Alberni Valley Bulldogs goaltender Jackson Glassford stood out in his rookie season in the BCHL. The 6-foot-4 keeper had a 12-7-0 record and a .915 save percentage last year before getting injured and missing the final month of the season.
Glassford is back to 100 per cent and ready to go for his second campaign in the league. He was also ranked by NHL Central Scouting in one of their midterm rankings ahead of the 2020 NHL Draft.
We chatted with Glassford about his draft prospects, the upcoming season and his quest to get an NCAA Division I scholarship.
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BCHL: You dealt with an injury last January that derailed your season. How are you feeling now?
Glassford: I’m 100 per cent ready to go. It was definitely tough. I missed almost two months. I tried to come back for the playoffs and then this whole quarantine happened and I was off the ice for a while then too. A little adversity is no big deal. I’m back and I’m ready to go now. I’m looking forward to the exhibition games coming up.
BCHL: Your goaltending partner Luke Pearson is also back for his second season with the Bulldogs. What’s your relationship like with him?
Glassford: We’re pretty close. We’re really good friends off the ice. It’s good competition. We get along really well. We’re both hungry to get back in the net, but only one goalie can get in, obviously. He’s a great goalie and a great guy. We push each other to focus on our skills and do well in the net. I couldn’t ask for a better goalie partner.
BCHL: Going into the season, is it safe to say one of your main personal goals will be to get an NCAA Division I scholarship?
Glassford: It’s a huge goal of mine. Especially starting with the exhibition games. I want to get the monkey off the back and perform well. I want to give everyone a good showing and get a scholarship here at the start of the season.
BCHL: You were mentioned in a midseason ranking by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2020 NHL Draft. What was your reaction to that?
Glassford: I was pumped. I worked super hard last season to focus and have a good rookie year and put up good numbers. I thought I got rewarded for that. I was an underdog, I felt. Coming into the league, no one really knew my name. I started the season, put up some good numbers and played well. I thought I deserved to be on the list. It was definitely a huge accomplishment in my career.
BCHL: If you were to describe yourself as a player to an NHL team that was interested in selecting you, what would you say?
Glassford: I’m pretty big in the net. My skating ability is pretty solid. I also think I move well in the net. The one thing that separates me from a lot of goalies right now is my mental ability. I really focus on preparation mentally. I have a mental coach as well and she helps me throughout the season. Like they say, goaltending is 90 per cent mental. A lot of goalies can move well in the net and stop pucks, but I think my compete level and my ability to prepare for a game mentally stands out.
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You can watch Glassford and the rest of the Bulldogs all year long on HockeyTV. Visit your favourite team’s social media or website for a discount code to get $80 off a yearly subscription.
The BCHL’s 2020 NHL Draft coverage is brought to you by Chevrolet.
