What a run for Dustin Wolf. The Calgary Flames prospect has now added CHL Goaltender of the Year to his resume, following his previous selections as the top netminder from both the WHL and USA Hockey. Wolf also signed his entry-level contract with the Flames last month.
Wolf, 19, has done nothing but dominate at the junior hockey level, recording a .934 save percentage across three seasons and 127 appearances. His goals-against average during that time was a minuscule 1.85 and he posted an 88-31-6 record in the regular season.
One might expect a goaltender like that to be a top draft pick, especially given he won the CHL Scholastic Player of the Year award in his draft year. Wolf, however, fell all the way to the seventh round before the Flames used the 214th overall pick on him a year ago.
The reason is simple, Wolf stands just 6’0″ 165-lbs, much smaller than the goaltenders that have reached the peak of professional hockey in recent years. In comparison to mammoth netminders like Ben Bishop and Mikko Koskinen—both standing 6’7″—it’s easy to see why teams may hesitate on Wolf’s potential.
Still, the Flames are obviously willing to give him a shot to show what he can do at the professional level. That won’t happen until next year when he is eligible for the AHL, but with a contract in hand and a history of success he’ll be one of the more interesting goaltending prospects to follow.
Previous winners of the CHL award include current NHL goaltenders like Carter Hart (twice), Darcy Kuemper, Jake Allen and Carey Price.
that Everett club is a goalie pipeline
All the way back to Leland Irving.
We had Calvin Pickard once…..
Funny to see someone 6’0 tall considered too short. I could use that extra 2″ in height for my occassional venture between the pipes, lol!
It’s amazing he’s 6’0 tall but you only name to guys who are 6’7 there’s 58 other goalies out there and there’s a guy named Tim Tomas who won 2 vez and a cup so it can be done with a “short goalie”
I know a guy who’s 5’11 and won 2 vez and a cup
He’s further proof that size as a goalie is starting to become less important. I don’t understand how he fell so far. Has the potential to be one of the biggest steals in a while