InGoal Radio Episode 74: Scott Darling
Please subscribe and leave a rating — it helps us reach more goalies!
Scott Darling, who helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the 2015 Stanley Cup, has described learning that there is such a thing as studying too much video of yourself as a goaltender. Darling also explained the challenges of managing his game as a backup — balancing being target practice for teammates against staying sharp for high-stakes appearances — and revealed the grassroots story behind his exclusive loyalty to Brian's Custom Sports pads and gloves.
- Darling warns that over-analyzing video of yourself can become counterproductive for goaltenders.
- Managing workload as a backup requires deliberately balancing heavy practice use against maintaining sharpness for game situations.
- Darling's relief appearance in the 2015 Stanley Cup First Round was a pivotal moment that required him to be game-ready despite limited ice time.
- A grassroots personal experience explains why Darling exclusively uses Brian's Custom Sports pads and gloves, including a glove model bearing his name.
- Darling's pro career spanned leagues from the Southern Professional Hockey League to the NHL and Austria, offering perspective across all levels of the game.
InGoal had a chance to catch up with Scott Darling just as fans in his hometown Chicago celebrating the five-year anniversary of him helping the Blackhawks win the 2015 Stanley Cup, and as usual it was an entertaining and informative chat with the 31-year-old self-described goaltending geek.
Feature Interview
presented by NHL Sense Arena
Darling shared tips and insights from a 10-year pro career that includes stops everywhere from the Southern Professional Hockey League right up to the NHL, and over to Austria last season, how Covid-19 has affected his plans for the immediate future both on and off the ice, including a cancelled wedding, and his plans to keep playing. He talked about important lessons he learned about managing his game as a backup sometimes caught between being target practice for teammates and needing to stay sharp himself, including for that crucial First Round relief appearance that helped Chicago win the Cup in 2015; how he learned that there is such a thing as studying too much video of yourself; his early inspirations and first set of pads and ensuing gear obsession, including how he came to have a glove model linked to his name; and the grassroots origin story of why he will never again wear anything other than pads and gloves from Brian’s Custom Sports.
Comments
Let's talk goaltending!
We welcome your contribution to the comments on this and all articles at InGoal. We ask that you keep it positive and appropriate for all — this is a community of goaltenders and we're here for each other! See our comment policy for more information.
You must be logged in to view and post comments.