AHL: QA with Matt Keetley

The Quad City Flames are off to a rough start in 2008-09, but No. 1 netminder Matt Keetley has held up his end of the bargain. The second-year pro was one of the final cuts from the Calgary Flames' training camp, and he's translated that run into a save percentage of .922 and a goals-against average of 2.22 after four AHL regular season games, despite playing on a losing team.

McKeen's recently had the opportunity to talk to Quad City Flames' 2007-08 Rookie of the Year and discussed lasting so long in training camp, his transition to the AHL last year, his success in the WHL, his underdog story and the lifestyle changes he made in his teens. Keetley also talks about the strengths of his game, and some of the players he has a great deal of respect for.

McKeen's: Obviously, your team is off to a bit of a difficult start, you guys are 1-3-1-0, and goal scoring has been a problem. But, you personally, it seems like you have done pretty well in holding up your end of the bargain, and you were one of the final cuts in Calgary. How would you say things are going for you personally so far this season?

Keetley: Not too bad. When I came down, I wanted to prove that I can play in the NHL, and I think it starts in the American Hockey League. You have to prove you can play down here first. I got into, I think, 26 games last year, so that was a stepping-stone. I learned a lot as a rookie, and coming back this year I really wanted to show everyone that I could be a starter in the American Hockey League.

McKeen's: With that, coming to the AHL, and you were Quad City's Rookie of the Year last year, what were some of the biggest adjustments you faced playing in the AHL coming out of the WHL?

Keetley: I think the speed. Guys are a lot quicker, the release of their shots, I wouldn't be across and the guys would already be shooting. I learned a lot when it comes time in practice, and preparation, that you have to play every game like it's the last one, you have to practice every day like it's it the last one because even in practice, if you take a second off, you're going to have five potted on you. So, those things you learn quick.

McKeen's: Were there any tips that you were given to help with that process last year?

Keetley: I think, really, "Gillie" [Ryan McGill], our coach, really helped me a ton. When you come from the Western League, the shots are a lot slower, so you're going down and you can almost time them. Here, you go down too quick and they're going to roof it on you. I think "Gillie" really helped me out with timing, and I think that was the biggest key, and mentally just being prepared every day.

McKeen's: Now, you lasted until October 4 with Calgary. To what degree was that an accomplishment and to what degree, if at all, was it a disappointment?

Keetley: Yeah, it was exciting, but it's also disappointing at the same time, getting sent down. But, I think I learned a lot. I was there for another week than the other guys and I just got to watch the preparation, I got to practice, and I think it helped me with confidence. Coming down, I'm more confident. You have that disappointment, but then also I was excited, because then I'd get to play some hockey. So, I think that was the biggest part, was coming down, being excited to see the guys down here. There's a lot of unbelievable guys in our dressing room, so it made me more excited than anything.

McKeen's: With the battle with [Curtis] McElhinney for the backup spot to Miikka Kiprusoff, was that something that they kept fairly open for both of you guys to challenge for or were they looking more to go with McElhinney the whole time because he was a little older and to give you the chance to be number one here?

Keetley: Yeah, I think "Curty" had the experience. I still wanted to go in there with an open mind that I was battling for a spot, and he had a great camp. I, obviously had an okay camp to stick up there. I just wanted to put it in the back of the minds of the coaches that I can hopefully be starter or backup in the NHL someday.

McKeen's: And you did have two recalls last season, and you got to play in those nine minutes. Tell me about the circumstances of those recalls and some of the things that you were able to learn.

Keetley: I remember the first recall was because McElhinney did go down with a knee injury and I went up for a week. I was packed for a month and went up for a week. It was quick, but I got to, obviously, backup in some games, and my shell shock went away after that first recall. Then, I went down for, like, a week, and then I ended up getting called back up, so I packed for a week and stayed for a month. So, it was the reverse. I had one week's worth of clothes for a month. I learned a lot, just practicing, and tendencies. You're watching guys. We played against Colorado, in my nine minutes, and I was really watching Joe Sakic, what he does, what Ryan Smyth does, what guys do to quick release or around shooting low, shooting high. So, I did learn a lot, and I think I took a lot from "Kip" (Kiprusoff), too, and how he prepares and how really cool and calm he is.

McKeen's: Under the context of where you were seven or eight years ago, you're a bit of an underdog story.

Keetley: Yeah.

McKeen's: I remember reading that at 14 or 15 you were playing house bantam as a forward at about 240 pounds. Have you ever thought about how in the past few years you've gone from house league forward, although your history was a goaltender, but then to competing for a backup spot to Miikka Kiprusoff?

Keetley: I look back on it, but only quickly, because I feel I haven't got there yet. I could be an inch away, but I like to think I'm a mile away, just to really push myself to the next level. Yeah, I look back on that, I laugh, and I laugh at all the coaches that cut me, too, because now I'm just proving, trying to prove a point, to any kid in Medicine Hat, any kid in the world, that you might get cut from some teams, but if you work hard and you put your mind to it, I honestly believe you can do anything.

McKeen's: When did you make that decision to drop that weight and what were some of the lifestyle changes you had to make to do that?

Keetley: I think when I really got it (pauses), it wasn't even the hockey that really pushed me over the edge, it was the bullying. People laugh about it, but the truth as a boy in high school walking away and someone's calling you fat and stuff like that, that's when it really hit home and I just changed my eating lifestyle. I watched what I ate. I got rid of slushies, I got rid of a lot of things. Now, instead of me eating ice cream every day, I'll have it once a week. I stick to really healthy foods, lots of salads and stuff like that, and all whole wheat, and it's all organic and natural, and that's where I've really noticed the change.

McKeen's: It's amazing how if people put quality fuel into their machine, how well it can operate…

Keetley: And how well you can feel. People don't really realize when you put good, quality food in you (pauses), I can eat grease for two days and I feel awful afterward. So, you've got to realize that.

McKeen's: Going back to your major junior career, you were fairly successful in it. You led the league in wins twice with 42 victories, and a number of other accomplishments, but I won't list those off, I'll leave that to you. What were some of the WHL accomplishments that you're most proud of?

Keetley: We have, like, a Tigers Wall of Fame at the rink, and I remember looking at [Chris] Osgood and [Paxton] Schaefer, and there are a few awards up there and I think I hit them all except, I've got every award except the single season record for shutouts. I had one below that (Keetley had six shutouts three times), so that's the only one I didn't get, and that's the biggest accomplishment for me, to be up against some of those great players like Osgood and Schaefer. That was one of them, and I think winning the Western League championship was huge. Getting Playoff MVP for that, I was born in Medicine Hat, so bringing that home was really special.

(Also of note, Keetley earned the Hap Emms Trophy as the top goaltender of the 2007 Memorial Cup and was named to the 2007 Memorial Cup All-Star Team. He also was in the top seven of every major goaltending statistic each of his three full seasons.)

McKeen's: When you played with the Tigers, what were the aspects of your game that you felt improved the most?

Keetley: I think confidence. I actually changed my style a lot. Eli Wilson, my goalie coach, really changed my style of play. I'm now positional, before I was kind of pad-stacking. He changed me a lot. I'm a butterfly goalie now that just tries to stay in position. I owe a lot to him, too, and the coaching staff in Medicine Hat really helped me get on my track. They watched what I ate. It was kind of a running joke: "You think you need that, 'Keets?'" and stuff like that. So, I think they helped me a lot.

McKeen's: Fast-forwarding to today, what are some of the aspects of your game that Calgary wants you to work on the most?

Keetley: I think puck play is huge. For me, they haven't pushed it too much, but I believe, a little bit, lateral movement. I want to get a lot quicker, and I have. I think, just mentally, you have to be so mentally tough in this game as a goaltender. So, I want to work on my mental aspects, too.

McKeen's: Are there any particular things that you do to work on that? Visualization? Those sorts of things?

Keetley: I did work with Saul Miller, he worked with Medicine Hat. Other than that, I don't let things bother me. I just try to let it go in one ear and out the other.

McKeen's: We've talked some about things you're working to improve on, but on the other hand, what would you say are your existing strengths?

Keetley: I think positioning, but my mental game has gotten a lot stronger. I don't let one or two goals really bother me. I think, yeah, just movement. I honestly think my positioning as a goaltender is my biggest strength. If I'm square to the shot, then that's where it is, you're going to make most of the saves.

McKeen's: That's the thing with goaltenders, if they're having to make a lot of spectacular saves…

Keetley: They're out of position.

McKeen's: Exactly, they're really out of position.

Keetley: I've actually been told a few times that I'm a boring goalie to watch. So, I think that's good.

McKeen's: Yeah. That's a coach's dream. Going back to your time in major juniors, who were some of the opposing scorers that were the most dangerous and gave you the most trouble?

Keetley: Most trouble? I don't recall any given night. I remember Mike Green, with the Washington Capitals, he's actually one of my really good buddies now, and he scored two on me. There's only a couple guys that scored two on me, and he's one of them, as a defenseman. So, I'd have to give it him.

McKeen's: If you remember, what were the natures of those two shots that he scored on?

Keetley: Low blocker. He's a great player, and I've definitely improved a lot on those. Hopefully one day I'll get to play him and show him up.

McKeen's: Point shots?

Keetley: Yeah, d-screens.

McKeen's: Similarly, in your time in the AHL, who are some of the shooters in the AHL that have impressed you the most?

Keetley: Last year, [Martin] St. Pierre, and you had [Jason] Krog. I didn't play a lot last year and I'm not too far in with four games this year, so you might want to ask that question in a few months.

McKeen's: Over the course of your season and whatever fraction, I guess 1/16th, who are some of your Quad City teammates that have impressed you the most and why?

Keetley: Warren Peters impresses me, our captain. I don't see that guy lose many draws, he's really good off the draws, and he's a battler every night. So, he really impresses me. Carsen Germyn goes out every night and battles hard, but there's so many guys to learn from on this team, there are so many character guys, and we have a lot of injuries right now and it hurts, but those are two guys that I can point out.

McKeen's: Going back to your youth, when did you first start playing, how did you get your start, and how did you start playing goalie?

Keetley: I started skating when I was, like, three. I used to live in a little town in Saskatchewan for a few years and we had free ice everyday. So, I skated a lot. Becoming a goalie, my dad was a goalie, and obviously growing up your dad's your biggest hero, and my dad still is. I used to go fool around with his goalie gear down in the basement and just kept going from there. When I told him I wanted to be a goalie, I don't think he was too happy, because I actually was a half-decent player. But, that's how it started.

McKeen's: How old were you when you made that decision to play goaltender?

Keetley: I would have been about, probably, it would have been atoms, so seven or eight years old.

McKeen's: So, pretty early.

Keetley: Yeah, pretty early.

McKeen's: Lastly, who were, or maybe are, some of your favorite and most respected players and why?

Keetley: Most respect players (pauses), Chris Chelios, for sure. He's a machine. A guy that trains with Lance Armstrong has got to be a machine. For his age and what he does, I definitely have a lot of respect for him. [Alexander] Ovechkin for his goal-scoring abilities and how every night he's not afraid to get in there and battle it out and muck it up. So, those two guys. Goaltender wise (pauses), probably Chris Osgood, just how much he's changed his style and adapted to the game. He really inspires younger goalies to really work hard to get to that level.

McKeen's: Any particular goalie you feel that you equate to?

Keetley: A little bit, I'd say, [Ilya] Bryzgalov. He plays positional. I watch him a bit, and he reminds me (pauses), it's tough, I don't get to analyze myself much, just on video, but I'd say Bryzgalov.