Miami goaltender Charlie Effinger has been out of action with the RedHawks since their Nov. 10 2-1 loss to Lake Superior State.
They were the most feared goaltending duo returning to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association this year, perhaps the most formidable duo in the country. Together, they conspired to dominate opposing offenses and push Miami University ice hockey past all competitors.
And then Charlie Effinger came down with mono.
And Jeff Zatkoff was given the challenge of minding the net both nights each weekend for the first time in his collegiate career. The team never skipped a beat.
"We have a luxury a lot of schools don't have because we have two of the best goalies in the country," said assistant captain Nate Davis. "As far as the team, we aren't worried because Jeff has proven that he is one the best."
Five games later after posting a 4-1 record, there is little doubt left that he can man the net with the best of them.
His efforts included a career high 45-save game in a 4-3 victory over St. Lawrence Nov. 24.
"I have tons of confidence in Zatkoff and I told him to do the same thing that he does every Saturday night," Effinger said. "I don't think his approach changed too much, he is simply a great goalie."
Despite the team's success on the ice, it has been hard on Effinger to, for the first time since being at Miami, not be able to contribute.
Not only was he not on the ice, because of the contagious nature of mononucleosis, he wasn't able to hang out with the team.
"I haven't been able to skate at all," he said. "I have been pretty much removed from both the rink and from my best friends so it's been tough."
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As soon as the illness was diagnosed, the trainers took over and have been pointing Effinger on the road to recovery.
It has not been a quick one, nor has he been able to stay in playing shape, but it has been steady nonetheless.
The team has sympathized with him, many of them knowing from personal experience what it is like to be knocked out of action by illness or injury.
"It is one of the most miserable things in the entire world," Davis said. "You don't really appreciate playing, because the season is long and practices are tough and at times during the year you get a little lost and look for some days off. But as soon as you get them it's 'God I wish I could get this healed and get back.'"
Still, even while he was sick and kept his distance from the team, Effinger made every attempt possible to stay connected to the Miami hockey family.
"He has handled it as well as possible," Davis said. "I have seen him around the rink, you know, looking like death, just to be there and stay connected."
On Wednesday, his first day back on the ice, he didn't do much more than power skating drills but that was enough.
Because he knows the team is still backed by one of the top goaltenders in the country, his focus is recovering to 100 percent before the Ohio Hockey Classic in late December.
"The first thing is that they really don't want to rush the recovery because we have two weekends before the tournament," Effinger said. "The main focus is to get my feet back under me."
And when he regains his feet, he will jump right back in, joining the rest of the team in the race for the CCHA title.
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