'TAKE IT ALL IN'

Dustin Wolf sat nervously in the now-vacant seats of the arena, patiently waiting as 213 players before him were given the moment of a lifetime.
The wait was unbearable.
Aside from the constant tapping of his feet and turning his head for a brief conversation with his agent - who tried (and failed) to help calm the nerves - he hadn't moved in hours.
But here we are now, four years on from that restless day at the draft. The sullen, self-doubt that washed over him that morning turned to unbridled excitement at 2:43 p.m., and set him off on a journey to the top of his profession.

"I'm trying to maybe downplay it a little bit, but obviously I'm pretty excited, said the 21-year-old, who make his highly anticipated NHL debut tonight when the Flames close out the 2022-23 season against Erik Karlsson and his hometown San Jose Sharks. "You dream of this moment your whole life and for it to finally come, it's pretty special.
"I'm trying to take it all in."

Wolf has appeared in 53 games with the AHL's Calgary Wranglers this year, recording a league-leading 41 wins, along with a sparkling .938 save percentage and a 2.08 goals-against average. With the sophomore pro at the helm, the club is poised to go on a deep playoff run, which GM Brad Treliving and Head Coach Darryl Sutter figuring could be "jumpstarted" by this timely reward.
"It's well-earned," Sutter explained. "He's for sure the MVP in my books. Not only for their team, but I think he's close to the league MVP when you look at what they've done, goals-against, his record and how many minutes and games played. It's great for him.
"He really knows the game," the coach added of what stands out about him, beyond that irrefutable work ethic of his. "That's why he's been dominant at the American League level, because he reads the game so well."
His list of personal accolades runs long. As the heir to Carter Hart with the Everett Silvertips, Wolf was named the 2020 CHL Goaltender of the year, the WHL's top 'tender the following season, winner of a 2021 World Junior gold medal, and was named the AHL's Most Outstanding Goalie in his rookie campaign.
This 21-year-old is currently on a personal 10-game winning streak in the 'A' and is widely considered one of the best puck-stoppers outside the NHL.
That changes tonight with what should be "the first of many."

"Just showed up to the rink yesterday morning and (Wranglers Head Coach Mitch Love) called me in," Wolf said. "I was already packed and ready to go to the airport for Abbotsford. It's a pretty special opportunity and I want to try and take full advantage of it."
Wolf hails from Gilroy, California - about a 30-minute drive from San Jose, where he grew up watching Evgeni Nabokov and the Sharks.
To step onto the ice tonight and see the iconic teal colours across from him makes it that much sweeter.
"(Nabokov) was one of the best to ever play and probably one of the biggest reasons I strapped the pads on for the first time," Wolf said. "I crossed paths with him a little bit playing the (AHL) Barracuda and re-connected with him a little bit. Pretty cool, for sure.
"You go back to all the coaches and staff that have helped me get to this point and there's too many names to rattle off. But I'm super thankful for my family and super excited they could be here for this moment."