The Premier Lacrosse League supports eight teams, meaning there are only eight starting positions for goaltenders. Any netminder in the PLL is already in the global stage’s upper echelon of elite goaltenders. When it finally came time for Brett Dobson to take center stage the competition was fierce. Blaze Riorden and Dillon Ward very easily held the titles of the best in the world. Despite the odds, Dobson has quickly established himself, and his growing plethora of rings with the Utah Archers is starting to do the talking for itself. His path from a promising college player to being considered the best goalie in the world is dictated not just by skill, but by mastery of the statistics that define greatness at his position.
It was his collegiate career at St. Bonaventure University that laid the bedrock for Dobson’s professional rise. During his four years in the college, he logged totals that were impressive, especially during his senior season with a .665 save percentage. It wasn’t all about the reflexes or athleticism; it was an acute understanding of the game-one where his goals against average continued to fall year after year, showcasing an ability to adapt and improve. Come senior year, Dobson was adept at making that critical save, a skill which translated into the PLL perfectly.
Dobson’s statistical dominance became even more pronounced once he got his chance to start for the Archers. This past regular season, he took front among all goalies in total saves with 147 combined with a save percentage of 57.2%. Those would already be great numbers on their own, but the underlying context is better. With some of the league’s most dangerous offenses in front of him, Dobson posted an SAA of 11.8, incredibly impressive when taking into consideration the talent of PLL offenses. This combination of high save volume and efficiency placed him atop the rankings for league goaltenders. While it may not earned him Goalie of the Year, Dobson had the playoffs to show the world why he is the best of the best.
It was his playoff performance where Brett Dobson truly made his mark. When he faced high-pressure situations, his game reached an unprecedented level. His playoff save percentage soared to an amazing 79.5%, almost an unbelievable figure given both the caliber of competition and the desperation of playoffs. He allowed an average of only 4.5 scores during playoffs, which was the lowest for all goalies, proving his ability to perform under the most extreme pressure. These stats not only show his technical skill but also a glimpse of his mental fortitude and composure.
It was a new standard for goalies set by his consistency and tendency to make the saves when they mattered most. Though Blaze Riorden had been a dominant force up until recently and still would be regarded as one of the best goalies, Dobson’s stats and on field success lately have started to weigh the scales a bit more in his direction. While Riorden’s 59.4% save percentage this season is superb, no doubt, Dobson’s playoff save percentage of 79.5% proved that he is currently on another level. Not only does he make the saves, but he does it in such incredible regularity that the performances that other goalies would think are out of this world, he makes his normal.
But there’s so much more to Dobson beyond that. How important he is to his team was evidenced by the fact that he has now secured two back-to-back PLL titles with the Utah Archers. With each title, the case against Dobson being the best in the world gets a little weaker. His rings are starting to speak louder than the numbers alone, underscoring a career that’s quickly building a legacy of its own.
Through a combination of both regular season and playoff statistics, culminating his leadership of the Archers through back-to-back championships, Brett Dobson has attained the title of best goaltender in the world, at least in my eyes.
