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Published: June 13, 2021 08:00
Accustomed to blocking the discs on ice, Markus Paltauf found himself in a proverbial spring field.
The hockey goalkeeper from an early age Paltauf was told to stop the balls instead of the puck and demonstrate his licorice net skills in some pressure situations in late spring.
Newtown High School’s junior and first-year emergency backup had to be summoned to state playoffs after standout starter Jake Dandrea was injured in a conference tournament.
Nighthawk coach Scott Bulkley had persuaded Paltauf to join the team as a backup for Dandrea earlier this spring, but all assured him he didn’t have to play. Bulkley told Paltauf he probably didn’t have to worry about getting his number, but that the team needed a backup anyway.
Then came a case-by-case scenario, and a backup with limited experience practicing location found himself in the first game, the state playoffs, when No. 22 New Milford visited NHS 11 in a Class L state round on May 29th. Paltauf made a handful of savings and suspended some of New Milford’s assists to help Nighthawkk beat 14-8 and advance.
Next, the 2nd round visited Simsbury in the first round on June 2nd. Newtown fell 9-8, despite Paltauf’s nine fights as a shocked bid, ending a challenging season in which Paltauf and many of his teammates had to step up.
I thought he played very well, Bulkley said. He is a competitor. He went there and played as hard as he could.
After playing attacking in lacrosse since high school, Paltauf was familiar with the game but had never agreed to stop the shot in lacrosse and the goalkeeper’s goal in hockey and lacrosse are two different animals.
You can’t compare the two, Paltuaf said, adding that in hockey, the puck is shot from the ice, while in a lacrosse ball, the ball can come at him from low or high angles. Hand-eye coordination is also important.
Hockey, you have to slide. In licorice, you’ve reached a stage that is a completely different movement, Bulkley said.
Not to mention that the devices (or their absence in the lacrosse case) are much different. In addition to skates rather than shoes, hockey goalkeepers have all kinds of padding, while lacrosse goalkeepers have a chest, cup, and helmet with face shield, but little else distinguishes them from bruising.
The Newtown coach admitted to Paltauf that he has worked hard in practice to be ready.
He tried to be as prepared as he could for the teammates, Bulkley said. He is a wonderful child; the guys love him.
Paltauf has moved from emergency backups to possibly line up to succeed Dandrea between next fall’s posts. By honing his skills and being more practical, Paltauf can help Nighthawks again if he wants it, Bulkley believes.
He has to try to succeed without damaging the hockey form and improving the lacrosse form, the coach added.
Paltauf impressed his coach and his teammates with this small but pressurized goalkeeper screen.
I thought he did a good job, Bulkley said.
Sports reporter Andy Hutchison is available at [email protected].
Mike Haddick will defend and Markus Paltauf will guard the goal as New Milford players get in during the state playoffs this spring. Paltauf, the hockey goalkeeper, filled the lacrosse team when he was called up to the state playoffs. Bee Photo, Hutchison
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