InGoal Radio Episode 163 with Zach Sawchenko
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San Jose Sharks goalie Zach Sawchenko went undrafted out of the WHL before stepping away from pro hockey to attend the University of Alberta. He later signed with San Jose and made his NHL debut in the 2024-25 season, earning his first NHL win against Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings at age 24.
- Zach Sawchenko went undrafted out of the WHL — a surprise even to InGoal — before choosing university hockey at the University of Alberta over immediate pro pursuits.
- Sawchenko signed with the San Jose Sharks after his college career and made his NHL debut this season, earning his first NHL win against Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings.
- At 24, the Calgary native shares candid lessons about patience, development detours, and the unconventional path to the NHL as a late-blooming goaltender.
- Goalie pad sizing varies significantly across brands — and even between models within the same brand — even when listed at the same nominal size, as explained in the episode's gear segment.
Episode 163 of the InGoal Radio Podcast, presented by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports, features San Jose Sharks goalie Zach Sawchenko on his fascinating path to the NHL.
Feature Interview
presented by NHL Sense Arena
In that feature interview, presented by Sense Arena, Sawchenko walks us through his journey from going undrafted out of the WHL (a surprise to many, including here at InGoal), and seemingly walking away from pro hockey to go to school and play at the University of Alberta, to signing quirk the Sharks and making his NHL debut this season, including his first win a couple weeks ago against Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings. It’s been a fascinating journey for Sawchenko, one filled with lessons that the 24-year-old Calgary native shares openly in this extensive interview about his transition to the top.
Weekly Gear Segment
presented by The Hockey Shop Source for SportsAll that, plus a trip to The Hockey Shop Source for Sports to look at how different brands of pads fit different even when they’re all listed as the same size. Sometimes there are even differences from one model to the next in the sae brand, and Cam explains it all.
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