With only two practices left for the Penn State Icers before they take on top-10 rival Ohio University this weekend, the team is still unsure who will be in net come game time Friday night.
As the team prepares for what coach Scott Balboni called the team's toughest road trip of the season, juniors John Jay and Teddy Hume continue to battle for the No. 1 goaltending spot.
Hume is the only goalie with experience against the Bobcats, making 43 saves in a 5-3 victory last year, and although Balboni said that performance is a factor, it will not solely determine who starts the series opener.
"We'll be watching a lot this week in practice and during the drills," Balboni said. "Because it's so early in the season, nobody's jumped out and taken over that No. 1 role, so we're still in that 'wait and see' mentality for now."
Although Balboni has said he would like to have one player take over the starting spot, he is certainly no stranger to splitting time between two goaltenders.
Not only did Balboni give Jay and Hume each a start last weekend against Towson, but he split starts all of last year between Hume and then-senior Nick Signet.
While each goalie would obviously like to start every game, Jay said he doesn't mind the system used all last year and again against Towson.
"I like the system we've had here of two goalies going one game each," Jay said. "It's especially good with [Teddy and I] because we play such different styles in net, so it gives teams a different look each night."
Over the last two seasons, Hume has compiled a 24-3-1 record, including four shutouts and has given up an average of 2.17 goals per game.
Jay, on the other hand, has much less experience in net, but posted an undefeated record of 5-0 in his freshman and sophomore years combined.
Even if one of the two stand out in practice this week, it still won't guarantee them two starts this weekend, Balboni said.
"One may start Friday and if they play well, play again on Saturday," he said. "At the same time we may feel like we need to switch it up after Friday night, but it's definitely possible one of those guys will get to play both games."
Although the two goalies will likely battle for playing time all year, Jay said the competition is a friendly one.
After all, Jay and Hume were roommates last year and have adjacent rooms in the house they are living in this year.
"We're just trying to push each other," he said. "Just see how many goals we each let up, and kind of force each other to keep getting better."
Friendly or not, there is no doubt both of these players would embrace the opportunity to start Friday's game against the arch-rival Bobcats.
"This is the biggest weekend of the year," Hume said.
"Anytime the light is on and the pressure's on, you want to be in net."
