New York, NY -- When he came to NYU this year, goalie Brian Kenney was worried that he wouldn't see much ice time.
"I came in knowing there were two kids [playing goalie] here already, and I would have to work extremely hard if I wanted to play."
Not only did he get ice team, but he also became the starting goalie for the NYU men's ice hockey team. So far this season, Kenney has racked up more than 1000 minutes in net with a .921 save percentage, an unusually high mark for a collegiate goalie in his freshman year.
Kenney has recorded 16 of the team's 18 wins so far. And if his play is any indication, he's improving as he adjusts to hockey at the collegiate level.
"I've been feeling really strong," Kenney said. "I've got my rhythm with the team down. I just need to limit mistakes and play more conservative and I'm ready for the playoffs."
Kenney's performance on the ice has not gone unnoticed by his team.
"Brian makes saves," team captain Dan Nemchek said. "If I make a bad pass, I don't have to worry about it. When Kenney's playing, I can actually relax and do my job without worrying about making mistakes. He's also the nicest kid to play in front of. I couldn't ask for a better goalie."
Even his fellow net-minders admire Kenney's style.
"He's got some of the quickest gloves I've seen in a goalie, let alone on the college level," sophomore goalie Steele Filipek said.
Kenney started playing hockey at age 5. But it wasn't until sixth grade when his team began alternating players in and out of the goaltender position that Kenney found his calling.
"When I was younger, I just enjoyed having the special equipment," Kenney said. "Now, however, I like the challenge. I like the pressure of keeping the team afloat."
Head Coach Lloyd Polanish can't play down Kenney's importance to the team.
"At points in the season, he's literally won games for us," Polanish said.
At home, in Naperville, Ill., Kenney regularly trains during the summer and has worked with former Hartford Whalers goalie Ross McKay for the past five years to improve his style. His training transformed him from a stand-up goalie to butterfly goalie, a style used by most NHL goalies today.
In his freshman year of high school varsity hockey at Neuqua Valley High School, Kenney shared the net with a junior. His abilities shined, however, and he earned the starting goalie position for the rest of his high school career.
Kenney knew exactly what he anted from his college hockey team. "When I was looking at schools, I looked up their team," Kenney said. I wanted to be on a club team because it's less intense, but still good. I wanted the combination of a good club team and a great education. NYU had that."
Being in New York was also a factor in his selection. Not only did he love the city, but it was also a return home of sorts after leaving the East Coast for Illinois in the fourth grade.
"I've got a lot of family around here," he said. "I grew up in Massachusetts, and I really wanted to return to the East Coast."
While he initially chose civil engineering as his major, Kenney soon changed his mind and remains undeclared. However, with a plethora of interests and three years to go, he isn't worried.
"Originally I wanted to be an engineer," he said. "I'm interested in structures, so engineering and architecture seemed like a good idea. But now I"m looking at other subjects like economics. I'm not sure yet."
But if there is one thing Kenney's sure about, it's his place between the pipes.
"I've accepted that role," he said. "I like keeping my team in the game."