Headlines and accolades are usually reserved for high scoring forwards or slick skating defenseman, but early in the Central Hockey League’s 2002-2003 season, the goaltenders have been the story, posting outstanding numbers through the first 26 days of play.

No fewer than 11 CHL backstops have Goals Against Averages under 2.50, and 10 shutouts have already been recorded this season, well on pace to shatter last season’s total of 35. Half of the 10 blankings have been recorded by a pair of netminders who have yet to lose this season. In Tulsa, Oilers veteran Rod Branch is 10-0-0 on the season with three shutouts and has allowed just 14 goals in his 10 outings. Branch’s play has been key to the Oilers early season success, sitting atop the Northern Conference with a 10-1-0 record, and a CHL-leading 20 points. Branch is nearly halfway to the CHL single season shutout record of eight just 11 games into the season.

Not to be outdone, the Austin Ice Bats lead the Southern Conference with 18 points coming off nine consecutive victories to open the season. Eight of those wins came with Matt Barnes between the pipes, including two by shutout. Barnes’ save percentage of 96.8 leads the circuit, as does his miniscule goals against average of just 0.87. Should Barnes and his teammates post three more consecutive wins (vs San Angelo 11/15, at Corpus Christi 11/16 and vs Fort Worth 11/17), they would tie the all-time record of 12 straight victories currently shared by three clubs.

Other CHL backstops with outstanding goals against averages early in the season include Lubbock’s Mike Brusseau (2.11), Indianapolis’ Shawn Silver (2.14), Oklahoma City’s Boyd Ballard (2.17), Memphis’ J.F. Racine (2.18), Bossier-Shreveport’s Ken Carroll (2.26) and Odessa’s Mike Gorman, last year’s CHL Most Outstanding Goaltender, at 2.31.