North Bay Battalion goaltender Mike "Cash Money" McIvor has been proving he definitely is money in the bank between the pipes this season for the Troops.
Mike McIvor is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 3-0 along with a 1.32 goals-against average and a stingy .956 save percentage.
Turning aside an impressive 108 shots last week, McIvor started with a 3-2 Family Day victory over the Ottawa 67’s on Monday, making 22 saves. He provided relief on Thursday, stopping 22 of 23 shots in a 5-1 loss to the Saginaw Spirit. The 6-foot-1, 174lbs. netminder returned to the crease Friday, making 31 saves to earn first-star honours in a 4-1 win over the Flint Firebirds. McIvor closed out the week with a 5-1 victory against the Sarnia Sting, turning aside 33 of 34 shots on the road on Sunday.
An 18-year-old from Warkworth, Ont., McIvor holds a 17-14-2-0 record this season, including two shutouts, with a 2.82 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage over 36 games. A former fourth round pick (83rd overall) by the Battalion in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, he is in his second full OHL season, boasting a career record of 25-25-2-0 with a 3.12 goals-against average, a .900 save percentage, and three shutouts in 56 regular-season games. McIvor was recently ranked 22nd among North American goaltenders on the NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings.
The former North Bay AAA Trappers goaltender who led them to a Great North U18 title in 2023 before joining the Battalion full-time continues to work hard despite being overlooked in the 2024 NHL entry draft.
"We just go out there and try to play our game and try to win a couple of points," McIvor said during an interview talking about himself and goalie partner Jack Lisson.
Goalie coach Nate McDonald has full faith in Mike's ability to continue to grow and impress NHL scouts along the way.
"Mikey has fully embraced a growth mindset, committing himself to the process rather than focusing on outcomes or accolades," McDonald told BayToday.
"His dedication to building and maintaining professional daily habits has been outstanding. He thrives in high pressure moments and is a pleasure to coach because of his drive and passion for continuous improvement."
"He’s also highly self-aware and knows what he needs in practice to keep his game sharp."
See related: McIvor's quest to tame his athleticism
Ryan Oulahen, Battalion head coach knows how lucky they are to have him between the pipes.
"What does he have to do but continue to be Mikey McIvor and I think the world will eventually open up and realize what he has got," said Oulahen during a recent press conference.
"I mean how do you not. He has been arguably our best player. He keeps us in games. He has got the maturity now with his game where he can be consistent game in and game out. He is a superstar, I don't know what else to say."