Canadian Youth Winter Olympics goalie Colin Ellsworth is ready to take on bigger challenges in the Ontario Hockey League.
The netminder for the U16 AAA York-Simcoe Express of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association is eligible for the upcoming OHL draft on April 12-13. While he recognizes the difficulties he may possibly face playing at the next level, he’s excited for the opportunity.
“The speed of the game is going to be a lot faster, the play moves can be a lot faster. I have to be a lot quicker and have to make decision a lot faster and also respecting every shot, because (OHL players) can really shoot the puck,” said Ellsworth, “It’s something I’ll have to adapt to if I want to play at that level. Adapting to it will be hard at the start, but I think I’m ready and able to do that.”
Fuelling that confidence is his experience helping Canada finish fourth at the Youth Winter Olympics in Gangwon, South Korea earlier this year.
Being named to the team was “a great milestone for me and it's a great gauge to see sort of where I'm at,” which made the entire trip a memorable one for Ellsworth.
“I have things around my house that say Canada on it, but I never thought that I'll actually be representing my country,” he said.
Being named to the Canadian team will help his stock with OHL teams, he believes, and “it's always been my goal to get drafted.”
“It's obviously an honour to get drafted by an OHL team,” he added.
Ellsworth was inspired to become a goalie after playing the position in the NHL 15 video game.
He loves the impact a goalie can have on his team and understands the importance of the role. He believes a goalie can both win and lose games single-handedly.
Ellsworth feels his skillset makes him perfectly suited for the role.
“Reading the play is a big strength in my game and then tracking the puck, being able to read the release and tracking it into my glove to make a good save,” he explained. “I have great rebound control which helps bail me out in some situations where I don't have to make a huge save, but I can make a more simple one.”
Ellsworth’s mother, Oy, describes her son as an organized and “very disciplined” person off the ice, traits that help with his pre-game routine and while playing.
“He likes to know what's coming up, so he can plan his time and can get everything that he needs to get done,” she said. “He's got it in his mind about when he has to eat, when he's going to warm up, when he's got to pack. But he did this even throughout his summers, working through trying to set up a routine. He would get up at 7:30 (a.m.) in the summer and begin his stretches, exercise, and eat.”
Ellsworth is passionate about the sport and says hockey is always in the back of his mind.
He always reflects on his play once the final buzzer sounds and “If I don’t have a great game, I’m definitely thinking about what I can do better,” he said.
At the same time, he also understands the need for balance and to sometimes let things go “and enjoy my time at home and with friends and with my family.”
About the author: Isaac Hung is a student in Sport Journalism post-grad program at Centennial College.