Sports

By Tom Venesky tvenesky@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter
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WILKES-BARRE TWP. – John Curry spent the last few weeks skating with NHL stars, traveling abroad and experiencing new cultures.

While he accompanied the Pittsburgh Penguins in Sweden as the team’s emergency goaltender, Curry said he enjoyed touring the country, meeting the people and experiencing the Swedish life.

Now, he returns to Wilkes-Barre with a heavy load of expectations placed on his shoulders.

But first, the trip to Sweden: Curry said it was the coolest thing he’s done with hockey without even playing.

“I could live there for sure. It’s gorgeous,” Curry said. “It’s amazing how clean and nice every building is. It was very, very cool.”

It was also pretty cool to skate with NHL stars such as Sidney Crosby and train with superstar goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

The entire experience fed Curry’s hunger to reach the NHL.

“I’ve heard guys talk about it before. They spend a couple of weeks with the big club and it makes them that much more hungry. I’m ready,” he said.

He’s also ready to right a goaltending ship that gave up 16 goals in its last two games, granted one was an exhibition.

Last season, Curry posted a record of 24-12-3 with a stellar 2.23 GAA and a .915 save percentage in four games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. But while fans are hoping for more of the same, Curry has loftier expectations.

“My goal isn’t to repeat last year,” he said. “You have to get better every year. I want to improve as a goalie. The wins… that will take care of itself.”

Curry’s arrival led to David Brown’s demotion to Wheeling. Although Brown gave up four goals on 12 shots before being pulled after the first period on Wednesday, head coach Dan Bylsma said that wasn’t the reason for the move.

“John Curry is back,” Bylsma said. “A large percentage of the games this month are going to be his, assuming he comes back and plays the way we’ve seen him play in the past.

“David Brown is a young goalie still in the development stage. He needs to play, so we feel backing up and getting one or two games this month isn’t as good as going down and getting more playing time with Wheeling.”

Despite only having one season of AHL hockey under his belt, Curry is approaching the situation like a veteran. He has already analyzed Wednesday’s 8-4 loss to Hershey and is convinced the Penguins team that got trounced isn’t the same one that fans can expect to see this season.

“Hershey’s a good team, but we have some things we need to work out on paper. We need to come together as a team. That’s (the Hershey loss) isn’t going to come into play at all,” Curry said.

Notes: T.J. Kemp left in the first period of Wednesday’s game after he was checked into the boards and sustained a bruise. Kemp didn’t practice on Thursday and was being treated for the injury. Bylsma said it could be a few days or a couple weeks until Kemp returns, depending on how the injury responds to treatment. … With a second Penguins defenseman, Joey Mormina out for at least a week, Reid Cashman will see more playing time. Bylsma was comfortable with giving Cashman the added responsibility. “He is capable and we saw him play a good power play in Hershey. It seems like a logical opportunity for Reid to come in and have success,” Bylsma said. …While the blueline is getting thin, the Penguins received a boost at center on Thursday when Jeff Taffe cleared waivers. He will report to Wilkes-Barre and Bylsma was excited about Taffe’s pending arrival. “He adds some experience, skill, speed, power play and patience with the puck,” Bylsma said. “Those are all real nice things to be able to add.” Taffe was named the PlanetUSA squad for the 2008 Rbk AHL All-Star Classic after scoring 21 points in 27 games, but was recalled to Pittsburgh before he could play in the game.