Boivin and Boivin in the net
Oh, brother. The older one tends goal for the Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. And the younger one stops pucks for the Kapuskasing Flyers of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League. Hailing from Blind River and playing hockey hundreds of miles from home are the goalie brothers — 19-year old Patrick Boivin and 16-year old Alex Boivin.
To be sure, Patrick is without peer as a goalie in the NOJHL as evidenced by his stats for Timmins, which is in first place in the East Division with a record of 25-5-5. Boivin has a record of 16-4-2 with a 1.91 goals against average, .925 save percentage and three shutouts.
Rock head coach Brandon Perry knows Boivin well from their previous years as rivals in the Great North U18 loop. Perry was coaching the Timmins Majors while Boivin minded the net for first the Sudbury U16 Nickel Capitals, then Kapuskasing. So, when Perry — now as coach and general manager of the Rock — had the chance to acquire Boivin from his hometown Blind River Beavers prior to the start of this 2022-2023 NOJHL season, he didn’t hesitate. And Perry loves what he has in a no. 1 goalie in Boivin.
“Patty has been a consistent force for us this season,” Perry relayed to Hockey News North. “I have never seen him take a day off. He is a fierce competitor who hates to lose. On top of all of that he has impeccable character. Patty is such a pleasure to know and to coach.”
As for the younger Boivin, this is his second season in Kapuskasing. He is one of the top goalies in the Great North with a 6-1-0 record and 2.89 goals against average on a Flyers team that is in second place with a 9-3-1 mark. And Flyers head coach Darren Potvin can’t say enough good about Boivin.
“Alex has been rock solid for us all season long,” Potvin told Hockey News North. “The one thing with this kid is you can always count on him. Even if it is not his best start, he will find a way to make that big save when you need it.
“Our goaltending has been really good for us all season with Alex and Logan (Carter),” Potvin continued, “but Alex is the leader on our team and has been our most consistent player for the past two seasons.”
Boivin and Boivin. The puck stops with the brothers.
I have watched and been in contact with Patrick and totally agree with Coach Perry’s acknowledgement of his competitive nature a team first personality.