NL coach likes Soo goalie

New Liskeard Cubs head coach Steve Polyblank likes both the ability and commitment of Sault Ste. Marie product Zachary Prusky. Not only did Prusky stand out at the Cubs recent spring tryout camp but the 2003 birth year goalie is willing to move 325 miles from his Soo home to play at the Great North Midget Hockey League level in New Liskeard.

To that end, Polyblank committed to Prusky ahead of the 2019-2020 season and the youngster in turn has signed on to play up in New Liskeard.

“He came to our spring camp and among the four rookie goalies who tried out Zach was the best one,” Polyblank told Hockey News North. “Our staff deemed him to be the best goalie there and the fact that he is willing to leave home in the Soo to play hockey for us here in New Liskeard says a lot about Zach’s commitment and dedication to the game.”

In earning a spot on the 2019-2020 edition of the Cubs, Prusky will replace graduated goalie Jake McGuire and form a net tandem with holdover Alex Date in New Liskeard.

The 55-year old Polyblank, who will enter his third season as the bench boss in New Liskeard in 2019-2020, has extensive prior coaching experience in the Great North loop as both the head guy and an assistant with the erstwhile Kirkland Lake Legion 87s. And he likes what he has between the pipes for the upcoming season with the rookie Prusky and the veteran Date.

“It’s a good situation for us to have a returning goalie in Alex and an up and coming young goalie like Zach,” Polyblank relayed.

As for the 5-foot-10, 165-pound Prusky, he played at the minor midget level within the Sault Major Hockey Association ranks in 2018-2019. He also suited up for the Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as an emergency backup, affiliated player.

Before that, Prusky tended twine for the Soo Greyhounds of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association AAA Bantam League.

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