Jakub Pyrochta has been the shining light in a disappointing season for the Dunedin Thunder.
The Thunder has won only two of its eight games of the season, but that is perhaps two more than it would have won if it was not for the 24-year-old goalie from the Czech Republic.
In a stunning performance last Sunday, Pyrochta saved 70 of Canterbury's 72 shots on goal to help his team win 3-2. He was also outstanding in the Thunder's 6-4 win over the Botany Swarm in Dunedin last month.
In that match, he made a flurry of stunning reflex saves in the final period to help preserve his team's lead.
While Pyrochta was happy with his form, he would prefer it if the Thunder was winning more games.
''I don't check how many shots I saved or how many goals,'' he said.
''For me, I prefer when we win. I think for us and for me it's better when we win than when I am checking how well I am doing.''
The 1.81m goaltender has been playing ice hockey since he was 3, and started his career playing for Bili Tygri Liberec in the Czech Extraliga, the top league in the Czech Republic.
He is visiting New Zealand for the first time on a one-year working holiday visa, and thinks the national league compares to the third or fourth division in his home country.
Pyrochta has found some part-time work in the fisheries industry and is enjoying seeing different parts of the country when the Thunder plays away.
While he plans to stick around and see more of the country at the end of the season, he is focused on beating the West Auckland Admirals in Dunedin this weekend.
The Admirals beat the Thunder 6-4 and 8-6 in the doubleheader in Auckland earlier in the season, and sit three points ahead of the Thunder in third in the standings.
The Thunder, propping up the competition standings with just six points at the halfway point of the competition, probably needs to win its final eight games to have a chance of making the finals for a third straight year.
Pyrochta battled through the two losses to the Admirals with a foot injury, but is healthy for this weekend's doubleheader.
''They scored a lot of goals in the power play last time,'' he said.
''But I think we have been playing a little bit better against better teams than Auckland since then.''
After today's and tomorrow's games, the Thunder's only other home games are against the Southern Stampede on August 1-2.
The Stampede is away to the Canterbury Red Devils this weekend.
Thunder v Admirals, Dunedin Ice Stadium
Today: 6.10pm
Tomorrow: 4.10pm
