How two goalies this season have redefined the way we look at the ECHL

For years the ECHL was a league of goons and the last resort for older players slowing down just looking for a few more years in the game. But as the ECHL has grown and teams have started aligning with NHL and AHL teams the league has grown. 528 players have made the NHL from the ECHL in their history. There have ben many players that cycle in and out, but two goalies this season have help redefine the way team should look at their ECHL affiliates. Garret Sparks and Mike Condon are just latest two former ECHLers to come up and make an impact for their NHL team. 

Garret Sparks was drafted in the seventh round 190th pick overall in the 2011 draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sparks had a solid junior career with a 71-48-9 record in 138 games with the Guelph Storm of the OHL. Since turning pro Sparks shuffled between the AHL Marlies and ECHL Solar Bears in the previous two seasons. In an interview done with James Mirtle Sparks said "You can either make the best of it or you can bury yourself".   It's this kind of attitude coupled with his work ethic that has helped him move up the ranks. Last season Sparks posted a 21-7-3 record for the Solar Bears and a .936 save percentage in 36 games last season. With Christopher Gibson being traded to the New York Islanders in the offseason that opened up the door for Sparks to jump into the starting role for the Marlies this season. After a solid camp Sparks was not only kept on the Marlies roster he was thrust into the starting role. Sparks was named the AHL's star of the week for the week of November 9th after a 3-0-0 weekend that included a 30 save shutout against the Hartford Wolf pack. In 11 games this season with the Marlies he has an 8-2-1 record with a 2.58 GAA, he was called up to the Maple Leafs on November 28th after James Reimer went down with an injury. Sparks made his NHL debut a few nights later and made history becoming the first Leaf's rookie goalie to ever record a shutout in his NHL debut. Since that game he has gone 3-1-1 in five games played before getting injured right before Christmas. Since then he has been sent back to the Marlies until the Leaf's will need him again. Spark's solid first five games in the NHL give the Leafs a lot of hope as they look towards their future in net. 

Mike Condon has been another bright ECHL alumni who has played a huge role for the Montreal Canadians this season. The Needham Massachusetts native has taken the road less traveled to make it to the NHL. He went to Belmont Hill High School a private school where he was the starter for two years, then he went to Princeton University. In 53 games over four years with Princeton he went 18-22-8 with a .911 save percentage during his time at school. Being undrafted Condon turned pro joining the ECHL's Ontario Reign and the AHL's Houston Aeros, where he had seven wins in nine games that season. He signed his first professional contract with the Montreal Canadians on May 8th 2013. He would join the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers the next season playing in 39 games posting a 23-12-4 in the regular season. Condon also played 10 games in the postseason posting a 6-4-3 record with a .926 save percentage in the process. He also played three games for the Hamilton Bulldogs that year going 1-1-0 with a .909 save percentage. With Hamilton's previous starter Dustin Tokarski backing up Carey Price, Condon made the leap to be the starter for Hamilton in the 2014-15 campaign. He proved that his skills could translate to the next level as he went 23-19-6 with a .921 save percentage in 48 game with Hamilton. That set up a battle for the number two spot behind Carey price who was coming off a Vezina, the Ted Lindsey award, and a Hart trophy for his performance in 2014-15. Condon was able to edge out Tokarski for the back-up role, much the chagrin of many Canadians fans Carey has struggled to stay healthy this season. Condon has been thrust into a sink or swim situation, and so far he has done pretty well for himself. So far this season he is 12-10-3 with a .910 save percentage in 28 games this season. Condon has had his fair share of struggles, but he does have a few impressive accomplishments this season. That includes a 5-1 in his home state of Massachusetts against the Bruins at the 2016 Winter Classic. Condon has been able to stabilize the Canadians at times this season and has picked up much of the slack that Carey Price left behind. 

If both Condon and Sparks can continue to develop in both the Canadians and Maple Leaf's system, then they could have an impact like some other former ECHL alumni. That list includes James Reimer, Michael Neuvirth, Braden Holtby, Jonathan Quick, Martin Biron, and Jaroslav Halak. All of these goalies have made names for themselves in the NHL since starting in the ECHL. With new teams affiliating with ECHL teams and the new rules that make it so easy the sky is the limit in terms of development. The ECHL is no longer a death sentence to player careers it has brings a new opportunity for people to play in the Pros and for teams to find new talent within their own system.