Features > Player Spotlight- #31 Dylan Woodring
Dylan Woodring makes stops a breakaway against Rogue Valley.
Player Spotlight- #31 Dylan Woodring
by Chris Bilder, Generals Staff Writer
Eugene, OR- Generals goaltender Dylan Woodring is 3-0 with a .962 SV in his last three games. Woodring is now in his second season with the Generals, and is looking for the Generals to head to the National Tournament in Boston, MA. Woodring talks about the off-season, the season thus far and his goals for the future.
CB: You lead the league in saves and SV%. Are you satisfied with how you’ve played so far?
DW: I’ve played OK I think, but I could have played better. The team has stepped up after the first weekend, and that makes it a lot easier for me.
CB: What makes you a strong goaltender?
DW: My work ethic. I try to always work hard, and get better.
CB: Have you noticed a change in the team’s attitude since you started winning games?
DW: I don’t know if it’s been a change after winning, but we had a change in attitude after our opening weekend. I think we got the jitters out, and started playing better together.
CB: All four wins have come against Coeur d’Alene and Rogue Valley who are a combined 0-12. Do you think the wins are attributed to playing weaker opponents or the Generals playing better hockey?
DW: For sure we’ve played better hockey. We haven’t played a full sixty minutes yet, and we are still taking too many penalties. We have to correct that if we want to be in contention to win every game.
CB: Puget Sound is 1-3, but just upset Tri-City. What do you and the Generals have to do to keep the winning streak alive?
DW: We have to go out 100% every shift, and try to not take as many penalties. I just have to stop the puck.
CB: How long do you think the streak can last?
DW: Hopefully as long as possible. We just want to take one game at a time, and see where that takes us.
CB: What are your goals for the team, and yourself, for the rest of the season?
DW: We want to go to the National Tournament, and I want to be consistent for the entire season. Hopefully when we make playoffs I can play a lot better than I did last season.
CB: You made main camp for the Bismarck Bobcats, and were very close to making the team. However, you haven’t let that affect your play for the Generals. What can you attribute that to?
DW: I realized that I have to work harder, and try making it next year. If I let that affect my game, then I won’t even have a chance next year. I wasn’t taken for a reason, and I have to improve my game to get to that next step.
CB: Where do you want to be playing next year?
DW: I’m not really thinking about next year. I’m just concentrating on this season, and I’ll worry about that this summer.
CB: What are your hockey goals after Junior hockey?
DW: Play college somewhere. I’d love to play D-1 hockey, but realistically I want to play D-3 hockey when I’m done with Juniors.