OverDrive - Wolf on his impressive season in the crease, representing the Flames and the race for the Calder Trophy

Episode Date: March 19, 2025

Calgary Flames Goaltender Dustin Wolf joined OverDrive to discuss his impressive season with the Flames, the transition of progressing to the NHL level, the race for the Calder Trophy, playing in a playoff hunt, the role as a goaltender, the jump of the game in California and more.

All new, all Canadian, the best of our great nation, one song at a time. This is Justin Bieber. Hi, this is Terry Clark. We are Nickelback. Made in Canada, on iHeartRadio. Rock, pop, hip-hop, and when it comes to country, it's the true north all the way. Loud and proud. An all new digital radio station from coast to coast.

Made in Canada, played in Canada. On the free iHeartRadio app and at iHeartRadio.ca. It's gonna get loud. From Matthew Starr! Tonight. He's doing it again! On TSN 1050. Your Toronto Maple Leafs are in tough

against Cale McCarr and the Colorado Avalanche. Coverage starts at 7 p.m. Hear it all on TSN 1050. Your Toronto Maple Leafs are in tough against Kale McCarr and the Colorado Avalanche. Coverage starts at 7pm. Hear it all on TSN 1050. The Leafs live here. Now, back to Overdrive with Hayes, Noodles and the O-Dog. Alright, best bets later in the hour. Leafs, Avalanche tonight should be a great game. And we got a guy on the line here is having just a phenomenal rookie season. He's already started or he's played in 41 games. I know you love that noodles, right? Young goalie that's he's going to hit 50.

Like he wants to play. He's going to play. His numbers have been great all year. He's really young. You've been talking about him for years. Like this guy's coming. Dustin Wolf is on his way. He's really young. You've been talking about him for years like this guy's coming Dustin Wolf is on his way. He's on his way. They believed in him greatly They moved Markstrom out to open up that opportunity for him And he's taking full opportunity of it and full advantage of it and again like we've been saying we've been pumping his tires all year

Exactly in the hunt for the for the Calder Trophy here. He is the starting goalie for the Calgary Flames Here's Dustin Wolfe. How you doing Dustin? Good, how are you guys? We're doing very well I think we just popped your your tires enough, but I'm sure you're getting that everywhere I mean what has allowed you to be so comfortable in your rookie season in the NHL? You know at the end of the day it's still hockey right You know, at the end of the day, it's still hockey, right? You're still getting to play the sport you love and nothing changes with that, right? And the only thing that changes is how good the players on the other side are.

And that was, it's always an adjustment period, right? You've got to figure out how to manage your game and figure out what works best for you. It just kind of started to click from the start of the year. Obviously, there's still kinks you have to work out along the way, but things are going pretty well. Well, Dustin, you've had everywhere you've gone, right? From the Western Hockey League to the AHL and now to the National Hockey League, you've had success. You know, from the AHL to the National Hockey League, what have you noticed as far as the

biggest adjustment, you know, in the shooters and the style of play and everything? Yeah, I mean, the obvious answer would be guys can shoot the puck a little harder and place it better. You know, guys are crisp with their plays and they know what they want to do before they execute it. You know, that's the biggest thing is there's no dust. It's on their tape, off their tape and you know, kind of just being aware of what's going on around you is super important and that's been a big

piece of my game this year and you're playing against the best players in the world and if you're not ready they're going to expose you so it's kind of a treat to get to see everyone's best each and every night and you're trying to do your best to shut everyone down to the best of your ability. So when you started cooking at the beginning of the season, did you go to the coach and say I think I should play more and I think it's kind of early but I could be the guy or did he tell you that? Was it a conversation or did it just happen organically?

No, not at all. I think it just kind of happened as time went on. You know, the first 40 games, me and Vlade pretty much split equally. And, you know, when you're in the moment, you obviously want to play more. You play well and you think you'll be getting more opportunities, but at the same time, they have a good idea on what, you idea on what plan they had in mind. It's kind of worked pretty flawlessly if you look back on it now. Really being able to get my feet wet, kind of feel comfortable with the theme and the system and all the extra things that come with playing in the NHL, with the travel and all the other

stuff. But once the midway mark kind of hit, they were obviously happy with how I was playing and they gave me more opportunities. And obviously I'm super grateful for them to give me that chance and I want to keep proving them right with that. So, it's your first full season in the National Hockey League. You got 17 games last year, but now it's full-time job for you. Do you have a favorite rink outside the dome now, or maybe a favorite team you like to

play against, or you've had a little bit of success and you feel real comfortable? Yeah, I mean any rink is outstanding. I think one that sticks out was probably Montreal. That was an incredible atmosphere. You know, that's the hotbed of hockey and, you know, it's certainly a pretty remarkable building. I think I really enjoy playing against any California theme. You know, I think that kind of provides a little extra motivation being from the state and, you know, I've kind of been around all three clubs to some degree, you know, growing

up and, you know, just going back to the home state is, it's fun and, you know, you want to, you want to show out when you're there and I certainly have enjoyed playing them thus far. You mentioned California, what was the getting into hockey? Was it just all your buddies did it or it doesn't seem like a normal, you know, California's baseball, golf, how did it develop in California, you growing up playing hockey? Yeah, my parents had tickets to the Sharks for numerous amounts of years so that kind of got me into the hockey Honestly, I didn't like you said hockey is not big in California. He said really wasn't at that time and

So my mom just took me skating one day and next thing you know you're enrolled in the Learn to Play program and it kind of flies by after that. The next thing you know you're strapping on pads and you're getting in front of a rubber and here we are. It's kind of crazy how things are. How did the pads start though start though most parents say my kids not playing goalie Yeah, I mean I didn't I don't think I really gave my parents much of an option No, I was always the one to volunteer to Stand in the net with with player gear and at that time. I didn't really have goalies for teams

But I just said screw it let's do it and you know, they were they were fully behind me on and You know, it's worked out this firm So my understanding is you were a nabby fan first Nabokov and then on to Jonathan quick Can you imagine your goaltender coach? Nabokov and then on to Jonathan Quick. Can you imagine your goaltender coach, Barb's right now, say if you made a skate save like Nabokov, there's no chance you could play like him in the National Hockey League right now, but I do believe he was one of your idols early on, was he not? Absolutely. Naby was the guy I grew up watching and he's a one of a kind and I'm very grateful

He's a one of a kind and I'm very grateful to have been able to cross paths with him over the last few years. Playing in the American League, he would watch the Barracuda a bunch. So I'd see him walking around the rink. Obviously, when I moved to LA, Quickie was in the middle of his ridiculous years there and I was kind of around the organization with Rob Blake and Nelson Everson being our coaches growing up. So when they won two cups and I got to just kind of be around that atmosphere, it was pretty neat and obviously pretty cool to see Quickie on the other side. Obviously I haven't gotten to play against him but you know

he gifted me a stick in the mid part of the season and they'll certainly be hung on my wall forever. With Dustin Wolfe of the Calgary Flames so as of now it seems like it's a three horse race for the Calder. You mentioned playing in Montreal. Lane Hudson would be right there playing against San Jose. That would be Macklin Celebrini. You know, you've referenced both markets now, and those are two guys you're kind of battling with.

Do you see it that way? Like, is it a battle in terms of these individual awards? And how do you balance, you know, that, which would be an incredible achievement with the fact that you guys are also in a playoff on right now Yeah, I think the battle right now is the playoff No, I don't ever want to look at you know individual accolades and say I'm pushing for For something when the reality of it is I don't have control of that, right? you know, I have control of stopping as manyucks as I can and helping our team get two

points every night and you know our team is battled each and every game all year and we're continuing to prove people wrong and you know getting into the playoffs is the number one priority and if the individual stuff comes along with that then you know I don't take it. Absolutely. Well you're deserving of it the way you've been playing. I mean it's been a great great year. Your team got a big win last night at the Garden. That I'm sure was a really cool scene and we're pulling for you guys. So good luck the rest of the way Dustin. Good luck again with the call the pursuit and we appreciate you doing this today thank you no thanks guys thanks for having me on you got it

Dustin Wolf Rock, pop, hip hop, and when it comes to country, it's the true north all the way. Loud and proud. An all new digital radio station from coast to coast. Made in Canada, played in Canada. On the free iHeartRadio app and at iHeartRadio.ca. It's gonna get loud.