Goalie Timo Pielmeier, the man with the perpetual smile, is finding it hard to keep the corners of his mouth pointed upward this season.
Pielmeier, the co-No. 1 in Syracuse last year, was pinched out by Jeff Deslauriers and Iiro Tarkki this year. Pielmeier was sent to Elmira of the ECHL, where he is 4-5 with a 3.45 goals-against and a .896 save percentage.
Pielmeier is back with the Crunch now because Deslauriers is in Anaheim filling in for Dan Ellis (groin). Pielmeier might find minutes hard to come by behind the terrific Tarkki, but he hopes to get another chance to prove he belongs at this level.
“I’m not happy, to be honest,” he said. “I’m happy being here now, but I’m happy being a member of the team, not just a callup. I showed I can play here. It’s kind of tough to be down there and not up here. I think I’ve been in the ECHL long enough. Maybe they make some room here.”
Pielmeier, who played with Bakersfield of the ECHL two seasons ago, also said it’s tough to get used to the different approaches and skill levels of players in that league.
“They do care about hockey, but they are not as professional as they are up here,” he said. “There’s really good players down there. It’s more individual hockey. They (AHL teams) call up players every weekend. We end up playing with players from the Federal Hockey League and Central Hockey League, which doesn’t help the goalie or coach. It’s easier to play up here when you know where guys are and what guys do.”
Knowing absolutely nothing about the guy or his history, he sounds like he was just butthurt at being sent back down to the ECHL level more than anything else, to be honest.
A guy who thinks he's too good for ECHL and isn't or he wouldn't be there. The only valid point is that some teams have to get guys from the FHL, SPHL and to a lesser extent CHL due to rampant call ups . Which can be hectic on teams since some may be excelling in those leagues look lost in the ECHL. The truth is Brian Stewart is playing a lot better than Timo and has proven that if anyone should have an NHL Contract in Elmira it should be him. Goodbye Timo
Off topic The ignorance of this league is sad. Especially on this site. I won't go off topic but I'd wish people would watch a few games before saying anything.
Knowing absolutely nothing about the guy or his history, he sounds like he was just butthurt at being sent back down to the ECHL level more than anything else, to be honest.
Sharks drafted him and traded him (along with Bonino, picks IIRC) to Anaheim for Moen & Huskins a few years ago.
Could be he wants an opportunity to play in NHL and/or AHL.
(Sharks have a surplus of goalies so there might be 1-2 traded before the end of the season. They had five healthy goalies since start of season and just activated Niittymaki off IR and he's heading to AHL for conditioning. They have another goalie on the IR who may be activated in the next month as well.)
A guy who thinks he's too good for ECHL and isn't or he wouldn't be there. The only valid point is that some teams have to get guys from the FHL, SPHL and to a lesser extent CHL due to rampant call ups . Which can be hectic on teams since some may be excelling in those leagues look lost in the ECHL. The truth is Brian Stewart is playing a lot better than Timo and has proven that if anyone should have an NHL Contract in Elmira it should be him. Goodbye Timo
Off topic The ignorance of this league is sad. Especially on this site. I won't go off topic but I'd wish people would watch a few games before saying anything.
Matt Campanale claims he sees very little difference between the ECHL and AHL:
Campanale's pro career has already taken some interesting turns since he completed his collegiate career at New Hampshire in March 2011.
Campanale signed with Bridgeport, and after three games there he received the opportunity all players dream of when the New York Islanders called him up.
On April 6 he suited up against the eventual Stanley Cup winner Boston Bruins and got 8 minutes, 21 seconds of ice time. Boston won 3-2, and Campanale came away amazed at the size and the speed of the competitors.
"I saw guys like Zdeno Chara (6-foot-9, 255 pounds) and Milan Lucic (6-4, 220). They look big on TV, and they're even bigger in person," said Campanale, who goes 5-11 and 200.
He said his Islander teammates treated him well, encouraging him throughout the game. "Just being on the bench would have been more than enough," Campanale recalled.
Having played in the top three pro divisions, Campanale sees a bigger gap between NHL and AHL players than he does between AHL and ECHL talent.
"In one game in the NHL, I saw guys who could turn it on so quickly and get a burst of speed so fast," he said.
Granted....his sample size isn't much. I wish he would have elaborated more. I don't think he's that far off. I don't see much of a difference between the ECHL and AHL compared to the 90's/early 2000's. The biggest difference IMO is how the rosters are constructed.
You are right about that but Stewart is older than Timo and that's the biggest thing probably, his age. He's 26.
Timo is not the best goaltender. I wish he would have never been returned to Elmira after he was traded to New Jersey. Brian Stewart backed up by Marco Cousineau would be great!
Timo is not the best goaltender. I wish he would have never been returned to Elmira after he was traded to New Jersey. Brian Stewart backed up by Marco Cousineau would be great!
Is that a jokw about Cousineau, do you not remember last season and then Cousy's only game here this year?
Is that a jokw about Cousineau, do you not remember last season and then Cousy's only game here this year?
Yeah he lost 1 game and it was 4-3 big deal I remember a few games ago a 8-1 loss? Cousineau only gave up 4 to the same team! Seriously he is a very good goalie.
Yeah he lost 1 game and it was 4-3 big deal I remember a few games ago a 8-1 loss? Cousineau only gave up 4 to the same team! Seriously he is a very good goalie.
He blew a 3-0 2nd period lead.
Stewart is the best. Timo is around cause he has an NHL Contract, where he goes is out of his hands.
