As the NHL draft approaches, there is always talk about goaltenders being late-bloomers
For Soo Greyhounds netminder Matthew Villalta, a growth spurt and a keen eye led to the Godfrey, Ont. product opening some eyes in his first season of major junior hockey.
“This year was a lot of fun for me,” Villalta said. “The guys were great. From my teammates to the coaching staff to the management, they treated me and the rest of the guys really well. They definitely made my first year in Sault. Ste. Marie really fun. I really enjoyed it.”
After a rookie season that saw him post a 25-3-0-0 record and a 2.41 goals against average, the pro scouts have taken notice.
“When you see the raw tools that are there, it’s something that’s hard to teach,” said Greyhounds General Manager Kyle Raftis. “When he adds some strength and power to his game, that could jump to another level.
“He’s someone who doesn’t get discouraged at all,” Raftis added. “He’s one of those guys that works extremely hard in practice. The players see that and play really hard in front of him.”
Having interviewed with numerous teams, the 18-year-old netminder said he isn’t sure if he’ll be selected this weekend “but if I do get drafted, it will be a dream come true.”
“My focus right now is on Sault Ste. Marie and the upcoming season,” Villalta added. “I want to get stronger this summer and prepare myself for the upcoming season.”
Some notoriety has come with Villalta’s success as a rookie. That has meant meeting with NHL teams.
“It’s really fun,” Villalta said of meeting with teams. “You get an idea about what the team has to offer and you get an idea of what the scouts have to say about how you’ve played. Getting the chance to talk to them is pretty cool.”
Villalta went on to say that as much as there was an enjoyment in speaking with scouts and getting a sense of what they thought of his game, he continued to keep focus on his game.
“I didn’t really think too much about it so it wasn’t really too hard to juggle (meeting with teams and keeping focus on the ice),” Villalta said. “I just didn’t really think about it too much and that helped.”
Villalta spoke of the strong bond he has with veteran Greyhounds goaltender Joseph Raaymakers.
“He was a great mentor for me,” Villalta said. “He was a really good supporter for me.
“Me and Ray are great friends,” Villalta also said. “We have a lot of fun in the room and at the rink. On the ice in practice, it’s a battle but it’s a friendly competition. We both love it. We have a lot of fun competing for that starting spot. We’re always pushing each other to get better. It’s a really healthy relationship.”
Like many players at the junior level, Villalta said he hopes to get stronger in the off-season while continuing to improve his overall game.
“Off the ice, getting my lower body stronger is going to help me get my foot speed a lot quicker in the crease,” Villalta said.
Villalta spent a lot of time with veteran Greyhounds defenceman Colton White, who has been through the draft process before.
“He taught me a lot this year,” Villalta said of the veteran blueliner and a prospect of the New Jersey Devils. “He taught me how to eat right and how to work out. I worked out with him a lot in the gym and he helped me get a lot stronger in the last year.”
Villalta went on to credit the likes of White and how the veteran was able to help him learn the process of going through the draft.
“It definitely means a lot,” Villalta said. “Even when I would talk to scouts on the phone, he helped me prepare for that because he went through that before. He was a big help for me and a great role model for me. I was really fortunate to live with him this year and have him guide me through my first year.”
The draft begins on Friday night at Chicago’s United Centre. Round one begins at 7 p.m. Rounds two through seven are set to begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday.