Ultimate Pat on the back for goalie
Memorial Cup boosts Paddock’s NHL draft hype
REGINA Max Paddock’s whirlwind season isn’t quite over yet.
The Regina Pats goaltender is hoping his improbable ascent from little-known backup to Memorial Cup all-star will culminate at the NHL draft, which runs June 22 and 23 in Dallas.
Although there’s no guarantee he’ll be selected, Paddock has clearly forced NHL talent evaluators to take notice with an outstanding rookie season that ended Sunday when he was named the second star in the Memorial Cup final, which ended in a 3-0 Acadie-Bathurst Titan win.
“It’s crazy to think that’s a possibility,” said Paddock, 17. “I would have never thought I would be in this position to potentially get drafted. I have my fingers crossed right now hoping for the best.”
Paddock wasn’t on the NHL radar until the Pats’ previous No. 1, Ryan Kubic, was injured Feb. 9, forcing Regina to throw its young backup into the fire. He ended up playing 16 of Regina’s final 20 regular-season games, staking his claim to the No. 1 job with a 13-2-1 record, 2.33 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.
“I never thought I would get the opportunity that I got; it’s hard to put into words,” he said. “For sure, it’s crazy to go from not even being sure if you’re going to make the team … and then getting thrown into a bunch of games and holding my own. I couldn’t picture it happening in a better way.”
Paddock was unable to dress for a first-round WHL playoff series against the Swift Current Broncos after suffering a freak injury in practice. Regina lost that series in seven games, but it got a second chance six weeks later as the Memorial Cup tournament host.
The Pats were in the midst of their hiatus when NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings for the 2018 draft. Paddock made his first appearance on the list at No. 3 among draft-eligible WHL goaltenders and 22nd overall in North America.
His ranking would certainly have improved had it been released after the Memorial Cup in Regina, where he became a national sensation. Paddock was named a tournament all-star while backstopping Regina to the championship final.
“It’s the biggest stage I’ve played on,” said Paddock, who posted a 3-1 record, 3.65 GAA and .902 save percentage — numbers that were inflated by his team’s lone round robin loss (an 8-6 Acadie-Bathurst victory).
“(The Memorial Cup) was the best experience, whether it’s in hockey or just in life, learning how to handle the media stuff and being able to focus. It’s for sure a memory that will last a lifetime.”
Paddock’s remarkable rookie season could have a storybook ending if he’s drafted by an NHL team. That said, he knows from experience that it’s not the be all and end all after waiting until the 10th round of the 2015 WHL bantam draft to be selected by the Pats.
“It doesn’t matter where you go or if you go,” he said. “It’s what you do after the draft that matters. Whether I get drafted or don’t get drafted, I’ll be motivated to get to the next level.”