Prior to Thursday’s loss to the Kindersley Klippers, Riley Kohonick had played all but five minutes in the Notre Dame Hounds’ goal to start the 2019-20 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season.
While the 19-year-old White City, SK., product’s 4-7-0-1 record might not turn many heads his 3.16 goals-against average and .903 save percentage certainly does. His 722 minutes of work was almost 100 minutes more than any other goaltender in the league so having a night off was well deserved.
The 6-foot-0, 170-pound Kohonick has been a mainstay in Wilcox having developed through the ranks beginning with his final season of bantam hockey in 2014-15.
Kohonick had a 3.56 GAA in 21 games during that first year with the Hounds and the following season in 20 games at the Midget AA level he lowered that number to 2.69. Kohonick then moved up to the Midget AAA Hounds for his final two years of midget hockey and after a solid first year with the club, where he had a 2.34 GAA in 22 appearances, he took his game to a totally different level.
Kohonick posted a 1.37 GAA in 23 games to capture the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League’s top goaltender award and he continued his stellar play in the playoffs finishing with a 2.00 GAA in three starts at the Telus Cup helping the Hounds capture the national championship.
Kohonick eased into the transition from midget to junior hockey and continued with his strong play during his rookie SJHL season last year finishing with a 3.01 GAA and .908 save percentage in 33 appearances.
The Hounds have an uphill battle to climb back into the playoff picture this season, but if the offensive production turns around – they are currently last in the league with under two goals per game – they should have better results as Kohonick will undoubtedly give them every chance to win by taking care of the Hounds’ goal.
