STEELHEADS GOALIE ENJOYING EARLY SUCCESS

OVERAGER NAMED OHL'S GOALIE OF THE WEEK

It seemed like a long summer for Roman Basran, but he's now enjoying some early success with the Mississauga Steelheads.

A goalie in his overage season in the Ontario Hockey League, the Vancouver native was let go by his longtime team, the Kelowna Rockets, and cleared Western Hockey League waivers in July, making him eligible for pickup in the WHL'S sister leagues in Ontario and Quebec.

"I was kind of stressing for a little while. I feel like anybody going through that the first time would be," said Basran, who was claimed by the OHL'S Steelheads in early October. "But I'm very grateful for (coach and general manager James Richmond) for bringing me in here. I couldn't ask for a better spot."

After a slow start to the year, Basran anchored the Steelheads to four straight wins, including one by shutout, between Oct. 29 and Nov. 7 and was awarded with the OHL'S goaltender of the week on Nov. 8.

While he's been fortunate to play behind a Steelheads defence that often allows a small number of shots on goal each game, he said he has always had to be ready when it may seem like he's not getting tested.

"There's no such thing as an easy night," he said. "You take your mind off the game, your eyes off the puck for one split second and you're throwing the game away."

Basran has had some

misfortune in his junior hockey career even before he was released by Kelowna.

Injuries sidelined him for much of his rookie season and two years later, the Rockets were poised to

make a run for the Memorial Cup as hosts of the national championship tournament before it was cancelled because of COVID-19.

Now in Mississauga, he's looking forward to helping guide his new team as far as it can go.

"Looking at this roster, this is why I wanted to come here." he said. "I know we have a chance of doing something special here."