Aug 27, 2024
HARTFORD, CT – Dylan Garand has shown early in his professional career that he enjoys the big moments in a hockey season. A 10-7 Calder Cup Playoff record with a sterling .927 save percentage and four series wins will do that.
For the second straight spring, Garand backstopped the Wolf Pack to victories in the First Round and Atlantic Division Semifinals of the Calder Cup Playoffs. He was particularly good in Hartford’s 2-1 series victory over the Charlotte Checkers in the First Round last April, posting a .955 save percentage to help the Wolf Pack become just the second team in three seasons to win a First Round series after dropping Game 1.
“I think it’s just kind of who I am,” Garand said after the Wolf Pack’s 2024 Calder Cup Playoff run came to an end. “I love playing in the playoffs, it’s the most fun. I’m a competitor, it’s the best time of the year and it’s what you work for all summer, all regular season for. I just like to keep it simple and work hard and give the guys a chance and that’s kind of what it’s been the last couple of years.”
After not making the playoffs from 2015 until 2023, the Wolf Pack have advanced to the annual spring tournament in back-to-back seasons. It’s been Garand who has taken the net each spring, leading the Wolf Pack to back-to-back seasons with at least one Calder Cup Playoff series victory since 1998-99 and 1999-20.
But the second-year goaltender is about more than just strong playoff performances. He’s focused on getting 1% better each and every day to become the best possible goaltender that he can become.
In that sense, Garand’s regular season was a success too.
“It was good, it was definitely a lot of ups and downs,” he said. “I think for myself personally, I improved a ton. I think I kind of made a bigger impact in the regular season than I did last year even though my numbers were kind of similar.
“I think I’ve learned a lot these past couple of years. On the ice, my game has improved and I’m honing those skills and stuff like that, and that’s going to continue to happen over time with the work I put in. I think off the ice was the biggest adjustment last year (as a rookie) in a way. I got used to that, living on my own, getting used to that routine and things you need to do away from the rink, habits and stuff like that, it’s really important. I think I’ve been doing a good job at that and learning what works…
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