by Shannon Penfound, Staff Writer and Event Coordinator, All Habs Hockey Magazine

WINNIPEG, MB. — As Habs fans pondered the future of the team’s goaltenders, Marc Bergevin quietly came to an agreement with the Jets which resulted in Peter Budaj packing his bags for Winnipeg just three days shy of the start of the 2014-2015 season. It has been rumoured that Budaj asked for a trade after being benched during this past season’s playoff run following an injury to the Canadiens’ starter, Carey Price. So what does this mean for the new, undisputed back-up goaltender of the Montreal Canadiens, Dustin Tokarski?

First and foremost, congratulations are in order. Tokarski battled against the New York Rangers, rallying both teammates and fans alike, bringing a feeling  of confidence to the position. The outpouring of positive comments from fans and rivals all over the league reinforced what some already knew: this kid is the real deal. Tokarski has earned a ‘winning’ reputation, having secured the Telus Cup, Memorial Cup, and Calder Cup, as well as having been awarded the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy and the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy following his Calder win in 2008. His grit and determination during the third round of the playoffs last season indicates that he has the mental and physical ability to succeed in the NHL.

In addition to physical talent, an NHL goalie requires three main attributes in order to succeed: concentration, confidence, and character. We understand that the ability to remain focused for an entire game is often key in securing a victory. For a goaltender, focusing on relevant cues on the ice and maintaining situational awareness is imperative. Situational awareness allows an athlete to ‘size up’ their competition¹. For example, it allows a goaltender to decipher when an opposing player may choose to shoot the puck instead of passing it off to a teammate who may actually have a more open shooting lane. Situational awareness can also help goaltenders to make the best decisions while under pressure¹. Being able to make snap decisions in movement and body placement, and knowing when to play the puck, are just a few examples. Tokarski is a quick-moving goaltender who seems to skate and move the puck relatively well. He also understands the demands of a high-paced game. And let’s not forget this amazing glove save on Martin St. Louis, showcasing Tokarski’s ability to maintain awareness and focus in the net during high-pressure situations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug10gZo7YGs

One thing we know for sure is that Tokarski doesn’t lack confidence. Stepping in for one of the best goaltenders in the world, as well as ahead of the team’s back-up, would likely cause a few athletes to sweat. If Tokarski was nervous last season, he certainly didn’t show it. When questioned about the tough decision faced by the Montreal staff regarding the back-up position this season, Tokarski stated that he only worries about doing his best,

“I just worry about the things I can control. I go on the ice and do my best and when I’m off the ice, I work hard…There’s always going to be situations where you have to battle for your spot, you can’t get comfortable. So, I’m just taking this like any other year and trying to do my thing².” – Dustin Tokarski

Calm words from a 25-year-old with only 15 NHL games under his belt, vying for a chance to back-up the likes of Carey Price. Confidence comes in many different forms. For elite athletes, confidence in ability and physical fitness are often the most cited, however, one’s confidence in their ability to use perceptual skills (such as decision-making and adapting to changing situations) also received much discussion¹. For goaltenders in particular, confidence has been shown to affect concentration levels. For example, when a goaltender feels confident, he is able to focus freely on the task at hand and his concentration is at its peak¹. So, we can begin to see how concentration and confidence levels are linked.

Now some Habs fans may give me grief for this, but I do think that character is a huge factor in athlete development. We have heard Marc Bergevin utter this word often in the past year, but what does he mean when he says he is searching for athletes with ‘character’? In my opinion, character means that the athlete encompasses a positive presence both on and off the ice. These individuals work well with their teammates, appreciate their abilities & sacrifices, and encourage positive performances, even when facing defeat. Additionally, someone with character typically believes in fairness and integrity¹.

It is not a surprise that Bergevin would want to encourage athletes with these types of behaviours, and surely, he believes that Tokarski exhibits this type of positive influence on his teammates. When we examine the caliber of players on the Montreal bench, we see depth both skill-wise and character-wise. So much so, in fact, that four alternate captains were chosen to start this season. On October 4^th, we saw Carey Price awarded the Jean Béliveau trophy for his community contributions, and Habs fans know that Price is also a huge contributing factor to the Canadiens success due to his positive influence on the team. Like the term or not, character is important.

So as we count down the final days until the puck drops on this upcoming season, I tip my hat to Peter Budaj and the time he spent in Montreal. I look forward to witnessing Dustin Tokarski in net for the Canadiens as their official back-up goalie this season. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Tokarski move on to be an impeccable starting goaltender in the league, perhaps sooner rather than later.

1. Weinberg, R.S., & Gould, D. (2011). Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology. (5^th). Champaign,IL: Human Kinetics.
2.  Montreal Canadiens. (September 24, 2014). RAW: Dustin Tokarski. Retrieved from http://video.canadiens.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=66&lang=en.