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By SCOTT REINARDY sreinardy@leader.net
Sunday, February 06, 2000 Page: 7C
HERSHEY – Dave Weninger isn’t the Penguins’ No. 1 goalie, but he remains
the fan favorite.
Weninger hasn’t played since relieving Ryan Bach in the third period of
the 7-2 loss to Philadelphia on Jan. 8.
Since, Weninger has been a backup goalie on occasion, but mostly a practice
goalie, a tough role to swallow considering he was the No. 1 netminder from
Oct. 31 to Dec. 17. Winnie is in the record books as earning the first
Penguins’ victory and the first assist by a goaltender.
The unassuming Weninger has become a fan favorite despite his modest
numbers of a 6-9-3 record, 3.61 goals-against average and .878 save
percentage.
Last week in an unscientific Times Leader poll, Weninger received seven of
10 votes from readers as the goalie of choice.
Now, the only time you see Weninger is during warm-ups. And when
Jean-Sebastien Aubin is here, you don’t even see him then.
During home games, Weninger can usually be seen peering through the
Plexiglas at the home team’s entrance to the rink. There isn’t even enough
room for him on the team bench.
“I just practice hard and stay positive,” Weninger said. “You want to
play but that’s the way the game is. I just have to make sure I’m ready when
the opportunity comes up.”
Weninger does not have a long-term contract with the Penguins organization.
He is in his second 25-game contract, which expires later this month. His
other option would be to play in the East Coast Hockey League, the stepsister
to the AHL.
“You want to play, but you also have to look at the fact that I’m in the
American Hockey League,” Weninger said. “Just stay here, possibly get in a
couple more games and solidify a spot for next year.”
As for being the people’s goalie, he simply said, “That’s something, I
guess.”
THE WRIGHT STUFF: In 229 NHL games during parts of seven seasons, Tyler
Wright scored just eight goals. In only 22 games with Pittsburgh this season,
Wright has six goals.
“I think that coming down and playing here the first half of the year was
a blessing in disguise,” said Wright, who returned to Wilkes-Barre this
weekend to move his furniture to Pittsburgh. “Anytime you play in the minors,
obviously you’re not happy, especially when you played the last three years in
the National Hockey League. But I looked at it as a challenge. I knew I was a
better player than what I had been in the NHL.”
While with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Wright had five goals and 15 assists in
25 games.
“I’m just trying to carry over from what I was doing here up there,” he
said. “Just keeping it simple, and it’s working for me.”
TO PENALIZE OR NOT: Although the final score was 3-0 against Hershey on
Friday, the Penguins actually scored late in the third period.
At 14:55, Steve Leach’s shot from the right circle whipped past Hershey
goalie Frederic Cassivi. Referee Conrad Hache initially ruled it a goal, but
after conferring with a linesman, said the net was off its standards,
disallowing the score.
“I said, `If the net is pushed off it’s a penalty or a penalty shot,’ ”
said coach Glenn Patrick. “He had no comment to that.”
In the AHL official rule book, rule 51c states: “If the goal post is
deliberately displaced by a goalkeeper or player during the course of a
`breakaway,’ a penalty shot will be awarded to the non-offending team. … A
player with a breakaway is defined as a player in control of the puck with no
opposition between him and the opposing goal and with a reasonable scoring
opportunity.”
It appeared Leach was in that position, but no penalty shot or even a minor
penalty was called as required by the rule book.
ICE CHIPS: Pittsburgh General Manager Craig Patrick said Dennis Bonvie
could have played this weekend for the local Penguins, but “his back is
banged up a little bit. It was best for him to rest opposed to playing.” …
Pittsburgh picked Pat Falloon off waivers from Edmonton on Friday, but don’t
expect Falloon to play here. He is expected to remain in Pittsburgh. …
Friday was game No. 50 for the Penguins. At their current pace, they would
finish with 17 victories, one fewer than last-place Syracuse last season.
Call Reinardy at 831-7342.