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Calgary Flames Dustin Wolf Named WHL Goalie of the Year

Flames Dustin Wolf Named WHL Goalie of the Year

On May 1, 2020, the Calgary Flames signed young goalie prospect Dustin Wolf to a three-year entry-level contract. It’s proved to be a wise choice because yesterday (May 19) it was no surprise when the Flames announced that Wolf had been named as the WHL goalie of the year.

Wolf had had an absolutely great season with the Everett Silvertips. In a post written by Flames commentator Torie Peterson, it was simply “another day, another honour” for the prodigious young goalie.

Related: Any Chance Flames’ Future Includes Alex Pietrangelo?

So, Who’s Dustin Wolf and Why Does He Deserve the Award?

Wolf is simply one of the best goalie prospects in all minor hockey. During the 2019-20 season, he recorded a 34-10-2 season with the Silvertips. That’s a nice honor, and other current-NHL goalies have also won this same award – including Carter Hart, Darcy Kuemper, Cam Ward, and even the NHL’s current best goalie Carey Price. The award is voted on by WHL general managers and head coaches.

During the 2019-20 season, aside from Wolf’s amazing won-lost record, he also posted a goals-against-average of 1.88 and a save percentage of .935. In addition, he had nine regular-season shutouts. And, no surprise here, he led all WHL goalies in each of these categories. His 34 wins also tied him for first in that category with the Portland Winterhawks’ Joel Hofer.

Wolf Was Gracious In Accepting His Award

In accepting his award, Wolf graciously lauded his teammates and coaches. As he noted, “I can’t thank my team and my coaches enough for all the support they’ve given me.”

He added that he was proud to have gained “more experience and becoming more of a leader in the room – you play more games, it’s obviously going to come along with it. Coming out of camp last year, there were a few points of emphasis on a few different aspects of my play … playing the puck a ton more, I got a lot of chances to do that this year. Made some big strides.”

That said, Wolf knows he must continue to improve his overall game. However, he also added that he thought he’d made some big steps. Still, he admitted there was a long way to go.

Related: Matthew Tkachuk Says He’s Sure Edmonton Oilers Almost Drafted Him

Wolf Was a Steal in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft

For those who don’t know Wolf’s background, he was a draft-day steal. Chosen by the Flames during the seventh round (214th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft, he’s played in 127 regular-season games for Everett and has a career record of 88-31-6 with a goals-against-average of 1.85 and a save percentage of .934. He’s also pitched 20 shutouts during his junior career, which currently ties him for fifth all-time in WHL history.

Wolf’s a great young prospect, and it will be fun for Flames fan to watch his rise up the organizational depth charts over the next few seasons. Good luck to him from NHLTradeTalk.com

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