Transcript
Speaker: Welcome to the DIY Goalie Podcast, where hosts and goalie coaches Nathan Park and Connor Munday share their insights on how to become a better goalie.
Speaker: Goalies, how are we doing? Welcome back to another episode of the DIY Goalie podcast presented by True North Goaltending. And we finally got another guest on the show today. So we have Emmett Crotto who's joining us. We'll kind of get into his background and stuff. He's currently playing at Dartmouth College in the NCAA. So we're excited to have him on. He's actually kind of one of our recent quote unquote hires, I guess, at True North Goaltending. He reached out a couple of weeks ago looking to get into some coaching this off season. So ah super excited to have him on board and super excited to have him today. He's got some great Pretty interesting insights and kind of an interesting path to where he is now. He was a six-round pick for the Habs back in 2022.
Speaker: um So lot lot of a lot of things to offer from Emmett today. So thanks, Emmett, for joining us. How are we doing today? Well, I'm doing great. Appreciate you having me. And it's been fun kind of getting into the in and of the True North goaltending family. So, yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, no, excited to, uh, to have you on board. sucks that you're going back to school for next season and we can't steal you for the winter, but Hey, you know, kudos to you. You got bigger and better things that you're doing. But, uh, what we usually like to do with our guests is we kind of start off, uh, you know, with why goalie kind of what pushed you towards being a goalie and, uh, kind of caught the bug for you.
Speaker: Yeah, I think I've told the story a couple of times, um, i was I was a grinder when I first started playing. like I was just chippy. like a I was getting into fights and initiation and novice. and um i was having fun doing it, but like I think that there there was a little bit too much fire fire there up front. But yeah, we would just rotate whoever would go in net. Everyone would take a turn going goalie back then. and I went in for for a turn, and I i think my first my first game, I remember I got a shutout.
Speaker: um And I was like, oh, well, yeah, I like this now. So the next year, i then the first half of the year, i'm pretty sure I played played forward and goalie. And then towards the second half of the year, I just put the pads on full time and just fell in love with it and and been going with it since.
Speaker: Yeah, for sure. Yeah, i um I was the one that just had no player skills. So I'm like, oh, it looks easy to stand in the net. So that that was my origin story. So from there, why don't you kind of give us, you know, the brief overview of what your career has looked like so far, and then we can kind of, you know, dive into the different sections, I guess, as we've gone along the different phases. But just kind of give us, you know, your general path that we've taken, and then we can dive in a little deeper.
Speaker: Yeah, so Novice was half and half, Adam full-time goalie, just played like the Tier 1 Adam Pontiac. So you like you see there's like AAA Adam now, but there wasn't one as in back then. So we played like Tier 1 Adam, Peewee played locally AA for the Lakeland Panthers, um and then Bantam as well. um you know That was a bit of a crossroad to to face because we weren't sure if we wanted to play AAA and commit to the travel, but um we ultimately just stayed back and we had a really good group of ah of guys with at the Bantam AA level and won provincials and did well there. Then a year in Lloydminster, a year in California with the Ontario Junior Reign, then the USHL Waterloo Blackhawks for three years, and then my first year at school I was at Clarkson University, and then I transferred to Dartmouth where I've been there the past two years.
Speaker: Nice. Yeah. So for context, them it's a Bonneville kid, right? Like, what is it called? Yeah, Bonneville. Bonneville. So um for those of you who are kind of local-ish to us, you'll you'll know Bonneville. But for those of you who aren't, it's probably about, what, two, two and a half hours from Edmonton, somewhere yeah around there, kind of northeast. northeast Yeah. yeah um So i guess I kind of want to dive into why the shift south? Like, why did we go down to the States and kind of what opportunities were there as opposed to what you felt like we we had available here?
Speaker: Mm hmm. Yeah, I think. ah
Speaker: I think hockey nowadays, like wherever you go, it's going to be expensive. Like that's the nature of the sport and that's the nature, especially of the position. Um, so we try to look at first like cost efficiency.
Speaker: I think that was the big thing. Um, and then two, like was probably just being able to play like, Like, sure, it'd be great to go go play AAA, midget AAA a year younger.
Speaker: um But at the same time, there's there's no point of of putting yourself in position not to see pucks. yeah, that after after my U17 year with Lloyd, it's bit of a logjam, a lot of older goalies. So i mean, I could have tried out in Lloyd, but that would have had to take, ah would have had to move to Lloyd, um stuff with school, the expensive building. I think it was just like, a we just were like, oh, like maybe there's other options out there. So we looked, there were some options at the academy level, thought about doing that, but again, a little bit too expensive. And um I think it was just out of random. Like I just got reached out to by the Ontario rain team and they just said, Hey, like,
Speaker: we want you to come down. um want you to play high school hockey, play U18, AAA, um go to all these showcases. And at the time, like I was kind of doing my research behind the scenes and figuring out ah both the NOL, the USHL, and then college as a whole, just because WHL, with our position, if you're not kind of um grabbed onto in a part of part of an organization early, it it becomes like harder and harder and that that door kind of closes. So, I knew that you know a path that I would want to take would be the school route.
Speaker: um So I was kind of just looking at you know things like the NOL, the USHL, et cetera. And then you know these showcases were Minnesota, Dallas, out east, like all spots where I figured you know there could be some eyes on me. So ended up going going to California for a year. left when I was 15, 15 turning 16.
Speaker: fifteen fifteen turning sixteen um spent a year there and it was one of the best years of my life. Like there were some growing pains. There was a little bit of, a you know, the homesick and and, feeling, you know, the missing out of, you know, your high school years. But, you know, that year, you know, on the ice, like i we did well, we weren't a good team, but I saw a huge amount of pox, like we're getting a lot of shots, a lot of opportunity to play, practice, workout, et cetera.
Speaker: um And then just matured off the ice. Like you throw a 15 year old kid south of the border, like, ah You kind of got to grow up quick. um But yeah, like that, that, that year opened up so many doors for me down South and ultimately led to me being drafted to the USHL.
Speaker: And it had nothing to do with the weather change, hey, between California and Northern Alberta. Yeah, exactly. I wasn't working wearing in pants or a jacket that often. So yeah, that was nice.
Speaker: Yeah, no, that's good. So um you kind of mentioned that they found you a little more so than you found them. so do you have any kind of inkling as to how that came about? Like, were you guys like you and your parents or anybody else putting out feelers or did they just straight up come to you?
Speaker: Yeah. I think my dad had put out some stuff online through like NCSA. um And then I did go to a USHL camp um earlier that spring. So I think, you know, one of those, one of those two were definitely, now that I look back, one of the, you know, the main things that kind of brought me that. So I'm so glad and grateful I did it. Like at first glance, I could seem kind of crazy just shipping it up to,
Speaker: Anaheim, California, but no, it was, it was, you know, it was a great, great experience. And then just like so many, so many learning, um, so many learning pieces and then just like, just helping me become, you know, a young adult and then, uh, set up for, you know, what was moving away for junior hockey and, and then into college. So.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah, no, for sure. That's um kind of a ah good message, I think, for for the goalies out there. Just you never know with some of these things that you kind of do what it can lead to. Like for me personally, um i went to the Oil Kings rookie camp, the WHL team at the time that I was, what would I have been saying?
Speaker: going into my 16 year old year. um and And I think that was a big reason why I got some of the Junior A interest I did, because like Dustin Shorts was the goalie coach at the time with the Oil Kings. um And then he ended up being our goalie coach when I made Spruce Grove Junior A.
Speaker: um So I think that's a good message to like, you never know what kind of opportunities kind of come off of some of these, you know, even if you're not making a team, um you know, going to some of these tryouts or going to some of these showcases can kind of put your name out there and put your put you on the radar for some of these programs. So um cool to see that that turned out well for you.
Speaker: um I know to like, um some of these stories are really good to kind of get out there as well. Cause I know like there are it mostly the outliers, but it's good to see that, you know, there's some unconventional paths that can be taken to kind of get to the higher levels. Like I know Hellebuck's kind of a poster boy for that. Everybody loves to say that he didn't play triple and he played high school and all that stuff. um So if you're,
Speaker: Kind of giving advice to somebody who might be in a similar position as you that's maybe trying to grind it out a little bit and and take those next steps, but maybe in sort of an unconventional way. What do you think you kind of would say to them or what do you think kind of helped you get get some of that, you know, advancement through the levels?
Speaker: Yeah. yeah i think Yeah, I think a big like turning point for me, and I guess the realization was my Bantam draft year for the dub. Obviously, looking back then, like ah you know we all we all thought that that was like the biggest deal, and that almost defined what we were going to be and what we were able to accomplish. But like we look back on you know my draft class for the WHL and the goalies that you know I've played and or are still playing, like there wasn't, you know what i mean? Like it I think there was a lot more turnout from, from undrafted goalies um and even later round picks than there was in the top, top like the higher round. So was like, you know, I didn't get drafted and I was like, well, now what?
Speaker: And I kind of like talked to my dad and I was just like, you know, well, it's like, I can just, keep playing hockey like this doesn't define my trajectory or or what's next and it's like when you love the game that makes it a lot easier you know what i mean so just stuck to it and like that that experience was almost like i needed that at the time because i thought i you know you just want to bantam double double a championship provincial championship you know kind of kind of hot and you know in the air a little bit but
Speaker: brought me down to earth. And like, from there, it was just like, I knew I was going have to like work, you know, a little bit harder and try and earn every, you know, every opportunity that I was going to get. So I think that,
Speaker: you know, a big thing I was told to at that time is you never know who's watching. I remember when I first started playing goalie, I was a little bit of a hothead and slamming my post and, you know, I was able to have enough, ah you know, good good coaches and teammates around me to to kind of show me that, you know, there's always someone watching and and two, like,
Speaker: you're the only person that can define your story. I'd say is a big thing. Like just because I didn't get drafted, I could have just packed it in and said, yeah, I'm ready to, ready just go to school and, you know, party and, you know, start working. But, um, I just decided that that wasn't for me. And I just kind of put my head down and tried to earn, you know, every opportunity I got. And, you know, I was lucky enough to have so many people in my corner helping me out, um, throughout minor hockey, which, you know, I've helped me get to this position too. But I think, uh,
Speaker: I think, ah you know, just that mindset of just like, you know, one else is going to take this way for me except for myself. Yeah. Yeah. And that's a good a lot of it is kind of that mindset and that attitude that you go about it. The one thing I will say um a lot of the not just even goalies, but players and stuff to like.
Speaker: A lot of the ones um that do get drafted, I do see kind of struggle to make it from there. Like, obviously, if you're kind of the, you know, top half of the first round or even a first round draft pick, your odds are are pretty good. But um especially on the goalie side, like the one issue with getting drafted is you kind of get pigeonholed into that organization situation. And if they have three or four goalies kind of ahead of you on the depth chart, it it can kind of, you know, make your opportunity a lot harder than if you kind of keep your options open a little bit. um So that's kind of ah a good message. I think for any of the goalies out there that are a little upset, like, I know we are a little removed from this year's Bantam draft, but still pretty fresh. But I think too, like looking at it from that lens and, you know, kind of having like goalies like yourself kind of talk about their story and stuff too. Like, That's a big thing is just keep the head down. It's not the be all end all. You still got a lot of years to try and try and prove prove yourself a little bit. um
Speaker: So you move down south, you're playing, you know, high school down there, triple A, eventually junior. Um, but then you're kind of right in the mix of, you know, the COVID lockdowns and stuff. How did that kind of affect your trajectory and your development and kind of how did you work through it and be able to kind of you know, still kind of have some of that momentum in your career?
Speaker: Yeah. Well, I was lucky enough that, you know, my move to the States had ah kind of paid off and that, oh yeah um, so that, so that year, uh, you know, of COVID,
Speaker: You know, my ah year in California had shut down a little bit early. You know, i had to leave school a little early. Everything transitioned online, as everyone remembered. But um that summer was drafted to USHL. And, you know, from there, like was talking to them They thought that, you know, we're going to be fully operational and everything should be fine. Living in the Midwest at that time was obviously a lot different than being in Canada. It was a lot less strict, a lot less regulation, so that helped a lot.
Speaker: But um I got down there, and you know we got there in the season. were all tested, this and that, and we were kind of getting ready. and There was a couple couple outbreaks early and maybe a couple throughout the season, but it wasn't nothing too crazy. So our league ended up playing 50 games that year, which was...
Speaker: which was miles ahead of any other really league maybe than all was playing a little bit like you saw like there was the ajhl bchl bubbles and stuff like that but no one was really getting the chance to play and you know as lucky as like a 16 17 year old kid to kind of sneak in some games um down south while everyone was still playing like you saw like Matt Savoy, Cole Sillinger, guys like that were kind of coming down to the USHL trying to play, get some games under their feet. So you know I was super lucky that you know the with where I ended up allowed me to play, practice, and and be fully operational. But I know that was different than you know back here. So I think that was a big piece too, like just not losing any development and just taking steps forward and and playing games at you know an age I shouldn't have been playing at. like You think back realistically, a 16-year-old kid in in that league, you don't really see very often at all. So I kind of came in in that third that third goalie spot and just...
Speaker: practice day in day out and just earned an opportunity and and kind of ran with it that year on a not a good team. But, you know, had a lot of fun, made some good friends and saw pucks. And that's like one of the most important things ah being a goalie is you can't get better if you don't see pucks. So yeah. Yeah. So you're kicking it at the USHL.
Speaker: And then obviously, you know, the the NHL draft happens, you end up being a six round pick for Montreal. um Was there a couple teams that were interested and you? Like, were you talking to a couple of different teams? How is that kind of process for you?
Speaker: Yeah. um I think I filled out like, did you know, the teams around at the end of your season before the draft, they send you questionnaires. So I think I filled out about 20 questionnaires.
Speaker: um And then I had about 10, 10, 11, 12 in that range of like individual meetings with the team um and the staff. So, so that process was kind of cool. It was kind of surreal. Just kind of you know, filling out those questionnaires and then hopping on those calls to see who was in those calls, right? some Some notable NHL legends and, you know, people you just see in the hockey world. It was kind of a cool cool little experience there. But, yeah, so there was, you know, I talked to my my agent, Michael Rafferty, out of Kaizen Sports. he
Speaker: He said to me he's like, yeah, like, I'd say you probably have like 75%, 80% chance of going. So I was like, yeah, that's cool. Great. Still wasn't trying to go to the draft. I don't think that would have been a very fun trip if I should went to the draft and went home empty handed, but stayed at home and was, was getting ready for, go on the ice. And then I got a phone call that I had been picked. So yeah, that was a cool experience. And I've kind talked about that and some other, other podcasts and stuff, but it was just like a surreal moment. Like it's like a, it's a really cool marker and you know,
Speaker: kind of turned the phone off and just shared the moment with my family. But it's a super cool experience and something that, you know, everyone's gonna look back and just I'm grateful to have, you know, been a part of and and take that as motivation moving forward. so Nice. You don't have to specify teams, but I'm wondering out of the handful that you talked to, is there a couple that you're kind of leaning more towards hoping they would pick you as opposed to others? Or were you just kind of happy to get picked either way?
Speaker: I was pretty neutral. Like I had thoughts of like who I thought I was going to be, but I just kind of I turned, like I turned, like I wasn't watching the draft. Like I was just like, all right, I'll have my phone beside me, but I'm not going to just like sit there and watch the names by, but you know, I had a couple teams that I thought it was going to be. And you know, a couple teams that I was like, I bombed that interview, but um yeah, it was, it was a fun day, but I, you know, I made the most of it. I didn't want to just sit there and watch the the names take off and um just probably be like watching paint dry.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah, for sure. um So I'm curious, since the draft then, like what sort of conversations do you have as kind of like,
Speaker: I would say probably tier prospect, right? Like somebody, um you know, who wasn't drafted super high, but still somebody kind of on the radar, especially for goalies, like goalies usually tend to to get drafted later. But um what what kind of ongoing communication do you do you have with the club and like, um you know, kind of what what does some of the behind the scenes kind of look like as as a draft pick and a prospect?
Speaker: Mm-hmm. So right after the draft, um they help they every team holds their development camp, usually around Canada Day. um So, you know, you head up there and for your first talk for your first development camp, that's pretty eye-opening. Like, it's just kind of like, you know, you look around and you see the people who are around and you just see how you get treated and there's media, there's people asking for pictures, people asking for autographs, you know.
Speaker: playing a practice and the stands are full. Um, so it's just like, obviously with Montreal being a bigger market and i'm I'm not sure if every team's like that, but that's how it was on my experience. So, you know, you go to development camp, have fun, get your feet wet. Um, and kind of like the, that professional world, um, and how, and what that looks like. So, um, from that on, like they've, uh,
Speaker: you know They have their goalie development guys in Vinny Rondeau and Marco Marciano, who just got promoted to um Montreal this this past year. But they were ah they would keep in contact with me throughout the years and...
Speaker: Vinny would come up and you know get ah get a supper, get his dinner with me, watch a game a couple times a year. so and then the next summer, or you'd obviously go to development camp. So it's just like you know they keep tabs, come come watch a couple games throughout the year. and And if you need anything, you can always reach out. and you know You have a lot of lot of tools and a lot of you know um you know routes you can take if you need, you know whether it's nutrition or physical advice or you know medical advice. like they're uh they're always there to lend a helping hand so and do you kind of get feedback as to like what they would like to see you working on and like do they kind of have any sort of say in your development path at all a yeah they uh you know you have the opportunity to watch video um and just kind of like
Speaker: get get their opinion, see what they're seeing. And, you know, they ask what you're working on to kind of see if, you know, it's on par with the same kind of ah philosophies. And usually it is. So, yeah, they just kind of check in and, you know, give you give you some give you a little bit of feedback. And then they just like to see, you know, how you're doing and, you know, what's down the road. So,
Speaker: Okay. So from there, you make the transition to college. Um, you're playing NCAA in the States. Was it a big difference for you transitioning from the junior lifestyle to the student athlete lifestyle?
Speaker: Yeah. Um, I'd say for me it was, uh, it was a little bit different. Like I had three years of junior, um, i think with, with all that free time, you can kind of get some bad habits, um, away from the rink. But, uh, you know, it was just like, it was honestly the little things, like it was like a lot less, uh, you know, going out to eat with the buddies or just hanging around, watching movies and playing video games. It was more, you know, you had to set it aside some time for school, right? That was, uh, that's a big new piece, uh, in your day-to-day life.
Speaker: Um, so, The transition wasn't bad. they They do a good job of preparing you and and letting you know. And obviously your teammates kind of give you the lay the land, what classes to take.
Speaker: This is where this is. This is where that is. You know, kind of kind of that rough thing. But there is too, like a bit of you kind of just kind of jump in the deep end and and feel it out. So I'd say the first couple months were maybe a bit tough. But I'd say from there, like once you get the hang of it, and you know you know where your buildings are, you know your teachers and what classes you're going to take, that you know it it becomes a lot easier to just worry about stopping the puck.
Speaker: yeah Yeah, I found ah the one thing that I missed the most was my midday naps that I took. Yeah. im near As opposed to college. Yeah. But but yeah, no, it is definitely a transition. you kind of go from, you know, the hockey all the time to now hockey is kind of almost secondary.
Speaker: um I want to know to kind of how was it for you transitioning from one school to another, going from Clarkson over to Dartmouth? Mm hmm. Yeah, so that year entered the transfer portal after my freshman year.
Speaker: um And then from there, just was like talking with my family and my agent. We just wanted to find a spot that'd be good for me, you know, ah hockey-wise and then academically as well. And then, you know, there was, you know, a lot of options that that, you know, presented themselves. But I think when, you know, Dartmouth kind of came to the plate, I think that was that was a big,
Speaker: that was a big you know, check the box in both those areas, both hockey and academically there, they had, uh, they just come off like a historical season and, um, compared to like their, their past, uh, you know, Dartmouth hockey was kind of in a bad spot for, for a handful of years and brought in a new staff and, and Reed Cashman and, Jason Tapp, and they've kind of changed this program around and built it from the ground up. So, you know, after, after they you know A good year they had, I was able to kind of sneak in after goalie had signed in the NHL. so you know Transferred into an Ivy League school, just being able to play hockey under under their mentorship and then ultimately end up with an Ivy League degree while doing it, I think was just a no-brainer for me and my family.
Speaker: um So yeah, i it's it's been amazing. you know I've loved every second of my time there and I've got one more year left, so I'm just soaking it in and just being present in that sense too. But just being able to you know play high-level elite hockey with with great coaches, with great people, and then end up with an Ivy League degree is just kind of like a ah perfect storm, in my opinion. So I was super fortunate.
Speaker: Yeah. And that was that a big decision or a big factor in your decision to swap schools was kind of the situation and the playing time where you're at at Clarkson versus where, what you were offered, I guess, at Dartmouth.
Speaker: Yeah, I think too, like one of the, you know, besides school, one of the biggest priorities was going somewhere where I'd have the ability to play and, know, you got like you know you You want to be able to go somewhere where you can play if you want to develop and and try and succeed at the next level and give yourself like an opportunity to to find a good spot at the next level. So yeah, with with the academics and just the ability to come play, I think that was what separated Dartmouth from everybody else.
Speaker: And you have two years left of eligibility? Two more seasons? One more year. One more? Okay. So what are you what are you taking?
Speaker: What's your degree? So Dartmouth is a liberal arts school. So there's no... I was taking business before. There's no... oh I found myself taking a government modified major called PPE, which is Politics, Philosophy and Economics.
Speaker: A lot of past students have taken it, a lot of alumni have taken it. So it's it's a pretty pretty open-ended degree. It can get you ah a lot of ah opportunities in the business world, whether it's in New York or Boston or so you know cities like that. So it sets you up for for life after hockey.
Speaker: For sure. So transitioning kind of away from the playing now, um you're obviously like with us, you're hopping into some coaching. I know you have done some coaching in the past, ran some local camps and all that stuff. um What was it that kind of pushed you to get the coaching bug and kind of what sort of approach do you have when you when you're coaching?
Speaker: Yeah. um Growing up, I didn't really have where I was from. I had access to goalie coach sometimes, but not often. So I was on my own a lot.
Speaker: um So I think as i as I got a bit older and I've played hockey enough and got enough knowledge under my belt to to kind of take the path into coaching, I ultimately decided to do that just to honestly kind of pay it back and you know I wish I had someone like my like myself or or like you accessible to where where I was um all those years ago but you know what i mean like it's hockey is hockey is turning into a sport of like accessibility and you know financial ability and
Speaker: back then, you know, I wasn't, I was, I didn't really have access to that. So I think I wanted to kind of put myself in a position, you know, to help, to help kids and, and just show, help tell my story of, you know, where I came from and in my view on the game and, and just kind of like, you know, make this something that maybe I could do after hockey as well. So I think sharing my love for the game and then getting the knowledge and and, you know, possibly having this as a, as a path for me, you know, after the sport, I think it's just like a, like a great, like combo of, you know, things to have going forward. So I think between like, just the love for the game and setting myself up and just like helping expand the knowledge of the position. Cause it's like, like you obviously know, like,
Speaker: the qualifications you need to like be a you know, elite level, elite level goalie coach and the qualifications you need to kind of help kids and help them, you know, see the fun in the sport because hockey can be blinding in the sense of it's like a results based business. And, you know, if you're not having success, you're not doing well. I think,
Speaker: When I'm able to kind of help kids like get away from that and just see like the fun in the sport and then also help them get better at the same time, I think that's huge. um And I guess that's kind of how I like to kind of approach my my teachings on the ice.
Speaker: yeah yeah for sure and that's there's there's a lot of parallels from my experience there too like as it was a slightly different time back when i played like i'm a little bit older than you not too too much but even still like i was 17 the first time i heard of tracking a puck and like nowadays that just seems asinine right but yeah No, I like that's I think that's really what makes the good coaches is the ones that are like, you know, I want to provide what I didn't have. um
Speaker: Because, you know, you're really hitting those pain points that you've experienced and that, you know, a lot of the kids are experiencing as well. So I think that's good. Do you do you think though, like to your comment about the results-based business, what are your thoughts on, like, do you think that we're over-professionalizing the sport for kids a bit or kind of what are your thoughts on on how we're progressing in terms of, you know, the lower or the younger ages, I should say?
Speaker: Yeah. um Yeah, it's interesting, right? Because it's like you see... you see like at this age, there's U10 AAA now and like, you know, all these spring camps and, you know, kids are on the ice all year round.
Speaker: Um, so it's like, we're, we're kind of in a new, a new era of hockey, which is, you know, there's, there's definitely pros. Like, you know, there's a lot more, a lot more eyes, a lot more people than, you know, that want to be a part of the sport.
Speaker: Um, but with that, it just kind of maybe, is turning it more into a business. Like you see, uh, like you see like all of the, you know, the monopolies, some of the people have over minor hockey rinks. And, you know, I've read some articles about that and some of the stuff going on the States, but it's like, I, I'd like to think that, you know, the people, lot of people that are involved in the sport, you know, have, have the right head on their shoulders and,
Speaker: and have a good heart in the sense of it's like, you know, I think everyone who plays a sport loves it, loves it, you know, so much. And, and it is interesting to see like the side of it, of how competitive it's becoming and how,
Speaker: and how like diehard is becoming at a young age. So it's like, I mean, if I had, if I could tell, you know what i mean? A kid I'd say as soon as hockey season's done, go, go'll play lacrosse and baseball and, you what I mean? Be an athlete. Like you see,
Speaker: You see, like, you know what mean? It works for some people, but it didn't work for me. So it's ah it's an interesting it's an interesting day and age in that aspect. But I think overall, I think it'll be good for the sport to just kind of get as many people as we can involve. But but yeah, I think as we go forward, therere you know there they'll there'll be some complications like with financials and and competitiveness and you know and spots to be able to to spots to be able to get into at a younger age.
Speaker: Yeah, I. um I find that we've almost like as as everything like I use this analogy a lot when it comes to just like society in general, but it seems like when we try to fix things, we swing the pendulum way too much to one side as opposed to like trying to find a balance before we seem to swing back to the other side, um because, yeah, like.
Speaker: I looking at a lot of these 10 year olds, I mean, they're better than I was at 16. And, you know, I still played at a high level when I played. Right. So it's crazy to see the the development and the skill level that's out there.
Speaker: But I do agree at the same time, like, you know, one of the things that got me to where I got to is going out for, you know, three, four hours at the ODR and running, you know, like,
Speaker: three on O's and whatever for however long just battling. um Yeah. And I got to where I got to strictly on athleticism before I got some structure in junior. But Now I think trying to strike that balance, because I think we've almost gotten to the point of being too structured now where, you know, a lot of these kids don't really read the play as well. They don't improvise as well. They don't battle like they should. Like if their if their hand isn't where they think it should be to make a save, they get beat, right? yeah So i think I think we kind of need to swing that pendulum a little bit farther back and kind of find that balance of structure and still having, you know, some of that compete in that improvisation level.
Speaker: um What do you think, I guess, if, if you agree with that, which I think from the little bit we've interacted, you kind of do, but, what would you think would kind of be the best approach to maybe coming back a little bit away from the quote unquote roboticness or as Connor hates the cookie cutter goalie.
Speaker: Yeah. he He hates that term, but yeah. but yeah Yeah. i've heard I've heard cookie cutter goalie. I've heard robot goalie. I've heard Instagram goalie. Like I've heard all those terms, but I'd say like a big reason that, you know, I've been able to play as long as I have been was um my ability to read plays and my ability to be athletic.
Speaker: um And I think that when everything's out the window or know when I'm maybe not all there upstairs in a game, you know how it is, like every once in a while, you're just not there.
Speaker: i think when I... when I can fall back onto the way that I can, you know, read plays well and be athletic, like that can save me a couple, couple extra pucks. And I think growing up, like I was just always just go, go, go, go go in the net and just full of compete. And um never, I just hated getting scored on.
Speaker: So I think that like was, was a big part in my development. And like, honestly, like I talked about like when we're like how I was younger, like I didn't really have access to, you know, goalie coach. I think there was maybe a little bit of good in that as well, just to just play and just like build foundation and, and just being comfortable in the net and just flying around out there and, and just,
Speaker: playing the sport to have like that, that feel on that. And that, and almost that like being able to be a step in the ahead when you're, you don't even have the tools that you would be able to have if you, you know, would have been working on them. Right. So, and then once I got older and I was able to kind of sharpen in and iron out like different skills, like skating, tracking, this and that, like it kind of just like put it all together and just kind of,
Speaker: made me, you know, be a technically sound goalie, but also be able to, you know what i mean? When, when, when a two on O comes down, like it doesn't matter how well you can track a puck, you gotta to be able to kind of figure something out there. Right. Um, but yeah, I think there, I think there is like, there's, there's gotta be a healthy balance of just playing the sport. And then from there, you know, having that specialty training and, and that like more,
Speaker: robotic approach of just like being able to hit your spots and you know have the guy shoot at your chest and then move into this to kind of you know what mean iron out the technical side and and build those skills but also play hockey get a feel and just have fun doing it too Yeah, for sure. And that's why I was pretty excited when you reached out because the more we talk, um the more it's kind of like there's a lot of synergies there. And I'm happy that you hopped on board, at least for now with us. But so as we as we kind of work towards wrapping up here, I'm going to give you a little bit of a lightning round. So we'll kind of hammer out some some quick questions here. So um away from the rink, what's your favorite thing to do?
Speaker: um I love to watch movies and I love to play basketball. Those are my two those are my two things that I love to do. a lot of music too. So those are my that's my my little ah cocoon away from the rink, I'd say. All right. So which genres, movies and music?
Speaker: Genres of movie movies and music. So music, honestly, anything but country. I try to listen to country. get behind it. Maybe a little Morgan Wong, a little Luke Combs, like the more pop country I could listen to. But, you know, I'll listen to rap, to classic rock.
Speaker: A little bit of Frank Sinatra I like too. but movies, like, i live with I live with a couple buddies here that I grew up in Bonneville with, Caden and Kale Buck. They're big, like, movie buffs. Like, they they pride themselves in in, you know, their...
Speaker: their movie knowledge so they've been showing me a lot of cool uh older movies and like critically acclaimed movies so a lot i've i've learned and uh find out that a lot of my favorites are scorsese movies so yeah yeah that's good i uh me personally i'm i'm also country averse but um i will say chris stapleton because he's more kind of a bluesy rocky you know what it's found If it's warm out, you're on the lake, I can maybe get behind it. But, you know, there's yeah definitely a situation. That's for sure.
Speaker: Yeah. My wife's a big country girl. So there's some disconnect there. But yeah. ah yeah um What do you think's the kind of most important skill for a goalie if you had to pick one?
Speaker: Honestly, like.
Speaker: obviously what I talked about before, if like what we just talked about with the athleticism and be able to read plays, like that's extremely important, but you know, you can be athletic and you can't be able to skate, right? Like you gotta be able to skate. I think I've put a lot of time into my, into my skating and it's, it's hard to pick one, right? Cause it's almost like they're all interconnected and it's like beating your spots and then tracking over that puck and having good weight. And it's like, we can go, go on all day about just the tech side of it. But I think being able to one, just like,
Speaker: move around is pretty important as a goalie. So I think skating is obviously important. And then two, just being reactive and athletic. I think if I was to just like, you know what i mean? Tell a young kid in three words, ah you know, what, what, you know, you should be working on. I'd say skating and,
Speaker: You know what i mean? Athleticism obviously isn't just like you just get it right. Like that's like i always said before, like go play, it go play lacrosse, go play basketball, go to play soccer, baseball. You know what i mean? Like be a kid. And I think that, you know, that stuff can transition itself onto the ice as well.
Speaker: Yeah, for sure. um What's your pregame routine? If you don't mind me asking. it would it it would take It would take me so long to iron out everything, but I'll give you a general overview. But I'm pretty sure like every day is like up to 90% the same in what I'm doing. Obviously, stuff is going to change you know from...
Speaker: trafficking to the rink and this and that like little you know uncontrollables that i don't really let affect me but it's like you wake up go to the rink get a skate stretch out um you know hydration and then you know good breakfast lunch you know all of it stays the same like what i'm eating how much i'm drinking time i'm napping at um And then when I'm waking up, so from there, it's like I wake up for my pregame nap, I meditate, I shower, um get ready for the rink, get a Red Bull, sugar-free Red Bull, get to the rink, more meditation, some ball work, tape my stick.
Speaker: um Pretty much a lot of the time, the same playlist. um You know, it's like I... a lot of people always ask that about the superstition with goalies and stuff like that. It's like the way I look like from the way someone outside of the sport and like someone, you know what i mean? Just watching me from afar, it'd be like, that kid's insane. Like, you know, the superstition, like what is he doing? But it's like, I found it more to be a routine and like a series events.
Speaker: And the, and within these events, like things that helped me help iron out, my mind and get me prepared for stopping the puck and just being the best version of myself that day I can be. So it's like from, from an outside view, it can be viewed as superstitious, but it's my routine and it's what I do to get me prepared and almost get, get me not worrying about the external and then just being at a, being present and then intentional with what I'm doing.
Speaker: Yeah, for sure. All right. I got three more quick ones for you. What's your favorite hockey memory? Favorite hockey memory. um I'd say a new one would be winning the ECAC championship this year. i think that was just kind of all encompassing of, you know, ah the past years of college and, you know, my transition to Dartmouth and being able to be a part of building towards,
Speaker: you know this this year and the success we had of, you know this is the first Dartmouth team that's been in the national tournament since like 1950, the first time Dartmouth's ever won the ECAC championship. So I'd say that,
Speaker: that was big and that's something I'm going to carry with me and in uses momentum going forward. And know what mean? Once now that I've got a taste of that, like, it's like, I don't want anything besides that and more.
Speaker: Um, so I definitely say that, said that is just kind of, it's almost helped me kind of take steps forward and have that extra motivation for the summer and and going into next year. Yeah, it's it's one of those things that not everybody gets to experience a championship and it's a lot of fun when you do it. It's a good time. yeah um Favorite goalie?
Speaker: Favorite goalie. It's funny, like growing up, I always loved... First, it was Luongo. I was a big Vancouver fan. My dad was a Vancouver fan, so I think he's a little biased. He was like, oh, dad's cool. I'll follow whatever dad likes. But after I got in my Vancouver phase, I was always Jonathan Quick.
Speaker: um Jonathan Quick for for all those cup runs and you know the 2010s and you know the career that he had. And then as I you know started to grow and get older, I was like, wow, I'm not going to I'm going to be the farthest thing from Jonathan Quick. like I wish I could be Jonathan Quick, but my style is going to be a lot different.
Speaker: um So I think I started watching like John Gibson, and then from there it turned into Carey Price-Vasilevsky.
Speaker: I think those are two guys of, obviously they're physically different, and but they're just so dominant and so calm and able to take take control of games, and those are two guys that that that i you know that I loved being able to watch um growing through minor hockey.
Speaker: And obviously being able to still watch Vasilevskiy now hum is just something that's, you know what mean? he's He's one of a kind. He's he's like a Russian science experiment, but he's just like a beast out there.
Speaker: Yeah, for sure. And then last one, I guess, um I don't know if idol is the right word, but like outside of hockey, um like who do you kind of, do you pull inspiration kind of from anybody outside of hockey? Mm-hmm.
Speaker: I'd say the easiest answer is probably my parents. Just everything they sacrificed for me. But i guess like if I'm going to... I'll give you guys a ah better answer. But growing up,
Speaker: was able to to to get a lot of opportunities, like being able to skate with the Junior A Pontiacs and... spring hockey coaches and this and that. So, um, growing up, Rick Swan, Larry Draper, those were two guys, you know, they were coaches of the Pontiacs, uh, years ago now, but those are two guys that were, were always there for me and always had my best interests in mind. You know, they, as a 13 year old, were letting me come out and skate with the Pontiacs and, you know, working with their goalie coach. And like, obviously I was getting like torched. Like you just put a little kid there, get like shots ripped by his ear, but it's like,
Speaker: I like the credit all of my success and all of my, you know, all of the, you know, how far I've come to, to the opportunity, they opportunities they presented me with at a young age, like,
Speaker: getting the, getting almost a head start for, for junior hockey. And then just, ah just in general, like knowing them and picking their brain and having them to kind of, you know, be there for me and give me advice. And, you know, they coach me in spring hockey and just to see the way that they carry themselves and things that they've taught me, like just posture when you're sitting and talking to adults, like that's something that I still do. Like,
Speaker: They taught me to put my hands on my knees, um you know sit up with a straight back and and be attentive. And that's something that I still do to this day. you know Whether it's you know whoever's talking to me, it's just something that they instilled in me at a young age. So um yeah, I credit a lot of my lot of my my journey and ability to to them and the opportunities they provided me.
Speaker: Yeah, never met him, but I have heard really good things about Swanee. I have yeah had interactions with Drapes. he's He's an interesting character, but he's beauty. He's one of kind. He'll tell you a sausage. that was That was his little nickname he gave the boys, so he'd call us sausages. So, yeah, love them. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, he's interesting interesting. Well, I mean, I very much appreciate you coming on and and sharing some insights and some background. um Probably have to do it again at some point, you know, after you wrap up the NCAA career and kind of see what what happens from there. But yeah, good luck moving forward, continuing there. Is there anything like i don't know if you're a big social media guy, but is there anything that, you know, people can maybe check you out or follow what's going on with you or or anything like that?
Speaker: Yeah, yeah. um I guess Instagram, like I use Instagram still. So I think it's at Emmett, C-R-O-T. So yeah, you can follow me there if you'd like, but happy to answer any DMs from, you know, younger goalies on, you know, advice. And obviously, you know, if you work with True North, like that's, you know, something I'll be a part of this summer and ah excited for that. So appreciate it.
Speaker: Yeah, no, appreciate you coming on. We'll put that in the show notes for you guys to check out. so But yeah, Emmett's been, for the small little bit, we've had him on board. He's been really good talking to some of our goalies and kind of providing some insights. And I expect that we'll probably continue throughout the summer. i Appreciate you guys tuning in as always. You guys can check us out at True North Goaltending on all of our social media channels, except Instagram is yegggoaliecoach. If you like the show, you can share it with you know the goalie community give us a like give us a follow all of that stuff helps us out and as always you can check out truenorthgoaltending.com for any of our bookings for camps or sessions um eventually the merch will be back up there and uh and kind of any of our articles and drills um as always goalies you guys make some saves take care we'll see you guys next time
