JOEL RUMPEL »» MEN'S HOCKEY BADGERING...
After setting the school record for freshmen with three shutouts for the Badgers last season, Swift Current, Saskatchewan, native Joel Rumpel returns to the Badgers' nets for 2012-13. A three-time WCHA Rookie of the Week last year, Rumpel boasts a proud Wisconsin lineage with his uncle, Roy Schultz, a 1980 All-America goaltender for the Badgers. Rumpel came to Wisconsin after two seasons with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL.
How did you know you were meant to be a goalie?
"It's a little bit of a funny story. I always wanted to be a forward, scoring goals and stuff, but I also went in the net a few times and had some fun with goalie. My parents told me I wasn't very good at forward and I had better stick with goaltending."
Your uncle, Roy Schultz, was an All-American at UW. What influence has he had on you? "He hasn't come down to watch me yet, but I know he has a trip planned this season. I'm sure he'll be excited to come down and watch me, see the new rink and everything. He was my goalie coach growing up. He always told me to go out there, get in front of things and make the play your own and be a quarterback out there."
You're from Canada. What's the biggest difference between Canada and the U.S.? "I get a lot of grief from my teammates and friends about some of the words I say. We call it a 'wash room' instead of a bathroom. You guys call it a winter hat, we call it a 'tuque.' You guys say 'z,' we say 'zed.'
What is your pregame ritual?
"I try to stick to the same routine. I juggle a little bit and we have a reaction ball I work with. All goalies I know are able to juggle. The movie 'Miracle' with Jim Craig kind of started that. There's always the kickball game we do (as a team) before a game. Besides that, I like to visualize a little bit and just close my eyes and think about what I have to do out there."
What is the most interesting class you've taken while at UW? "I can tell you my least favorite is math. My favorite though was when I was in this mentorship group. I got to go and hang out with kindergarten kids and help teach them at one of the local schools here. That was a lot of fun and a good experience — give back to the community a little bit."
22 » VARSITY OCTOBER 11, 2012
