BLOOMINGTON - In a roundabout way, the Bloomington PrairieThunder owe Todd Fankhouser a debt of gratitude. "My brother is 10 years older than I am and he started playing hockey when he was 13 and I was 3," explained Thunder goaltender Scott Fankhouser.

"He made a tiny net in the basement and shot balls at me and ever since then, I've played goalie.

"He said if you cry, you can't play with me anymore. I just started enjoying it and I never stopped."

The 33-year-old Fankhouser has been a key part of the Thunder's franchise-best 4-2-0 start, providing stability in the net and leadership on and off the ice. He enters this weekend's action with a 3-2 record, 4.22 goals against average and a .879 save percentage.

First-year Thunder coach Jarrod Skalde knew what he was getting when he signed the 10th-year pro. Skalde and Fankhouser were teammates with the NHL's Atlanta Thashers, and they helped the Orlando Solar Bears win the 2001 International Hockey League's Turner Cup.

"I figure if I can bring in guys I know and trust and I've been in the trenches with, that was important for me," Skalde said. "Goaltending was my No. 1 priority, and to get a guy like that just makes my job a lot easier.

"A lot of goalies can be self-absorbed. In Scott's case, he's a vocal guy. If he sees something he doesn't like or isn't right, he's going to voice his opinion. And I back him up. I trust his opinion and I trust his leadership. To get that out of a goaltender is extra special."

The well-traveled Fankhouser, who played in Europe the last three seasons and has also had stints in the American Hockey League and ECHL, has embraced the leadership role.

"Playing in pro hockey for as long as I have, if I don't lead that's a mistake on my part," Fankhouser said. "Being a goalie you definitely have to take care of yourself first because you are the last person on the ice and if you make a mistake everybody sees it.

"But I can help some of the guys figure some things out. There's a lot more to pro hockey than just ice hockey. There are the off-the-ice things and dealing with relationships. I've been around long enough that I can help some guys."

Skalde said he signed 20-year-old backup rookie goalie Ryan Ludzik because of Fankhouser's presence. The promising Ludzik won his pro debut.

"I know that Ryan's in good hands," Skalde said. "He's going to learn a lot from Scott. I don't have to say much to Ryan. Fanky is going to take care of that end of the goaltending."

Fankhouser and Ludzik, the son of former Chicago Blackhawks center Steve Ludzik, give the Thunder different goaltending looks.

"I'm more of an old-school style, and he's more the new style," Fankhouser said. "I stand up a lot more and read the plays. I don't just go for angles and hope it hits me, where the new style is definitely an angles game. Mine is more of a reaction game.

"There's not very many of us left because no one teaches it anymore."

Fankhouser plans to stick around as long as possible.

"I think the minute you get used to it, it's time to stop because you don't have enough fire," he said. "I still get butterflies before games, especially at home because you want to have a good performance in front of your crowd.

"I love the game and I hope to keep playing it for a long time."

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This week with the Thunder

What: Thunder vs. Generals

When: 7:05 p.m. Friday

Where: U.S. Cellular Coliseum, Bloomington

Radio: WTRX-FM (93.7)

FYI: The second-place Thunder has won the previous two games with Flint by a combined score of 11-5.

What: Thunder at Komets

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Radio: WTRX-FM (93.7)

FYI: Bloomington handed the league-leading Komets their first loss of the season, 5-4, last Saturday at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.