BOISE-Joey Tardiff didn't start out as a goalie, but he's stepped between the pipes this year to lead the Meridian hockey team to the doorstep of another championship.

"I had an anger problem, so I'd get a lot of penalties," says Joey Tardiff, "So my Mom said your only option is goalie or you can't play hockey anymore."

"He doesn't stop until he hears a whistle," adds father Jerry Tardiff, "so he'll run everything over on the way to the net. So we thought it was safer for the other teams."

With Joey's sparkling record you may think the transition was easy for the not so gentle giant. But his drive and determination on the ice actually comes from somewhere else.

"Joey is mildly Autistic there is no gray area," explains Jerry, "it's one way or another - there's nothing in the middle. He can make the best save on Earth and the next time he's waving at somebody in the crowd."

Goaltenders spend most of their time alone on the ice, but it should surprise no one that Joey's teammates are there for Joey in so many ways.

"With my friends, sometimes people talk crap about us and stuff. But we are in first place so it doesn't matter," Joey says.

His father adds, "Its helped him learn he can't get angry, that just like on the ice there are penalties in life. He's part of a team and it doesn't' work without everyone on the team."

Meridian is again the top team in Idaho going into the state playoffs at the end of the month. And with his father looking on Joey and his family of Warriors are ready for a run at another title.

"What I love about hockey is we are like a family. My friends and teammates....were like a family."