Nikita Tolopilo is a big goalie. Ian Clark is happy about him.
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Vancouver Canucks director of goaltending Ian Clark likes “size” in his goalies.
There’s little doubt Nikita Tolopilo, the large 23-year-old Belarusian goalie the Canucks signed this spring, has a number of size to him.
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He’s six-foot-six.
Being tall isn’t the one factor that goes into “size,” Clark has defined prior to now. Athleticism, quickness, elasticity, will. These all go into the equation.
Thatcher Demko is a superb instance of such a goalie. Arturs Silovs is rising into one. Aku Koskenvuo, the large Finn drafted by the Canucks in 2021, is one other.
And now there’s Tolopilo.
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After spending the final two years enjoying for Sodertalje within the HockeyAllsvenskan, the Swedish second division, Tolopilo seems to be on fairly the trajectory.
He had a rocky begin to his time in Sweden in 2021-22, however by the tip of the season had discovered his means, after which within the relegation playoffs, helped Sodertalje keep away from the drop. He posted a 95.1 save share throughout six relegation playoff video games, profitable 4 instances.
After which this previous season he was a power: in 45 video games, he posted a 92.4 save share — fourth-best within the Allsvenskan — serving to Sodertalje to a fourth-place end.
Expertise, after all, is a giant a part of Tolopilo’s story, however studying about the right way to maximize himself has been the most important step he has taken since shifting to Sweden two years in the past, he advised reporters this week throughout the Canucks’ summer season growth camp on the College of B.C.
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“Your meals. Your sleep. That’s what I realized in Sweden the final two years,” he mentioned, in very clean English.
“I truly began to grasp it’s not a small factor in hockey. Small issues make a giant distinction, that’s true,” he added. “Ice is vital, but it surely’s like plenty of work exterior the rink. In order that’s actually vital.
“Two years in the past, earlier than doing this, after which now, it’s like two completely different folks.”
He has been a goalie for many of his life, however he first began to essentially take into consideration method when he was 15 and moved to Switzerland for a season, to play for Fribourg-Grotteron’s U-17 staff.
His goalie coach there was ex-NHLer David Aebischer.
“He was actually good,” he recalled. Then he was again in Belarus, the place he performed for the nationwide junior squads, which in these days additionally performed video games within the Belarusian skilled leagues as preparation for worldwide competitors.
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In 2019, he signed with Dinamo Minsk of the KHL and performed two seasons, then he was off to Sweden.
His performances in Sweden caught the attention of NHL scouts. A half-dozen or so NHL groups began to point out curiosity in him this season, he mentioned.
The possibility to work with Clark and his assistant Marko Torenius was what bought him on the Canucks.
“That’s the most important factor why,” he mentioned. “I’m tremendous excited to work with them, and I actually consider that can assist me.”
His summer season has already been a busy one. Sodertalje’s season led to March, however the staff held an low season camp on the finish of April and Tolopilo mentioned he has mainly been coaching continuous since then.
He hasn’t been in a position to return to Belarus since signing in Sweden. He didn’t say it, however just like the Canucks’ different Belarusian, Danila Klimovich, there’s apparent fear about with the ability to go away Belarus when you go for a go to, due to Belarus’ assist for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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It’s been onerous not being along with his household, he acknowledged.
“That’s the hardest half. However I used to be speaking about this with my household and my lady. … I could be at dwelling, however possibly I’ll by no means get an opportunity to play within the NHL or signal an NHL contract. So it’s a must to perceive that, so that you do (this) for one thing,” he defined.
Now he’s targeted on being prepared for coaching camp in September. Because it stands, he’s more likely to be one in every of three goalies to start out the yr with Abbotsford, though how Clark and Torenius plan to separate enjoying time up within the AHL isn’t but identified.
Tolopilo mentioned that the Canucks hadn’t but laid out a plan for him for the approaching season and Clark wasn’t giving any playing cards away this week when queried concerning the triumvirate that might be in Abbotsford.
However Tolopilo isn’t fussed. He simply desires to play.
“Now, simply after camp, take a little bit bit (of a) break for one week. Simply spend time with my girlfriend, then come again once more to observe,” he mentioned.
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Originally posted 2023-07-05 21:31:13.
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