A strong team can win the game, but paired with strong goaltending and you have a season to remember. Gracie Willemsen, goaltender for the Oakville Rangers U12 AA Red team began playing hockey at the age of four.
He transitioned to goaltending at seven and has been a vital asset to his team since joining rep hockey at nine. Before his first rep season, he dedicated a summer to training with rep players to acclimate to the skill level, which eased his transition into the competitive league.
Three years later Willemsen hasn’t looked back, his team is in the top 10 in Ontario with 42 wins over 60 games played and Willemsen securing what he estimates to be around 13 shutouts.
One big achievement for Willemsen and his team this season was defeating West Niagara four times, a team that had previously dominated them last season. Willemsen attributes these victories to the camaraderie and teamwork prevalent within the Oakville Rangers U12 AA Red squad.
“On the bench and stuff, everyone’s trying to hype each other up,” said Willemsen. “When you make a save, they’ll come up to you and tell you ‘good save’ and even when you let a goal in, they'll be there to cheer you up.”
When asked about his goaltending style, Willemsen cites his goaltending coach as a significant influence and stresses the importance of maintaining composure, particularly with a steady glove and blocker.
Offering advice to aspiring goalies, Willemsen said “If you just keep on trying you will get there.” “Always be calm,” he continued, "I see some goalies smashing their sticks when they’re frustrated and that’s not going to do anything for you.”
The key for Willemsen is to approach each game as if the score were always 0-0.
Willemsen’s father offered some useful advice for goalie parents, stating “During games, remember that they are just one of usually 16 kids playing that game,” he said. “Don’t get caught up in the highs and lows of a game with respect to your kid specifically. Goalies can easily feel like a loss is their fault. Goals happen, even ‘bad’ ones.”
Gracie Willemsen's dedication to his craft and leadership qualities exemplify the spirit of Oakville Rangers hockey. The Rangers organization is proud to have Willemsen as a representative of their values both on and off the ice.