By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports
Even though Jaden Goldie had spent his entire junior career in Canada, he wasn’t completely in the dark about what it was going to be like to play hockey in Shreveport.
Goldie’s father, Jeff, enjoyed a seven-year professional hockey career. Jeff was a member of the New Mexico Scorpions for two seasons (1998-2000) and the Odessa Jackalopes for one season (2003-04).
The Scorpions played the Shreveport Mudbugs for the Western Professional Hockey League championship in 2000. Shreveport clinched the President’s Cup in overtime of Game 6 at Hirsch Coliseum. Jeff Goldie had six goals and nine assists in 15 playoff games for New Mexico that season.
Jaden Goldie will make his second appearance in the same building as the current Mudbugs (1-4-1) franchise faces Oklahoma (4-1) on Friday and Saturday. This Goldie will play for the home team.
“Coach Soupy took a chance on me,” the 6-foot, 190-pound forward said. “The thing that sticks out down here is the physicality of the hockey. Guys are bigger, faster, stronger.”
Born in Bakersfield, Calif. (while his father played there), Goldie, who has an early team lead in assists (three), was selected by the Mudbugs in the fifth round of the 2022 North American Hockey League Entry Draft.
In 2003-04, Jeff Goldie played for the Odessa Jackalopes. He faced a Scott-Muscutt coached Mudbugs squad just once that season (in Odessa). In 1992-93, Jeff Goldie was teammates with Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell for the Owen Sound Greys.
“Jaden has progressed well so far,” Campbell told The Journal. “To me, he most resembles his dad as an all-situations power forward. Five on five, penalty kill, power play — put him where you need him and he’ll do the job. I’d say Jaden has the edge on his old man in the skating and skill department but don’t tell him I said that. He’d probably agree, too.”
BUGS BRIEFS: Shreveport head coach Jason Campbell is expected to miss Friday’s game so he can escort his daughter, Aly, at Airline High School’s football game. Aly Campbell, a senior, is a member of the school’s homecoming court … Mudbugs netminder Simon Bucheler, who has missed every game due to injury, could see action this weekend … Shreveport looks for its first victory since the season opener. The Bugs are tied for last place in the South Division.
Bugs vs. Warriors
Friday, Saturday, 7:11 p.m.
George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum
Contact Roy at roylangiii@yahoo.com
