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Nolan Maier’s road to the WHL record book was pretty bumpy at the start.
The Saskatoon Blades’ goalie may have set the league record for career wins Friday, but he definitely didn’t get the W in his first career start.
“It was in Regina and we got pumped,” Maier, 21, told The Green Zone on Monday, recalling a 7-3 loss to the host Regina Pats on Oct. 7, 2017. “I let in seven goals in the very first game and I was like, ‘Ugh.’ It was a welcome-to-the-league moment for me.
“It’s kind of funny how it has all come together now that I’m in my last year.”
The product of Yorkton turned things around after that first start and finished his rookie season with a 23-17-1 record.
He followed that with seasons of 36, 20 and 12 wins. A 2-0 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday was Maier’s 30th win of the ’21-22 season and the 121st of his career.
That moved him one win ahead of former Vancouver Giants goalie Tyler Sexsmith and ex-Kamloops Blazers goaltender Corey Hirsch for the WHL regular-season record.
“It means everything for me,” Maier said. “I haven’t really been able to digest it and really let it sink in on how cool and how special that is.
“I think it’ll take a little bit of time to realize how awesome that is. It certainly has been amazing so far.”
Part of the thrill for Maier was earning all 121 wins with the Blades.
“I think that’s what means so much about it was to be able to do it all with one team, a team that has been my home and my family for a good part of growing up,” said Maier, whom the Blades selected in the second round of the 2016 WHL draft. “It’s very special.”
Maier said he was drawn to the crease when he was young, in large part because he loved the equipment. One wonders how that sat with Maier’s dad, Kim, who had been a high-scoring forward during his SJHL career with the Estevan Bruins and during his 10-year pro career.
“I remember when I first told him I wanted to be a goalie, he’d start taking shots at my head so I wouldn’t want to be (a goalie) anymore,” Nolan said with a chuckle. “For some reason, my weird self just loved it so I stuck with it.”
In reality, Maier said his dad has been a huge factor in his success.
“He’s my hero, so to have him with me throughout these couple of years, he’s someone I can lean on for advice,” the younger Maier said. “He’s just always there for me.
“It has been awesome to have a dad like that who has been through a bunch of different hockey experiences, so it has certainly helped me.”
So did a transition from a goalie who relied on his athleticism to one who worked on being calm and doing things in a more simple fashion.
Having a short memory has been key, too.
“I know that has helped me a lot,” Maier said. “There are times when you get caught up in thinking and just living in the past sometimes. That’s a trait that every goalie kind of needs that will take them a long way.”
It took Maier right into the WHL record book.
“I feel like I’m still working on it now,” he said. “It’s something that you’re always going to have to work at and get better at.
“You’re never going to master it, I don’t think. There’s little tricks that can help you along the way, but I definitely had to learn that the hard way throughout my career.”