One year ago, Julian Molinaro watched every second of the
Centennial Cup from the bench.
In fact, the goaltender didn’t see the ice at all in the Collingwood Blues’
run to the quarterfinals of Canada’s National Junior A Championship,
serving as backup as Noah Pak played every second of the Blues’ 24
postseason games.
But this season, it’s a much different story.
One thing has remained the same, though—Molinaro is back at the national
championship. He’s just got a much more active role, stopping pucks for the
Calgary Canucks as they chase a national title.
And since the hockey gods work in mysterious ways, it was fitting that when
Molinaro and the Canucks hit the ice for their first game on May 9, it was Pak standing in the crease at the other end.
Neither goaltender will be adding that game to their personal highlight
reel—Molinaro allowed five goals on 26 shots, while Pak surrendered four
for just the sixth time in 62 starts as the Canucks dropped a 5-4 decision
in a game dominated by special teams.
“Before [the game], I walked into the rink and I saw the Collingwood
equipment manager, Richard Judges. So it was kind of crazy,” Molinaro says
of seeing familiar faces. “Once I got on the ice, it was so weird playing
against Noah and [Mark] McIntosh, [Spencer] Young, all those guys.
Obviously, I didn't have my best [game]. Probably one of my worst games of
the year, but it's all right. We'll see them again, hopefully.”
When the 2022-23 season
ended for Collingwood with its 4-2 loss to the Ottawa Jr. Senators in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, so too did Molinaro’s time as a Blue. He
was terrific as a backup, fashioning a 2.33 goals-against average and .901
save percentage in 20 appearances, but with Pak set to return for a final
Junior A season, Molinaro was ready for a change, and an opportunity to be a
starter.
Enter Canucks head coach and general manager Brad Moran, who officially
acquired the goaltender on July 11.
“I know he didn't play in the playoffs, but he had been through the
experience,” Moran says of Molinaro’s time in Collingwood, “and to come
through a winning team in a playoffs where you don't play, but have your
teammates, coaches and everyone else commending you for the attitude [and]
the effort was something that definitely opened our eyes.”
The Mississauga, Ontario, native was even better than advertised,
leading all Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) puck-stoppers with 27
wins and six shutouts, and finishing third with a 2.60 GAA and .916 save percentage.
He then won 12 of his 15 postseason starts with terrific numbers (2.56 GAA,
.908 SV%), backstopping the Canucks to their first AJHL championship since
1999 and their first trip to the Centennial Cup since they won their lone
national title in 1995.
“Deep down I knew I could [be a starter], but you don't actually know until
you do it,” Molinaro says. “And once I got the chance and the opportunity
to run with things and Brad gave me the ball, I think I really got in the
groove and it helped me a lot. It's a great feeling, knowing you have the
whole staff and team behind you.”
“He came in, he was the top goalie in our league this year in my mind, and
gave us a chance to win every night,” Moran adds. “He pushed our guys on
and off the ice, and that's what we want.”
Two days after the Canucks finished their sweep of the Whitecourt
Wolverines to win the AJHL title, Molinaro officially committed to Northern
Michigan University, where he’ll join the Wildcats this fall.
It’s been nothing but success for the 20-year-old, and no one is happier
for him than his former partner.
“He's got an unreal work ethic, one of the hardest working guys I know,”
Pak says. “I'm super happy for him and getting his commitment and his
success this year… couldn't be happier for him.”
But there’s one more piece of the puzzle that makes this homecoming even
more special for Molinaro.
He and his father, Jason, were fixtures at Blades games as Julian grew up,
and when the Canucks stepped onto the ice at the Sixteen Mile Sports
Complex for the first time, Molinaro knew just where to look.
“I almost started crying, because my dad was in the corner where we grew up
watching Blades games,” he says. “I've been at this rink since I was seven years
old watching the Blades every Friday night, and me and my dad always sat in
the same corner, and now to be on the ice and him to be in that corner, I think it's unbelievable. It's really full circle.”
Now all that’s left is the Hollywood ending. The Canucks face the Winkler
Flyers in a Friday quarterfinal, with a semifinal date with the Melfort
Mustangs awaiting the winner.
