It’s often said about football: Teams with two starting quarterbacks really have none.
But what about a different sport — say, hockey — and how about a roster burdened with two No. 1-caliber goaltenders?
Backstopped by the tandem of Adin Hill and Hunter Miska, the Tucson Roadrunners know firsthand what that’s like on the ice — and head coach Jay Varady is hardly complaining.
“Nick Saban’s got a problem with quarterbacks. They always ask him about them,” Varady noted with a slight laugh, referencing the legendary college football coach who’s proven to get a tad testy when answering reporters’ questions about who he plans to play under center. “Hockey is the opposite of football. If (Saban’s) a hockey coach, he’s probably a pretty happy guy.”
Varady’s Roadrunners (3-0-1) return home Friday and Saturday for a pair of games against the Rockford IceHogs. The puck drops both nights at 7:05 p.m., and Varady naturally keeps his roster moves close to the vest until right before game time. But no matter who he slots in goal, it’s as if the Roadrunners have a No. 1 in net at all times.
That’s how the franchise has managed its goaltending situation since the start of last season, too. While Hill certainly shined while starting all nine of Tucson’s Calder Cup playoff games last spring, the regular season story has been one of a deliberately shared workload. Over 68 regular-season matches in 2017-18, and four so far this season, Hill and Miska have seen action in exactly 38 games apiece with near identical minutes played (Hill: 2,069; Miska: 2,066). Shots against (Hill: 909; Miska: 936) and total saves (Hill: 830, Miska: 847) are relatively on par, too.
And of course, likely of no coincidence, the Roadrunners just keep winning. Hill is 21-11-4 over that span, Miska 23-9-1.
“We’re best friends off the ice, and healthy competitors on it,” Hill said. “Last year when Misky first came to camp here, we roomed together, and we ended up roommates on the road the whole year. On the road, we always eat together, hang out together. We’ve built a pretty good relationship.”
Miska, new to Tucson last season after a year of NCAA hockey at Minnesota-Duluth, noted that neither likes to waste away in the team hotel.
Hill, who’s been in Tucson for virtually the Roadrunners’ entire existence (save for a couple quick call-ups to the NHL’s Coyotes), said it’s not uncommon for them to head out and explore whatever city the schedule drops them in — even if it’s just the two goalies, and their teammates aren’t up for an adventure.
On one trip near the start of last season, Hill and Miska killed time in the Bay Area with a visit to Alcatraz, then rode for hours on end up and down the streets and San Francisco via the city’s bikeshare rentals.
Back on the ice, Miska, standing at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds compared to Hill’s 6-foot-6, 205-pound frame, noted that they do bring slightly different styles to the table.
“I’m a little more athletic, quicker. I’m a little bit smaller than Adin, so I need to be a little more aggressive at times,” Miska said. “I’m trying to simplify my game a bit compared to last year. That’s why it’s nice working with Adin. … It’s helped me become more patient.”
“Every day both of us want to play. … But it’s good for us to be pushing each other. This keeps us on our toes.”
