Calgary Flames goalie Wolf speaks candidly on Olympic snub
Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf is looking to prove his doubters wrong heading into the 2025-26 season.
Despite an incredible rookie campaign that saw him finish second in Calder Trophy voting, there are still some who place doubt on the 24-year-old Wolf. That is nothing new for the 24-year-old netminder, who had to wait until the 214th pick to hear his name called at the 2019 draft.
While Wolf has rightfully gained recognition after his impressive 2024-25 season, his strong rookie performance wasn’t enough to secure his selection for the United States’ Olympic orientation camp in August. Instead, management went with Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman, and Joey Daccord.
“It just creates fire,” Wolf told reporters at the NHL/NHLPA media tour in Las Vegas on Monday. “I’ve been the guy who’s been looked over so much in my career.
Though few have believed in Wolf throughout his hockey journey, he continued to believe in himself. That belief isn’t going anywhere. Not only is he motivated to put up another big season for the Flames, but he is still of the belief that he can crack USA’s roster despite the orientation camp snub.
“I don’t think going or not going to the orientation means that they don’t like you. But the start of the season – the first two months of the season – are critical for giving you an opportunity to go over to the Olympics. And that’s the goal. You want to prove people wrong. Myself, our group, are continuing to prove people wrong on a daily basis in Calgary. That’s just another side of it.”
Wolf’s rookie season saw him appear in 53 games, during which time he compiled a 2.64 GAA and a .910 SV percentage. He also picked up 29 of the Flames’ 41 wins, proving just how valuable he was for them. Should he pick up right where he left off in 2025-26, he will certainly put himself in the conversation to be one of the three goalies selected to USA’s roster.