Riptide rookie Steve Orleman could rewrite all-rookie records
Steve Orleman, New York Riptide (Photo: SSM Photography)
Although high-profile players like Jeff Teat, Reid Bowering and Patrick Dodds have deservedly received much of the National Lacrosse League’s best-rookie recognition so far this season, Teat’s teammate, Steve Orleman, could potentially rewrite some all-rookie records with the Riptide this winter.
Seated as the New York Riptide’s starting stopper right now, Orleman could become one of just a few goaltenders over the past two decades to be handed the type of high-level minutes a team’s number one tendy would see over a complete campaign.
In the NLL, handing a rookie your starter spot rarely happens. Since 2001, when the league first started naming All-Rookie Teams, only six stoppers have ever made those year-end squads, and only one of those six was a clear-cut starter: Dillon Ward in 2014.
Orleman, who’s played 78% of New York’s minutes this year (Gowah Abrams the rest), could break Ward’s rookie record of 901 minutes played if he continues to see similar-starting time for the rest of 2022.
TSN Media Day at the TRAC (Photo: Ryan McCullough)
Goalies that have been voted to the NLL All-Rookie Team
2001: Phil Wetherup, Buffalo Bandits (480min, 6-4, 15.76GAA, .720SV%)
2002: Mike Miron, Columbus Landsharks (424min, 2-4, 15.44GAA, .750SV%)
2009: Tyler Richards, San Jose Stealth (279min, 3-1, 10.08GAA, .803SV%)
2012: Evan Kirk, Minnesota Swarm (416mins, 4-4, 9.81GAA, .807SV%)
2014: Dillon Ward, Colorado Mammoth (901min, 7-7, 11.58GAA, .773%)
2015: Alex Buque, Colorado Mammoth (256min, 2-3, 9.36GAA, .808SV%)
Ward was the solo starter on that list. Although he played more than the other two, Wetherup shared minutes between Derek Collins & Scott Komer. Kirk came close, but split his rookie season almost evenly with Tyler Carlson in Minnesota. Four different goalies were rostered with Columbus when Miron made it: Pat Campbell, Kenny Montour and Wetherup. Richards backed up Matt Roik and Buque did the same for Ward.
21-year-old rookie, Matt King, who started the season as Calgary’s backup in 2002, was quickly summoned to be the team’s starter after a horrific start to their expansion season (Montreal 32 over Calgary 17 & Montreal 23 over Calgary 16 were the franchise’s first two games). His impressive 888 minutes played as a rookie clearly didn’t register with voters though, Miron surprisingly bettering him for All-Rookie recognition.
Prior to 2001, that list would be tiny too, with only a few legendary names coming to mind (Dallas Eliuk in 1991 with Philadelphia and Steve Dietrich in 1992 with Baltimore).
Look up the career stats (go to PointStreak) of today’s top tenders, and almost all began as backup backstops.
Orleman at the 2021 OJLL Finals with Brampton (Photo: OLA)
Orleman’s so-far stats certainly stack up to what those more modern-era, all-rookie selected six achieved. It’s also worth noting that his 56 saves on January 23rd against the Philadelphia Wings are the most any goalie has made in a single game this season.
2022: Steve Orleman, New York Riptide (337min, 1-5, 13.19GAA, .754SV%)
This year, more rookies than ever are seeing minutes, partly due to COVID-19 player protocol placements roughing up regular-season rosters. In addition to Orleman, who leads all rooks in minutes played (336:41), 2022 first-year minute munchers also include: Christopher Origlieri (San Diego, 75:23), Justin Geddie (San Diego, 60:00), Troy Holowchuk (Toronto, 51:09), Joel Watson (Rochester, 32:49) and Landon Kells (Calgary, 0:20). Others (Devlin Shanahan, Moose Whinery, etc.) have served as backups but haven’t touched the turf, yet.
While record-book results would indicate Orelman’s chances of crashing the All-Rookie Team are low, his starter-like stats would say otherwise.
Below are how the NLL’s All-Rookie Team selections have played out by position since 2001. Offensive selections have clearly dominated the vote. A goalie has never been voted the NLL’s ROTY (Ward likely came the closest) and only three non-forwards have been selected as the league’s top rookie: Taylor Wray with Calgary in 2004, Brodie Merrill with Portland in 2006, and Jake Withers with Rochester in 2018. Since the NLL first picked a ROTY in 1991 (Gary Gait, Detroit Turbos), an overwhelming amount of winners were the top rookie point producer too. As of today, Teat leads all 2022 rookies in goals (tied with Tehoka Nanticoke with 10), assists (24) and points (34).