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Fields Is Rock-Solid Goaltender For Gwinnett

December 2, 2005
By Christine Troyke
Staff Writer
Gwinnett Daily Post

DULUTH, Ga. - Exactly a year ago, Sean Fields was without a team, sitting at home in Canada when Jeff Pyle called.

The Gwinnett Gladiators head coach was in need of a goalie after call-ups and injuries left him without a go-to man in the crease.

Fields was in Edmonton after being let go by the ECHL team in Bakersfield and then Tulsa of the Central Hockey League.

“The timing on that was impeccable,” said Pyle, who had recruited Fields earlier that year out of Boston University. “His fax came across my plate, probably about three days before we needed a guy. I called right away.”

So Fields, after not playing a game for Bakersfield and only five for Tulsa, found himself a new home. And Pyle got himself a rock-solid goalie that is still carrying the load for Gwinnett.

The Gladiators' goaltending situation was nearly as bumpy as Fields' entry into the professional ranks.

While Fields was the odd-man out in a numbers game at Bakersfield and ended up 0-4-0 for Tulsa, Pyle was having his own difficulties in goal.

Adam Berkhoel got called up to Chicago of the American Hockey League at the end of October 2004 and the Gladiators had four guys in and out of the net for the next month. Finally, the first week of December, Pyle brought in Fields.

The 6-foot goalie started his Gwinnett career with a win against Texas and finished the season with a 21-7 record and a goal-against average of 2.48, better even than any he posted in an impressive college career at BU.

“We were fortunate, really fortunate to get him last year,” said Pyle, who still can't understand why Fields was available in the first place.

“You've got to be a moron not to see that kid can play,” he said.

Fields' statistics from college were more than enough to get Pyle's attention over the summer of 2004. His goals-against average was never higher than 2.81 and he saved no less than 90 percent of the shots he faced - meeting the statistical standards for a top-flight goaltender. He won 22 games as a sophomore and 24 as a junior.

Pyle tried to get him straight out of college, but Fields and his agent decided to accept a more lucrative offer from Bakersfield. Despite the difficulties getting here, Fields immediately settled in between the pipes.

“The kid is so mentally tough,” Pyle said. “When he came in here, you saw it last year, he played great. There was never a question of what he could do.

“This year again, early he's been a savior.”

The Gladiators (8-3-2) are tied for third with Florida in a tightly packed South Division and play back-to-back games in Estero, Fla., Friday and Saturday.

With the call-up of Tuomas Tarkki to AHL Chicago on Nov. 11, Fields has started eight straight games, including four in five days last week.

Gwinnett went 2-1-1 over that stretch, but had a chance to be 4-0.

“The one game that hurt him was that South Carolina game, but we hung him out to dry,” Pyle said of an 8-7 road loss to the Stingrays last Friday. “If I was a player in front of him, I would make sure we're playing defense because you have a great chance to win if you play in front of him.

“He's got a perfect attitude. If he gets scored on, pull the puck out and he's ready for the next shot. Never too high, never too low. You couldn't ask for a better guy in net right now.”

Fields, obviously, wasn't happy about the South Carolina game, but as Pyle said, took it in stride.

“I was pleased with everything (last week) but that South Carolina game,” Fields said. “Giving up eight goals was embarrassing. I just wanted to come back and have a good, strong game on Saturday.”

The 24-year-old who has a degree in economics denied all but one shot by Pensacola (and it was on the power play) in a 7-1 drubbing of the Ice Pilots the following night. “We got a win and two more points, which is important, and the whole team played well so that was another plus,” Fields said.

A characteristic response for the laid-back goalie. It's not really reticence to talk, Fields is just a fairly quiet guy (maybe a little more so around media types). Pyle loves his attitude.

“His attitude is, he's a realist,” Pyle said. “He knows exactly what the situation is. He's never complained.

“He never gets rattled about anything. He's one of those kids that understands what he has. He's got an organization that takes care of him, that cares about him.”

There's no question Fields would have liked to play at the AHL level this season - and he might well yet. But, as Pyle said, there's never been any grousing from the goalie.

“I was hoping to move up and get a chance to play at the next level, but that didn't happen,” Fields said.

“This is the place I wanted to play if that didn't happen. It's a perfect fit here. Good organization, good fans, good coaching. I have nothing to complain about here and I'm really enjoying it.”

A near echo of what Pyle has said just minutes earlier.

“He's just the perfect fit,” Pyle said. “The perfect fit.”

It just took a little trial and error to find.

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