When Marc-Andre Fleury went down with a severe high ankle sprain in November, it not only affected Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, it affected the team's minor league affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins as well, but they can’t complain.

The blow to Pittsburgh forced the team to call up goaltender Ty Conklin from the minors, propelling John Curry to the top spot of the goaltending depth chart for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. And in his first professional season, Curry is following the right path that eventually got him into the position he is today, the RBK Edge/AHL Rookie of the Month for December.

“Curry’s played on his head for us,” said Ryan Stone, a center for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, to the Citizen’s Voice.

Playing on his head has come naturally for the 23-year-old. Upon entering college, only Division III schools offered him a chance to play, but Curry chose another direction. He decided to go to Boston University and attempt to walk-on for Jack Parker’s Terriers, where he would take his chances against other big name recruits.

The decision paid off. Curry became the third-string goaltender in his freshman campaign, behind Sean Fields. After a season in which he only played five minutes and ten seconds, he went on to claim the number one spot in his sophomore season, notching 18 wins, 11 losses, and 3 ties.

Taking risks and being at the right place at the right time has paid off for the Shorewood, Minnesota native. It led him to become the face of one of the most storied college hockey teams in history for three seasons, a Hobey Baker Award finalist, and Hockey East Player of the Year in his senior season.

Now Curry steps into the number one spot for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton earlier than expected, though probably not if you asked him. His hard work and patience propelled him to a 6-3-1 record in his first ten professional level games.

Trailing the Philadelphia Phantoms by only two points in the East Division, Curry has taken his opportunity and run with it, making it hard for anyone to come and take his place for the second half of the season.

Though the injury to Fleury may not bode well for the present Pens, it has clearly forced the team to take a huge step in the right direction where the future is concerned.