It’s been a whirlwind year-and-change for Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll, who may very well emerge as the team’s playoff starter in a few weeks. Woll has become an indispensable part of the team after a standout 2022-23 AHL campaign and with great power comes great responsibility.
This is more than an axiom for Woll, who is keenly aware of his civic duties that come with being a young, ascending member of the Maple Leafs. During Wednesday’s practice, which was amended to a skills session in large part due to injuries and maintenance, Woll was exceptionally gracious with his time, speaking to The Leafs Nation about his ongoing work with the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.
Woll first partnered with Holland Bloorview two years ago when he was with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, visiting the hospital once it was deemed safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. In conjunction with Alltroo, Woll is hosting the Rally For Kids with Disabilities with all donations going to Holland Bloorview. The rally ends on June 7, the winner will be announced on June 26 and they’ll receive two tickets to a 2024-25 Maple Leafs game, a signed stick from Woll, transportation and hotel accommodations and a guided tour of the dressing room with Woll.
“I was looking for a way to give back to the community and do something with kids and at that time, the Marlies had a good relationship with them so it just fit perfectly,” Woll told The Leafs Nation. “I was able to go on my first visit a couple of years ago and from there, I fell in love with the hospital.”
Some classy work from the Marlies this weekend: Joseph Woll donated $10 per save in the All Star Competition to @HBKidsHospital. The @TorontoMarlies, teammate @_themagicbullet & Marlies GM @RyanPHardy all contributed.
Woll made 28 saves & was named Top Goalie for the event. 🙂 pic.twitter.com/oMZwX6rX0d
— katie (@itsmitchmarney) February 9, 2023
Sending our support to our friend Joseph Woll, a true champion on and off the ice! Best of luck to you and the @MapleLeafs tonight! 💚💙 https://t.co/EHmNSeShUP
— Holland Bloorview (@HBKidsHospital) April 19, 2023
Woll is a big supporter of Holland Bloorview (@HBKidsHospital), having used his AHL All Star appearance to raise money for the hospital. He also visits patients there regularly – including last February where he was there handing out Valentine’s Day cards. 🥰 https://t.co/qmD2owQnWG pic.twitter.com/lpFv1vA1TN
— katie (@itsmitchmarney) December 2, 2023
Everyone is focused on Woll’s potential to help the Maple Leafs finally break through on an extended playoff run, but the 25-year-old has a once-hidden talent away from the rink. Woll has gone semi-viral for his piano renditions of the Interstellar theme by Hans Zimmer, performing the composition at the Blue and White Gala in January.
Call him the Piano Man! @MapleLeafs Joseph Woll dazzles on the keys at A Night with Blue and White presented by @Rogers! 🎹🤯 pic.twitter.com/49XXD8EvQl
— MLSE Foundation (@MLSEFoundation) January 26, 2024
I asked Woll if he had considered performing the theme for the children at Holland Bloorview and he already beat me to the punch, telling me how he’s worked the song into music therapy classes.
Woll is known to be a cerebral presence on the ice and I couldn’t help but think of the linkage between music and mathematics. Albert Einstein, for example, was a famed pianist and violinist. Brian May of Queen has a Ph.D. in astrophysics. So I asked Woll if he sees any commonalities between musicality and playing goaltender in the NHL. He took a few seconds to answer with a cacophony of pucks ringing off the Ford Performance Centre glass.
This is a great quality to have and Woll appears to be at peace, with a 6-3 Tuesday loss to the New Jersey Devils clearly in the rearview. Woll is ensuring that children at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital have the best experience, and encouraged fans to enter the rally as he’s keenly aware of the responsibilities that are attached to being an ascendant figure in the Maple Leafs ecosystem.