s got enough pitches, he’s got enough stuff and he gets people out.  It’s maybe not lighting up a radar gun but he finds ways to get people out.  He knows how to sink the ball, and he knows how to pitch in and he knows how to put people away, and he certainly knows how to put the ball in play and pitch to contact.  … He’s a joy for a defensive club to play behind.” 

Ryan makes no prediction about whether Slowey will join the Twins in the majors this season but is clearly impressed with him.  “I don’t want to cut anybody short here,” Ryan said.  “If they have got an invitation to major leave spring training they ought to come in with the objective to try to make the club and that’s what Kevin ought to do.  Just because he might not be a household name or hasn’t appeared in the major leagues that doesn’t mean he couldn’t come in here and force the issue. ” 

While Slowey and other young pitchers will be followed with sharp interest, there’s another pitcher whose future really makes Twins fans hold their breaths.  Francisco Liriano, who was a phenomenal rookie last season with his gaudy 12-3 record and 2.16 ERA, had reconstructive elbow surgery last fall and will not pitch in 2007.  Ryan was asked for an update on Liriano. 

“There’s no reason he can’t be the same pitcher that he was this year when he was doing a tremendous job,” Ryan answered.  “He’s young and he’s strong.  Obviously this is a major surgery but people come back from these.  I would think he would fine starting in spring training in 2008.”

A source told Sports Headliners that John Tice, once a Vikings assistant coach under his brother Mike, is the new offensive line coach at Army.  Former Gophers assistant coach Gordy Shaw had been a candidate for the position.

Herb Carneal, who has been broadcasting Twins games since 1962, will do radio play-by-play on “approximately 35 home games,” according to Twins president Dave St. Peter.  He said in an e-mail that Carneal will not broadcast any spring training games. 

Timberwolves rookie point guard Randy Foye on his team’s potential: “I think we have a lot more that people haven’t seen.  If we get into that sixth or eighth place spot in the playoffs we can make some noise there.  We just have to keep working and make things happen.”

Sidney Lowe had losing records in two head coaching jobs in the NBA and his frustrations have continued in his first season as a college coach back at his alma mater, North Carolina State.  Lowe, who coached the Timberwolves and later the Grizzlies in the NBA, has a 4-10 record in the ACC, 14-13 overall.   

The Golden Dunkers booster group will hold its annual banquet for the Gopher men’s basketball team beginning at  6 p.m. on Monday, March 12 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.  Tickets, $45 each, are available to the public. For more information, contact Neal Johnson, 952-929-4154, njohnson233@comcast.net.