'He's our MVP': Calgary Canucks goaltender Julian Molinaro continues to thrive in the postseason
Calgary Canucks goaltender Julian Molinaro knows what it takes to get to the Centennial Cup.
He did it last year with the Ontario Junior Hockey League's Collingwood Blues. It’s a big reason why the Canucks acquired him in the offseason and Molinaro says he thinks the Canucks have the team to get there this year.
“We have a great group,” said the 20-year-old.
“Definitely really good coaches who have put in a good system and something just feels right about our group. It feels like we’re destined for something so just want to keep going and continue the wave we’re on.”
Big-time playoff performer
Molinaro has come as advertised. He’s a goaltender who makes a difference, especially at playoff time.
He’s played in all 13 of the Canucks playoff games and has a 10-3 record with a 2.50 goals-against average.
Head coach Brad Moran says it’s a big reason why his team is just two wins away from winning the AJHL Championship.
“He’s our MVP,” said Moran.
“The top goalie in the league and he’s shown that. It’s his demeanour I think. His approach every day and that rubs off on the guys. They’re confident that when we make a mistake he’s there for us and if he makes a mistake we’re there for him. I think that’s the feeling and the experience that he can bring at this stage of the season is the main reason we brought him here.”
Changed his ways
Molinaro is counted on for his leadership but says he’s changed a lot this season.
He says in the past he had a lot of superstitions but he’s cut down on those in a big way.
“I have a really good mental coach, Dr. Alicia Naser, and when I first got going with her we went down through everything I do before a game and it was like three pages of superstitions,” said Molinaro.
“I’ve changed my ways and cut it down. I’ve started becoming a lot looser before games. I used to not talk to anyone on game days, kind of the Billy Smith (former New York Islanders goalie) routine but now I’m a lot looser I’d say and a lot less weird,” he laughed.
“Yeah, I think it’s better for my teammates because they can actually talk to me now on game days instead of just being intimidated. It just makes it easier around the room and I can joke a little bit before games and not be worried about the outcome on the ice because I’m ready to go.”
In the driver's seat
The Canucks are up two games to none in the series after two impressive wins to start the series in Whitecourt.
Molinaro says he and his teammates won’t be getting too far ahead of themselves.
“I’d say we’re confident because we’ve won two but we don’t change the way we start tonight,” he said.
“We’re going to play like we’re down two and continue to have that desperation and that fire inside of us and just keep going and not worry about the score of the series. Just take it one game at a time like every other game this series.”
Game three is on Tuesday night at the Ken Bracko Arena at Max Bell. The puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. Game four is Wednesday night, also at the Ken Bracko arena.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Here's what every key witness said at Donald Trump's hush money trial. Closing arguments are coming
After 22 witnesses, including a porn actor, tabloid publisher and White House insiders, testimony is over at Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York.
More seniors are using homeless shelters. Here's why, according to experts
One of the country’s homeless shelters has seen an uptick in the number of people through its doors, including more older adults over 50.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Norway hands over papers for diplomatic recognition to the Palestinian prime minister
Norway on Sunday handed over diplomatic papers to the Palestinian prime minister in the latest step toward recognizing a Palestinian state, a largely symbolic move that has infuriated Israel.
Man or machine? Toronto company finds a way to determine how real audio clips are
The Toronto-based research arm of life sciences technology firm Klick Health has found a way to analyze voices in a manner that’s so granular, it can tell whether it's a person or an artificial intelligence-powered machine.
J.H. Tabaret statue at uOttawa vandalized
The statue of J.H. Tabaret at the University of Ottawa (uOttawa) has been vandalized, as a picture taken by CTV News shows red paint sprayed all over it.