In case you’re wondering, I didn’t win an eBay auction or anything. However, the Garret Sparks bobblehead is a real thing, as the Toronto Marlies honored the former netminder with his own bobblehead in 2018, and another version could be made this season after it was revealed that Garret Sparks signed with Bloomington Bison of the ECHL today, as the ECHL team looks to improve their playoff position as the season enters its extended run. Sparks worked as an EBUG with the Bison this season in late November, so he is already somewhat familiar with the team and its systems. Signing him to a contract as the backup to starting netminder Dryden McKay and potentially pushing him higher gives Bloomington one of the best tandems in the entire ECHL.No one expects Sparks to come in and turn Bloomington’s goaltending on its side. As we know, he has NHL and AHL experience, but he hasn’t played significant hockey at any level since 2023-2024 and he hasn’t won a professional hockey game since 2022-2023. Sparks will have some work to do if he hopes to regain the same level of puck stopping that won him 31 AHL games with the Toronto Marlies in 2017-18. Yes, that happened less than ten years ago.
Bloomington gets good goaltending now by Dryden McKayso it makes sense to have Sparks as the second option since the Bison are in third place with a 21-16-4 record and 46 points. The catch is that the Indy Fuel also has 46 points and is in fourth place with a game in hand, and both teams are six points behind the second-place Fort Wayne Komets. Of the teams currently occupying a playoff spot in the Central Division, the Bison have surrendered the most goals with 119, so it appears a potential upgrade was necessary.
I’m not sure Sparks is a better option than McKay and current goalkeeper Hugo Ollas. McKay has a 2.18 GAA and a .929 save percentage, but he only has a 13-10-1 record this season. It looks like Ollas is doing his best, but his numbers need to be better than the current 3.18 GAA, .895 save percentage, and 4-4-1 record he sports. Even if he were to get his GAA below 3.00 it would make a huge difference, but McKay’s numbers show the Bison need to score more as well. If Sparks can beat Ollas the rest of the season, it will boost the Bison’s chances.
Bloomington hits the road this weekend with a pair of games against the fifth-ranked Kalamazoo Wings on Saturday and Sunday before meeting the Fort Wayne Komets on Monday. Winning all three games would help the Bison immensely, but I doubt we’ll see Sparks dressed for those games. They play the Utah Grizzlies in Salt Lake City the following weekend, so Sparks has a lot of time to get into shape. Assuming all goes well, he could suit up at home for the February 20 series against the Maine Mariners, so we’ll see if #40 is ready to hit the road with the Bison by that weekend.
The 32-year-old goaltender wasn’t signed today to save a season or push the Bloomington Bison over an imaginary hump they face. The Bison have never qualified for the playoffs in their short, completed season in history, so reaching the playoffs for the first time will be a big moment in their franchise’s history. Where the story comes from will depend on the players and coaches, but Sparks, like the team, has to take it one day at a time.
However, you can make it official: Garret Sparks is back in the ECHL!
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
#official #bug