DiPietro ‘gamer’ right from the start
Memorial Cup winner will be counted on for big minutes in Ontario Hockey League
WINDSOR, Ont. — A year ago, goalie Mikey DiPietro was thought to be a question mark in the Windsor Spitfires’ quest for a Memorial Cup.
No one questioned the Amherstburg, Ont., native’s talent, but in junior hockey few believe a player, just 17 at the time, could handle the pressure and the responsibility of leading a team in that situation.
A year later and after being named the top goalie at the tournament and backstopping Windsor to the Memorial Cup title, the Spitfires will be counting heavily on the Vancouver Canucks draft pick to carry the team if the team hopes to have any success this season.
“I really enjoyed being the question mark,” said DiPietro, 18, who returned to Spitfires practice Tuesday after attending Vancouver’s camp.
“Keep asking questions, keep trying to doubt me and I can prove you wrong.
“You want me to be the answer, I’ll prove you right and I have to. My approach this year is no different than my rookie year and no different than last year. My job is to make sure that my team has the best chance to win every time I’m in the net.”
Warren Rychel has seen many goaltenders come through the door for the Spitfires in his 11 seasons. From NHLers like Michal Neuvirth and Philipp Grubauer to Ontario Hockey League record-holder Andrew Engelage, there have been special goalies who pulled on a Windsor jersey, but DiPietro is in a class all his own.
“As far as goalies go, he’s unbelievable,” Rychel said. “The best goalie we’ve had here. That’s no slight against Neuvirth or Grubauer. They were great, but Mikey’s a little bit better than both. He’ll find a way to play (pro).”
Rychel had a bit of an advantage when it came to getting to know DiPietro. He was part of the Sun County minor hockey organization and DiPietro played on the same team as his son Maddux.
“I think I first saw Mikey when he was nine with Sun County,” Rychel said. “He was a gamer right off the bat. He just wanted to stop every puck.
“We were at the Port Huron Silver Stick and he put on a show. (Former NHLer) Keith Tkachuk was the coach of St. Louis and it was just crazy. There were 400 people in the building and people were clapping. It was crazy. We lost 2-1 (to St. Louis) in overtime and the shots were like 84-11. That was his coming out.”
Former NHLer Jim Bedard, who served as the Windsor’s goalie coach last season, never had doubts about DiPietro and did not want the team to trade for a veteran at the deadline.
“I was adamant right before,” said Bedard, who is now with the Dallas Stars organization.
“We might not win (the Memorial Cup), but it won’t be because of this kid.”
Not counting the Canucks, DiPietro has had four different goalie coaches in the last four years, but Bedard said he handles the changes like a pro.
“He never ever, ever looked at me and said, ‘Are you sure you want me to do this?’” Bedard said. “Everything I told him to do, he just did it and wanted more. That’s what pros do. That’s what struck me that this was a special athlete and person.”
While the Spitfires may have tried to ease his workload over his first two seasons in the OHL, that won’t be the case this season. DiPietro will carry the load in net for the Spitfires on most nights.
“Mikey’s an important player for us and it’s an important year for him,” Spitfires head coach Trevor Letowski said. “He’s got a lot to prove and he wants to play for the world junior team.”
Canada doesn’t often rely on an 18-year-old to carry the load in net at the world junior championship, but that’s just another challenge to DiPietro.
“It fuels me,” DiPietro said. “I want to win gold Jan. 5. Hopefully, I get an opportunity to do that. I do recognize underagers are scarce, but I think last year, hopefully, instils faith.”
His 2.35 goals-against average was second in the league and tied the club record set by Engelage in 200809. He was also third in the league with a .917 save percentage, while his six shutouts tied for the league lead and also set a modern-era club record.
“I have the mentality that I’m the best,” DiPietro said. “Last year I felt that, too. People have their opinions and I won’t hold anything against you if you think differently, but I believe I was the best last year and I believe I’m the best this year. You have to prove that, I understand that, but once you win and establish yourself, no one can take that away from you.”