Marlies goalie Joseph Woll credits his mental game for record win streak

Marlies goalie Joseph Woll is riding a team-record -game win streak as the AHL club continued its eight-game road with a win on Friday night in Belleville.

Ask him what’s behind his recent success and he’ll tell you it’s all in his head.

“Having the same mindset regardless of the results, and controlling what I can control within that,” said the 24-year-old netminder from Dardenne Prairie, Mo. “I know that sounds like what I’m supposed to say, but it’s very true for me. It’s what the difference has been.”

The difference has been significant, after injuries limited him to just 15 games in each of the last two seasons. Missing more than 130 games with shoulder and ankle injuries certainly tested his resolve.

Woll did make his NHL debut last season and played four games with the Maple Leafs, but that’s far less than expected for a goalie drafted in the third round in 2016. And with three other netminders on the Marlies roster — Erik Källgren, Keith Petruzzelli and Dryden McKay — there’s not enough ice time to go around even at the AHL level.

But Woll has staked a claim to the lion’s share by going 11-0-0 this season, a streak that started Nov. 25 in Cleveland. He’s a student of the game, among other interests.

“I went to business school at Boston College, and I studied finance and business management,” said Woll. “But truthfully, if I were to go back, I wouldn’t study that … If I were on a different path and not in hockey, I’d study neuroscience and psychology; those things interest me a lot.”

Woll’s streak and perseverance earned a spot in the AHL All-Star Classic, Feb. 5 and 6 in Laval, along with teammates Logan Shaw and Noel Hoefenmayer and coach Greg Moore.

The netminder said Leafs sports psychiatrist Marie Claire has been a key player in his ability to set goals he’s comfortable with.

“I have very much changed my mind on what’s important to me, and my end goals are not make or break in terms of who I am, but they are things that I enjoy pursuing,” Woll said, adding his ultimate goal remains winning a Stanley Cup with the Leafs. “(Win streaks) are very nice milestones to achieve, and it’s very cool to (make the all-star team) … I want to fight for a Calder Cup for this team, and I want to do the best I can for this team. That’s where my focus is now.

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