(In the very first of a weekly segment here, we will start our 2019 NHL Draft profiles on DubNetwork with Everett Silvertips goalie Dustin Wolf. We will then be giving you one each Tuesday at 9am until the end of the regular season).
For the first time in several seasons, the Everett Silvertips now face life without their goalie-of-the-year Carter Hart. The three-time recipient of that award is now on his way to the professional ranks, possibly with the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Silvertips though do not feel as uneasy about this as you would think.
The key reason for that is 2001-born goalie Dustin Wolf. The netminder from Tustin, California, is gathering more and more believers with each viewing of him.
Following in the gigantic foot steps of someone like Carter Hart was made easier by Wolf being able to go to work with him every single day last year and pick up things that will help him this season.
“Hart just showed me how to do the right things every single day. I could not have asked for a better year than last year. To back him up and see how he is on the ice and off. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about him and I learned so much for him. His track record speaks for itself. He won gold with Canada and now he is trying to make the Flyers,” Wolf said.
A trait that Hart was known for throughout his tenure in Everett was his calmness between the the pipes and that is also something that comes naturally to Wolf.
“My biggest strength is staying calm in the net. I just try to stick to my routine every day and come to the rink, putting my best foot forward.”
Wolf has the benefit of working with James Jensen, his goalie coach this year. Jensen is someone that Wolf has worked with since his days in the L.A. Junior Kings program.
Jensen has a plethora of experience working with goalies like Eric Comrie, James Reimer, Frederik Andersen and others. Jensen knows that when he was young Wolf admired a specific goalie and tried to play like him but now firmly has his own style.
“I know for a fact that if you were to ask him with him growing up and playing in Southern California and being in the LA Jr. Kings program, and with their success winning the two cups I know that he really likes Jonathan Quick. He even wears his number 32. If you were to ask him who he thinks he plays like it’s going to be Jonathan Quick. The older he gets though the more he comes into his own and I think the real answer is he plays like Dustin Wolf,” Jensen said.
Wolf played in 20 games as a 16-year-old and got into a single playoff game during Everett’s best year in franchise history. He posted a 2.25 GAA and 0.928 save percentage.
He even had four shutouts. This is a goal he has in mind each game when he takes the ice.
“You always strive to pitch a shutout every game. Going forward it will just boost my confidence and hopefully help the team.”
Over the summer, Wolf tended net for the U.S. at the annual U18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. The experience he gained there, he is hoping will help him as he transitions to being the main guy between the pipes this year.
“It’s a big step for sure. This tournament will help boost my confidence and coming into the games next year, I’m going to be playing a majority of them so getting the exposure out here and putting my name in front of people so they are like – okay I need to come and watch this kid – is good for me.”
Wolf had a strong tournament, but was on the wrong end of a very controversial call when Canada scored to tie their semifinal game with the U.S. after the buzzer. Because video replay could not be used, the call on the ice stood and Canada went on to win in overtime and then go on to take the gold medal.
Jensen was quick to reach out to Wolf after that emotional let down. He was not surprised though with how well the young goalie handled it.
“That was a tough one for all the kids. I spoke with him right afterwards and he and all the kids were a little emotional about it. One of his big strengths though is how poised he is and I knew that he could bounce back.”
Everett fans have gotten used to having a world class goalie between the pipes for their team. This may be something they can continue to enjoy.
