It’s been a short summer for Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Stolarz spoke to media assembled at the RattleSnake Point Golf Club in Milton, Ontario ahead of the Leafs & Legends Charity Golf Classic, where it’s clear that he’ll be a favourite in the room.
“I got here last weekend. Just being able to practice with the guys, getting to know everyone. It seems like a really great group. You get those pre-camp butterflies, you want to get the first game in and get rolling here,” Stolarz said.
Stolarz signed a two-year deal worth $2.5 million annually, coming off a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers. It’s clear the Maple Leafs value his championship pedigree and easygoing demeanour, and he spoke about about his day with the Cup before the tournament kicked off Monday.
“I went golfing in the morning, there’s a club right by my house in Jersey. Took it back to my house, Had some alone time with it, with some close family and friends. Took some photos and went out to a restaurant and brought all my old coaches back, and then capped it off with a nice night out at a bar.”
“I got home in July,” Stolarz added. “I actually signed here when I was in Florida with the way the parade went and everything. I was training July 10, that week, it was kind of quick. I had a couple of weddings this summer and by the time you knew it, it was August.”
Acclimating to a new social environment can be difficult, even for professional athletes, but Stolarz has a ton of friends on the Maple Leafs already.
“It’s actually huge to know somebody that you played with. (Camp invite) Steven Lorentz as well. I actually know quite a few guys here. I played with Dakota Mermis. (Max) Domi and Mitch in London. (Simon Benoit) and Hakanpaa in San Diego, so I have a good feel of the room.”
And of course, there are some bonds that are just universal!
“I joined the fantasy football league so that kinda helps ease the transition, gives you something to talk about. You’re just going around, getting to know everyone on an individual basis,” Stolarz said, while noting that his team is about to be undefeated through two weeks, with a smile.
Stolarz proved to be one of the NHL’s best backups last season with the Panthers and will almost certainly face the largest volume of his career this season. It will be an inflection point but Stolarz is ready for the larger volume and hoping to run it back with Ekman-Larsson as the Maple Leafs remain in search of an elusive Stanley Cup.
