Castle gearing up for S90

[animal74 1,824]

 

Credit: @kirbithan

 

With the start of S90 fast approaching, the excitement is building among Toronto fans as they wait to see if the team's bold off-season moves will translate to much longed for on-ice success. The revamped offense looks to score way more goals than last season and if the defense can stay near its stinginess of the last campaign, then that formula should equal more wins then the Legion have secured in quite a while.

More wins is music to starting goaltender Joel Castle's ears as he prepares for his fourth VHL season. Having averaged only 20 wins in his previous three seasons (all with Toronto), Castle is fully embracing the challenge to be in tip-top shape to start the season and not waste the opportunity the Legion have to be one of the top teams in the North American Conference.

"After working with our trainers on skills for the better part of my first three seasons, I have been working more on my physicality this off-season - flexibility, strength, footwork, etc. I need to be able to be in peak condition for the entire year," said Castle during a post-camp interview. "I can't flounder in the later stages of the season like I did the final quarter of last year (going 6-10-2 and allowing 4 or more goals in 7 of those games). That just won't cut it if we want to make the playoffs this year. And let's be real, our goal is not to just make the playoffs but be contenders. And having the new guys here who are hungry to win a Cup, that just makes all of us want to work harder and win for them, too."

 

Castle elaborated on his training regimen which included a variety of activities such as swimming, yoga, hiking, and rock climbing – just to ensure a full-body work out and not to leave out any muscle group.

 

“I’ve focusing on getting stronger in my core, but also staying lean and gaining explosiveness. I’ve also been tweaking my technique and working on thinking about the plays developing in front of me and then let my body and muscle memory take over and just be in the best possible position to make the save and then potentially the next one.”

 

Obviously one of the most talented young goalies in the league, Castle hopes to follow in fellow S86 draftmate Lachlan Summers’ steps and lead Toronto to a Continental Cup while still entering his prime as Summers did with Davos last season. Summers was drafted 12^th by Davos in the S86 Draft and Castle was selected by Toronto with the next pick.

 

“I was cheering for Lachlan the whole way,” said Castle when asked about his rival and friend’s success. “And I’m so happy he won and played such an important role. He’s been an inspiration, just seeing how his game has developed and how brilliant he played last season has been a big motivation for me going into S90.”

 

Then his face hardened and his eyes stared straight ahead. “But we’re gunning for that Cup. If Davos wants to repeat, they have to come through us. We’ll be ready.”