Mental toughness helped Papirny between the pipes

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This article was published 26/05/2016 (3437 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RED DEER, Alta. — Gold No. 33 jerseys have been a familiar sight in the crowd during the playoff run by the Brandon Wheat Kings this spring.

Jordan Papirny is the youngest of six children in his family and some of his siblings and parents have made the trip to watch him every step of the way. The high point was Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarter-final series with the Edmonton Oil Kings when 29 of the Edmonton-based Papirnys were on hand to watch a 5-2 Brandon victory in which Jordan made 22 saves.

Papirny, who turned 20 last month, smiles when asked about his enthusiastic fan club.

“Family is really important to me and growing up with a lot of older siblings — four brothers and one sister — it was a pretty cool experience,” Papirny said. “Not many people can say they grew up in that kind of dynamic. I think that all of my brothers and my sister really helped shape the person I am today. They’ve been with me every step of the way, and my parents too. They’ve done an unbelievable job.”

So has Papirny, whose growth as a Western Hockey League goalie has been noticeable.

He appeared in 46 games in his rookie season in 2013-14, posting a save percentage of .900 and a goals-against average of 3.28.

“When I was 17 I was really aggressive,” Papirny said. “A lot of the time I’d end up way out of my blue paint and chasing pucks that I didn’t have to. In my 18- and 19-year-old years I really worked on calming down and working within my paint and playing between the posts.”

It seems to have worked.

Papirny’s numbers improved to a goals-against average of 2.74 in 2014-15 and 2.61 this season. He posted identical .910 save percentage numbers both seasons.

He said that just as important as the technical refinements in his game, he is thinking the game better, too.

“Starting my first year in the league I don’t think that I was very mentally strong,” Papirny said. “I’d let in a goal and a lot of times when I was 17 I’d really let it bother me.

“As I’ve progressed over the years, I think that’s one area of my game that has really improved. Currently I think that’s one of my strengths, just having that rebound game. If they score a goal, it’s about bouncing back and doing my best.”

It was tested early in the season as Papirny was one of several players who later said they weren’t happy with the start they had personally. After busting out of the gate with a record of 8-1-0-2 by Oct. 23, the Wheat Kings were 14-8-0-2 on

Nov. 27 and had dropped out of the national Canadian Hockey League rankings in which they were the pre-season favourites.

“I don’t think we really had the start we wanted to and individually I don’t think I did either,” Papirny said. “Coming back after the Christmas break we set the bar really high and we were playing really good hockey. We got back to first in the East and ended the playoffs on a high note.”

It was something he shared with a new, but familiar, goaltending partner. After former backup goaltender Alex Moodie went to school this year in what would have been his overage season, Logan Thompson stepped back into the spot. Thompson had an extended audition last season but finished his 17-year-old season in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Papirny said they’ve always gotten along.

“Me and Logan’s relationship started when he was drafted here when he was 15,” Papirny said. “Meeting him the first time at camp he was an awesome guy and I thought we got along really well. He was here for half the year last year and I thought we got along really well. He’s a really good kid and I think this year our relationship has really taken off.

“We have really good conversations in the room, whether it’s intermission or before the game about technical stuff, maybe he’s seeing something the other team is doing and I don’t, things like that.”

The relationship they have isn’t unusual on this year’s team. Ask any player and they’ll tell you that it’s the closest team they’ve ever played on.

“It’s the tightest group I’ve ever been a part of,” Papirny said. “It’s 23 best friends. People ask me who my best friend on the team is and if you go up and down the lineup, I think I pretty much hang out with every guy. I think that’s been the key to our success.”

Papirny has also benefited from a close relationship with Wheat Kings fans. He’s been voted fan favourite twice, something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the personable goaltender.

“The fans have been awesome ever since I was 17,” Papirny said. “They’ve always been behind me through the ups and downs. I think that’s also been a real huge influence on me while I’ve been here.”

The playoff run just pushed that up a notch. Papirny is thankful to be a part of it.

“Driving through town and seeing all the flags — every local business has a flag up — it’s awesome to see everyone rally behind us,” Papirny said. “I just can’t say enough about the fans and the community. The whole city of Brandon has been phenomenal.”

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