Long’s steady focus delivers a 71-save weekend.
The Columbus East sophomore stopped 71 of 75 shots across two starts for Columbus Icemen JV, earning THE FINAL.’s Player of the Week honor.
Twenty-three shots came Canyon Long’s way in the first period against Bishop Noll Blue JV.
None went in.
Facing one of the strongest teams in Indiana’s JV field, the Columbus Icemen goaltender kept his approach simple.
“I knew they were a really good team, so I came to the game ready to work,” Long said. “I took it one shot at a time and stayed as calm as possible.”
The Columbus East High School sophomore carried that focus through two starts during the Oct. 30 – Nov. 1 weekend. Long made 37 saves in a 2–1 loss to Bishop Noll on Friday, then stopped 34 shots in a 2–2 tie against Penn Black JV on Sunday.
He finished with 71 saves on 75 shots, a .947 save percentage and THE FINAL.’s Player of the Week honor.
Asked what felt strongest about his performance, Long pointed to what happened between shots.
“I felt strongest about my focus and mental ability throughout each game.”
Meeting the pressure
Bishop Noll tested that focus immediately.
The Warriors outshot Columbus 23–4 in the opening period, but the Icemen reached the intermission ahead 1–0 on Preston Bell’s goal. Long had answered every shot.
Columbus JV coach Ty Conatser saw a goalie comfortable with the challenge.
“Canyon is a gamer, plain and simple,” Conatser said. “He thrives under pressure, and that first period was just about as much pressure as a goalie can get.”
Bishop Noll eventually scored twice in the second period, with Andrew Tapia tying the game and Hayden Harding providing the winner. Long held the Warriors scoreless in the third, keeping Columbus within one despite a final shot disadvantage of 39–13.
Conatser remembered the response from the bench throughout the game.
“Bishop Noll swarmed our defensive zone all night, and Canyon’s rebound control, lateral movement, and shot tracking were on another level,” Conatser said.
Those saves also helped Columbus recover possession. Conatser credited Long with controlling threats in ways that allowed defenders to move the puck out of the zone.
For Long’s parents, Steve and Amy, the performance began with how he received the assignment.
“When Canyon was told he had the start for the Bishop Noll game, he knew it would be a challenge, but embraced it,” they said.
Watching him meet that challenge — and hearing spectators recognize his play — made the game especially meaningful to them.
Keeping the comeback possible
Sunday’s game against Penn Black required Long to hold his ground while Columbus worked back from a deficit.
Penn scored once in each of the first two periods to lead 2–0. Long’s task entering the third was to keep the game within reach.
“I knew I had to do my part to give our team a chance,” he said. “I tried to stay relaxed, but focused to keep the pucks out of the net.”
Deimian Osborn scored 47 seconds into the third to bring Columbus within one. Penn continued to generate chances, finishing the period with 14 shots.
Two of Long’s saves stood out in his own memory: back-to-back breakaway stops.
“I came out big and let them make the first move,” he said.
He stopped every shot he faced in the period. With 24 seconds remaining, Jonah Broderick scored on the power play to pull Columbus even at 2–2.
Long’s reaction was straightforward.
“I was shocked and excited.”
Conatser saw the tie as a result made possible by Long’s response to the earlier goals.
“After the first two goals against, he didn’t allow himself to be shaken and kept the game alive for the team,” Conatser said.
Long credited the players in front of him, too.
“I couldn’t do it without my defense keeping the players wide and shots out.”
His work in practice has focused on angles and rebound control. Across the two games, those details helped him manage both the initial chances and what could happen afterward.
Learning to move forward
Long’s introduction to hockey came through watching the Chicago Blackhawks with his dad.
Two early coaches, Jason Correll and Ryan Larsh, helped turn that interest into something lasting.
“They were both always positive and encouraging,” Long said.
His parents remember another moment that secured his connection to the sport: his first shutout during his first travel season.
“At the end of the game, the entire team piled on him to celebrate,” Steve and Amy said. “From that day on, he was hooked.”
As a sophomore, Long is still building confidence in the position. Conatser said goalie coach Warren Conatser has been instrumental in helping the program’s goaltenders develop confidence and mental toughness.
Long’s parents have noticed growth in how he communicates from the crease and how he responds when something goes wrong.
“He’s been able to move past it in order to focus on the next thing,” they said.
That ability showed up against Penn Black. Two goals had gone in, but Columbus still had a period to play. Long gave his teammates a scoreless third and the opportunity to find the equalizer.
A teammate beyond the crease
Hockey shares Long’s schedule with soccer.
“I enjoy being a multi sport athlete, as I also play soccer,” he said.
For Steve and Amy, balancing both sports with school, family and friends has become part of his development.
“This has taught him how to prioritize commitment to a team,” they said.
Ty Conatser described an excellent student and gifted soccer player whose relationships within the Columbus program extend well beyond a single weekend.
“Canyon is the type of teammate that every player remembers long after their time playing together,” Conatser said.
He has played alongside many of those teammates for years while making newer players feel welcome. This weekend, they had plenty of reasons to cheer for him.
Seventy-one saves told part of the story. The rest was in how he handled the next shot—whether it followed a breakaway stop, a goal against or a period in which the pressure rarely let up.
One shot at a time, Long kept Columbus in the game.