Every Wolf Has His Day!
Some of the most successful people are those who have something to prove to someone.
Dustin embodies the qualities of an underdog. Undersized by today’s hockey goalie standards, many did not believe he had what it took to be a professional hockey goalie in the NHL. Despite facing doubters at every level, he excelled at every level he advanced to. He has an impressive resume. The NHL represents his ultimate challenge.
Dustin is a goalie who believes in his ability to not think and just become the game. As his mental performance coach since his time with the Everett Silvertips (WHL) and when he took over the starting role in his second season. I have had the privilege of watching him learn and grow throughout the years. I can still recall our first Zoom chat, where I told him he was going to be the best Dustin Wolf he could be. That is what he has done and continues to do, one game at a time.
He once called me his mindfulness coach from Vancouver during an Everett Herald interview. That is part of what I have been for him. I have helped him to be in the now and silence the thoughts of the inner critic that so many high performers struggle with. As a COR.E Performance Dynamics Specialist, I have taught him to not only manage his thoughts but, most importantly, his energy.
The critics over the years have been many. Together, we have learned how to transmute that negative, critical energy (catabolic) into (anabolic) positive energy so he can use it to perform at his best game in game out. He once even joked that what I do at times is that “wizardry” stuff. All kidding aside, we can now assess, teach disciplines & energy influencers, and have measurable indicators that quantify the mind/energy connection to high performance. What we have worked on over the years has helped him play free and access his knowledge, skills, and talent. In addition, he has learned how to connect to creativity and trust his intuition, which provides him with his world-class hockey instincts.
Performance = Potential - Interference
Performance is determined by a simple formula. Performance is a player’s ability to be 100% energetically engaged in the now (the zone) and access his potential. Potential includes his knowledge, skills, talents, and ability to connect to their highest creativity and intuition. The interference arises from stress reactions, which negatively impact many elite hockey players by distracting them from the present moment. This is where a player can get into their head (past and future thinking).
This is often not the case with Dustin. His consistent play and unflappable swagger are the proof in the pudding. Dustin has become a 7th-level elite hockey goalie. Which means he can create, observe, and experience what he desires in the moment as quickly as he believes possible. We designed a success formula that includes habits and rituals and a game-day success blueprint. This allows him to be consistent and prepared to play at his best on any given day. With his learning and growth mindset, mastery is not an outcome but a continual process of growth and learning.
We do not succeed in isolation but with our success posse. -Walter Aguilar
Dustin has been fortunate to have had an effective success posse from the beginning. Dustin’s success posse began with his parents, Mike and Michelle Wolf. They have been the foundation of his success posse, from financiers, Uber drivers, and home care (as he was never billeted in junior hockey) to overall support.
His goalie coach, James Jensen (Jenner), was instrumental in teaching him the effective hybrid style he now plays. They would constantly develop a style that matched the level of hockey he played.
He has also had many different doctors and therapists who have supported him over the years. Additionally, there are many hockey coaches and players that have helped him play his best hockey in front of them.
Now at the NHL level he has Jason Labarbara, goalie coach, as well as his team coach Ryan Huska, and all the coaching staff, players, and support staff in his corner. Add to this that Dustin and his teammates have the fanatic backing of the entire city of Calgary. They believe they have found the goalie who will lead them to the playoffs and give them a chance to win the Stanley Cup. Dustin plays each game and moment as it unfolds. When he is on the ice, his hockey life is simple. His intention is to stop the puck, be resilient, have fun, and give his team a chance to win.
He is a reluctant but focused up-and-coming superstar, but that is what makes him special. He is currently being showered with the attention he has certainly earned. As he remains grateful and grounded, he will have a successful hockey career, entertaining many hockey fans for years to come.
