Growing the Game’s Best Talent: Dustin Wolf
Produced by the Western Hockey League in partnership with BC Tree Fruits, “Growing the Game’s Best Talent” is a multi-part series highlighting the next generation of WHL stars set to embark on a journey pursuing NHL dreams. “Growing the Game’s Best Talent” can be seen monthly at WHL.ca, featuring a key member of the upcoming 2019 NHL Draft Class. Together, the WHL and BC Tree Fruits are “Growing the Game’s Best Talent.”
No one is perfect. But when it comes to Everett Silvertips goaltender Dustin Wolf, he’s pretty darn close.
A short 12 months ago, Wolf and the Silvertips were facing an off-season of change.
With Carter Hart’s departure to the professional hockey ranks, the responsibility between the pipes would fall to the then 17-year-old.
The young goaltender had to prepare to shoulder the load while also facing the scrutiny of the NHL Draft process all while taking care of his academics at National University Virtual Program.
“I think the biggest thing was just keep playing my game and let that stuff figure it out,” Wolf said of the added pressure faced by the draft scrutiny. “It’s just a testament to how dedicated I was, competing on and off the ice each and every day of the season.”
Wolf not only existed, but continued the Silvertips’ strong reputation for superb goaltending, posting near identical number to Hart’s career-best figures.
His 61 games played were tied alongside Tri-City goaltender Beck Warm for the most in the WHL, two off Hart’s career-high in a single season. His 1.69 goals-against average was behind Hart’s career-best total of 1.60 by a razor thin margin.
Hart has edged Wolf narrowly in terms of save percentage (.947 to .936) and shutouts (nine to seven), but Hart never once surpassed the 40-win plateau like Wolf did this season, leading all WHL goaltenders with 41. He also led them in GAA and SV% while ranking second in shutouts en route to being named the Western Conference Goaltender of the Year.
“Even his first year, he came in wanting to be the number one goalie,” Silvertips head coach Dennis Williams said. “He was playing behind Hart, but he didn’t want to be behind Carter Hart.
“That’s how he practiced, that’s how he approaches everything he does, hockey or school.”
In the classroom, the eventual winner of the WHL’s and Canadian Hockey League’s Scholastic Player of the Year Award this season sported a perfect academic average, raising his high-school average to a near perfect 98.8 per cent.
Wolf was quick to credit his biggest supporters, his parents and Darren Parsons, the Silvertips Education Coordinator, for his success in both facets.
“By no means would I be in this position today just by myself,” Wolf said. “It’s a pretty cool feeling to be able to be regarded as a high prospect.”
Despite doing his best to compete against Hart in order to better himself as a goaltender, the 5-foot-11, 160-pound Tustin, Calif. product took away a lot from last season as the two formed a bond between the posts.
“He showed me how to manage all that, but also being able to succeed on the ice,” Wolf said of balancing school and hockey.
As for his draft ranking, 12th among North American goaltenders, Wolf was confident that he made the right decision for his hockey and academic pursuits with just days to go until the NHL Draft.
“The WHL is a phenomenal development league to the NHL,” Wolf said. “It’s pretty awesome to see yourself among the top.
“It just shows if you put the time and effort in on and off the ice throughout the season, good things will happen.”
Williams noted how his team was able to enjoy an up-tempo style of play when Wolf was in the crease. If there was a slip up, part of the game, Wolf was always there to bail his team out. Wolf took that trust and used it as a bar to strive for every day.
“It just shows the type of commitment and drive and dedication that Dustin has,” Williams said. “It’s not only on the ice and in the weight room, but it’s in the classroom and in the community as well.”
As close to perfect as he might be, there’s always room to grow, both physically and within his game in Wolf’s sense.
His ranking has 11 other goaltenders, in North America alone, ahead of him. If there’s someone who can prove those scouts wrong and show his work at the same time, it’s got to be Dustin Wolf.
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