Goalies in hockey are usually viewed as unique characters with quirky personalities. Often they rely on superstitions that will carry them through. Regina Pats goalie Drew Sim likes some normalcy to his day which has led to above-normal results for his team.
Even though he doesn’t subscribe to superstitions himself, Sim has a typical routine ahead of a game.
In an interview with Michael Ball on the SportsCage, the Pats goalie says a routine begins heading down to the rink at 10:00 where he tries to get in a stretch. Following his morning at the rink, he will return home for a nap, and then after a pre-game meal, it’s back to the rink for the game.
Last weekend was a big one for Sim as he earned victories against two of the top teams in the Western Hockey League, the Saskatoon Blades and the Portland Winterhawks. He said after the big win against the Blades, the goalie didn’t want to mess with success, so he decided to wear the same suit on Saturday that he wore on Friday night before the contest against Saskatoon. The 19-year-old was not only looking good off the ice, but also on it. He ended up with a pair of wins on the weekend, including a 30-save effort against the Winterhawks.
This season as the number one goalie for Regina, the Tees, Alberta product has a 17-10-1 record with a 3.26 GAA (Goals Against Average) and a .897 SAV% (Save Percentage)
A talented goalie like Sim even needs some luck at practice on occasion when he has teammates like Connor Bedard and Alexander Suzdalev. The goalie thinks he is prepared for action when he has to go up against some of the top shooters in the WHL on a daily basis.
“It’s unbelievable to watch and to be a part of every day.”
The sharp shooting from Bedard and Suzdalev can cause some frustration for the goalies according to Sim.
“That does nothing but make you better, even though it’s probably the most annoying thing ever when they probably 15-20 goals in a row.”
Following the return of their captain to the lineup, the Pats have rattled off three straight wins. Their record is now 21-19-1-1.
Sim says the Pats are playing a complete game and are working as a team, not as individuals.
“The boys are hot, we were all saying that after the Portland game, we’re doing a lot of things right, a lot of the little things right now.”
He also noted the return of Bedard and Stanislav Svozil has paid off for the rest of the lineup.
“Some of our younger players have taken a lesser role being able to control what they can control and do the little things.”
This weekend the Pats will meet the Swift Current Broncos in a home-and-home set. Regina leads Swift Current by three points for the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference with the Broncos owning three games in hand.
Sim hopes that no luck or superstitions are required for the Pats during an important weekend.
