Mustangs goalie signs contract with Medicine Hat Tigers

It's been an exciting year for Midget Mustangs goaltender Brad Gustafson, who, despite his early season success, is taking it all in stride.

It’s been an exciting year for Midget Mustangs goaltender Brad Gustafson, who, despite his early season success, is taking it all in stride.

Gustafson’s great play has not only been noticed by his fellow teammates and coaches, but it has also earned him a contract with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League.

“I think it’s great,” said Mustangs coach Jim Stephens. “It’s particularly nice to see a kid from the Yukon, one of the goaltenders here, sign with a WHL club. I think Brad’s the first one that has been listed with a WHL club straight out of the Yukon.”

Gustafson signed the contract with the Tigers on Thursday after about a week-long negotiation period.

The contract came after Gustafson was listed with Medicine Hat back in November.

J.F. Martel, the Tigers goaltending coach, has been scouting the 15-year-old netminder for the past year and in August invited him to attend the team’s rookie camp.

There were 12 goalies in total at the rookie camp, however only Gustafson and one other puck-stopper from Calgary made a good enough impression to be listed.

They were both added to the team’s player protected list, which eventually resulted in the contract for Gustafson.

“When I found out I was listed I was pretty happy and then when I found out I was signed I was thrilled,” Gustafson said. “It just basically means now for me that I have to start working harder and harder.”

The contract doesn’t guarantee Gustafson a spot on the Tigers, but he is hoping to be on the team in a couple of years. Gustafson said he plans on finishing the year on the Mustangs and next season will most likely make the jump to a major midget squad in B.C.

Gustafson started playing organized hockey when he was 10 years old, but didn’t lace up the pads until a couple of months into the season. He said all of the gear worn by goalies was what attracted him to the position.

Making the jump to goalie was a natural fit for Gustafson, who said he has benefited over the years from the help of fellow Yukon netminder Ian Perrier and his father Gerry.

“When I was young, he showed me the fundamentals of goaltending, good technique and everything,” he said about Ian.

Gerry Perrier, who is the director of Mustangs Hockey Club, was one of the key people involved in bringing World Pro Goaltending up to Whitehorse, which is where Gustafson was first noticed by Martel.

“I owe a ton of my success to Gerry,” Gustafson said. “He got World Pro up here.”

Despite the recent contract signing, Gustafson isn’t letting this season’s success go to his head.

“I have worked hard, but I’m also very lucky,” he said. “All of the stars aligned here.

There’s lots of guys that work very hard as well. I am really grateful for this opportunity.”

Gustafson plans to continue working hard both on and off the ice with the hope of getting faster as well as improving his technical play.

He said he owes a lot to his parents as well.

“They have always supported me and they always will,” Gustafson said. “I have never been pressured into playing hockey. I just do it because I love it.”

Stephens said the Mustangs team is behind Gustafson and excited about him being listed with the Medicine Hat Tigers.

“We’re rooting for him if he does get a chance this year,” he said. “I think his teammates are probably just as excited as Brad, I know I am. It should be interesting to see how it works out and see what type of career he can develop as a major junior goaltender.”