Imagine on your 22nd birthday, in your rookie season, you have been selected to go to the AHL All-Star Classic. That happened for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton rookie netminder Joel Blomqvist today.
Blomqvist is having quite the rookie season, most recently tallying five straight wins. In each of those 5 games, Blomqvist has only allowed 1 goal in each of those wins. Blomqvist currently holds an 11-4-2-0 record. Through 19 games played this season, Blomqvist has averaged a .920 save percentage and 2.16 goals against average.
Blomqvist attended the 2023 Pittsburgh Penguins training camp along with the pre-season games that followed. He also stood out above in the annual prospect challenge that Pittsburgh holds. Blomqvist has earned brownie points not with only Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, but the entire organization as a whole.
“I think anyone who has seen Joel play this season isn’t surprised by this All-Star selection. His numbers are incredible, and he’s been such an important piece of this team’s success. To get the news on his 22nd birthday makes it all the sweeter, too. This franchise has a history of producing high quality goaltenders for Pittsburgh, and Joel’s play deserved to be rewarded the same way that so many of those goalies were honored with All-Star nods in the past.”
Media Relations Director, Nick Hart on Blomqvist’s Selection
Blomqvist is the 7th Penguins Goaltender to be headed to the AHL All-Star Classic. Other goaltenders include:
- 2018- Casey DeSmith
- 2017- Tristan Jarry
- 2016- Matt Murray
- 2015- Jeff Zatkoff
- 2011- John Curry
- 2006- Dany Sabourin
It’s some pretty good company to be in. The only rookie to have been chosen before Blomqvist was in 2016 with Matt Murray.
Blomqvist is a quiet and composed netminder for such a young age. He is always methodical and confident in his playmaking abilities and has shown that more times than not this season so far. He recovers well from his rebounds in the net. Blomqvist can read plays well and anticipate the next play that is coming from the opponent. Blomqvist tracks the puck and doesn’t play catch-up to it out of the crease.
