Since the end of October, Kimberley Dynamiters goalie Trystan Self has been nearly unbeatable, winning 13 of the 16 games he played.
When asked about his play, the Calgary, Alberta native said he has felt more on his game, but can’t pinpoint why. He did say though that a simple game-day routine with billet brother Jack Karpyshyn gets him in the right mindset for games and he has just stuck to it. After taking a nap, the two will go for coffee, make food together and listen to music – hype up music.
“I feel like I haven’t had too many bad starts this year. I keep playing my game,” said Self, who leads all Kootenay International Junior Hockey League goalies with 16 wins. He’s played 22 games.
Self, who had a loss in two games last season, said he got off to a stronger start and it helps that this edition of the Dynamiters is bonding really well. While they had a tough start to the season, the team’s closeness keeps growing.
“I feel like we’re becoming better as a squad. We struggled to score at the beginning of the season. We are definitely producing a lot more.”
The Dynamiters have scored 104 goals in 29 games, which averages out to 3.59 goals per game – fifth best in the KIJHL.
Self has the fourth best save percentage in the league at .927 (522 saves on 563 shots) and is fourth in goals against average with 1.96. During the off-season he focused on small things to improve.
“Watching my games last year, I felt sometimes I was a bit deeper in my crease,” said the 6-0, 170 pound goalie. “I was a bit too jumpy and moving too much. This year I feel I can go further out and take more time.”
Self watches video of his performances to pick up on areas he can improve. The 19-year-old considers himself an agile goalie, who relies on his movement and communicates with his teammates.
In the KIJHL Notebook, Dynamiters Head Coach and General Manager Derek Stuart said, “Trystan is a very quick, agile goalie and his positioning is elite.”
Stuart added that despite COVID-19 shutting games down in November, Self practiced with the team all last season and worked extremely hard and believes he got a lot better.
Affiliated with the Cranbrook Bucks in the B.C. Hockey League, Self would like the chance to showcase himself at the Junior A level, should the chance arise. When it comes to his hockey future, he is interested in playing in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League on Vancouver Island and get his education.
Right now though, the Dynamiters goalie wants to take a long run to the KIJHL championship and win the Teck Cup.
