He Does It All

Ryan Fanti's name isn't one that is heard in NHL circles. It's likely one that isn't mentioned in Edmonton Oilers discussions, either, despite the Oilers signing the former NCAA netminder last year. Fanti has had to work his way from the NAHL to the NCAA where he played 57 games with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, and he's made a few appearances in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors. Fanti has spent most of this season in a Fort Wayne Komets jersey in the ECHL, though, and I don't think anyone will forget his name in that market.

In 29 games with the Komets this season, Fanti has a 13-13-1 record with a 3.43 GAA and an .897 save percentage. It's at this point that a lot of people reading this article right now are wondering why I'm spending time writing about an average 23 year-old ECHL goaltender, but Fanti has shown more than just an ability to stop pucks and be the last line of defence for the Komets. While his two big "highlight reel" moments likely won't help him climb the ladder to the NHL, he's unquestionably written himself into Fort Wayne hockey lore with his "abilities".

We jump back to Friday, March 10, 2023 where Fort Wayne was hosting the Wheeling Nailers in the opening game of a home-and-home set. With time winding down in a game where both teams showed a dislike for the other, Matt Alvaro scored an empty-net goal with 34 seconds to play to make it 6-4 in favour of Fort Wayne, but he was tripped on the play by Ryan Da Silva and slid into the endboards. Alvaro popped up and went at Da Silva, and players on the ice joined them around the Nailers' net as a line brawl erupted.

Apparently, YouTube has this video flagged as "age-restricted" for some idiotic reason when there are hundreds of hockey fights on their platform, so here's the video on Justin A. Cohn's Twitter account. Ryan Fanti and Nailers goaltender Brad Barone end this video with a dance of their own to the delight of the Komets' crowd.
I'm not here to celebrate goalie fights because fighting in hockey - specifically with 34 seconds left in a 6-4 game - does little to change the outcome aside from increasing the risk of an injury to a goalie, but Fanti won that scrap pretty convincingly. The fans responded with their appreciation of Fanti's pugilistic ways, and the legend was born about this 23 year-old from Thunder Bay, Ontario.

That brings us to tonight where Fanti's legend grew once again.

The Komets were hosting the Rapid City Rush. Tied 3-3 going into the third period, the Komets scored twice to jump ahead by a 5-3 score. The Rush, sensing their time was running out for a comeback, pulled netminder Adam Carlson for the extra attacker, and that opened up the opportunity for Fanti to do something special!
Fanti scored at 18:19 of the third period to become the first goaltender in the 71-year history of the Fort Wayne Komets to record a goal! Fanti also becomes the 15th goalie in ECHL history to record a goal, and the first since François Brassard scored for the Maine Mariners on December 19, 2022!

What makes this goal a little more surreal is that it almost didn't happen. At 13:34 of the third period, Ryan Fanti skated over to the bench, had a quick chat with the staff, and was replaced by Corbin Kaczperski before heading down the tunnel. Everything was going well when Fanti re-appeared on the bench, and he was sent back out to his spot in the blue paint at 17:23. You might be wondering what happened for four minutes in Fanti's life where he needed to leave the game, and credit goes to Justin A. Cohn of The Journal Gazette for getting the answer.

"There’s no getting around it. Everyone goes through it. Once the third period happened, (a stomach ache) just hit me. I was kind of battling through it," Fanti told Cohn. "Once we hit the fifth goal, I didn't feel as bad for Kacz. So I was just like, 'When this happens, it happens. I've just got to go to the bathroom and be as quick as I can.'"

Had he not returned from the bathroom break prior to the face-off at 17:23, there was no other stoppage until he scored. In other words, this goal may never have happened had Fanti spent a little extra time in the powder room!

"You don't really get too many opportunities (to score). It's probably something I've dreamed about more than anything, including a fight or whatever it is, making big saves," Fanti informed Cohn. "One time in juniors, I had a chance up two goals. I probably got a better shot off than I did tonight, but a guy made a good play and jumped up to knock it down with his glove. I tried to scramble back to my net and he ended up banking it off me and scoring. Luckily, we still ended up winning the game and I'm happy that didn't end up happening again tonight. I just got lucky with it. The puck landed on edge and luckily it didn't flatten out and stop."

Fanti's name can be added to the list of ECHL goalies with a goal!

• Ryan Fanti (FWK) vs Rapid City - March 25, 2023
• Francois Brassard (MAI) at Adirondack - December 18, 2022
• CJ Motte (QCM) at Fort Wayne - December 9, 2017
• Alex Nedeljkovic (FLA) at Atlanta - December 30, 2016
• Brian Foster (CIN) vs Trenton - February 15, 2013
• Timo Pielmeier (BAK) at Utah - December 19, 2009
• Jonathan Quick, (REA) at Pensacola - October 24, 2007
• Trevor Koenig (ACB) at Wheeling - March 2, 2005
• Brian Eklund (PEN) at Mississippi - December 5, 2003
• Mike Smith (LEX) vs Dayton - October 26, 2002
• Mark Bernard (TOL) vs Johnstown - March 27, 2001
• Nick Vitucci (CHA) vs Louisville - March 6, 1996
• Sean Gauthier (SCS) at Raleigh - December 19, 1995
• Olie Sundstrom (ERI) vs Wheeling - December 15, 1995
• Corwin Saurdiff (HRA) vs Charlotte - March 18, 1995

There aren't many goalies who can claim they had a fight and a goal in the same month, but Ryan Fanti is one of those goalies. As much as Edmonton would like him to advance through their development system, it seems that Ryan Fanti has found a home in Fort Wayne, Indiana where his fighting skills and goal-scoring skills are appreciated as much as his puck-stopping skills!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!