Thrilled to Dom-inate the net

Domenic DiVincentiis emerged from the coach’s office on Sunday night with some unexpected news that required further attention.

The Manitoba Moose goaltender had just been told by head coach Mark Morrison that his services were required elsewhere.

You’re going to The Show.

They are the words every prospect is waiting to hear, the stuff dreams are made of.

On Monday morning, DiVincentiis was officially recalled by the Winnipeg Jets as Thomas Milic was returned to the Moose after making three appearances, including one start.

After he was one of the last players off the ice, DiVincentiis shed his chest protector and threw on a bright red Jets hoodie and faced his first media scrum as an NHL player.

“I got goose bumps,” said DiVincentiis, asked what it was like to hear the recall news. “I immediately called my parents and grandparents and shared the news with them. To be able to share that with them was pretty surreal. It was pretty unbelievable and super exciting.”

The unadulterated enthusiasm was prevalent during a question and answer session that lasted for nearly five minutes, which is understandable when you dig into the road to this moment.

Chosen by the Jets in the seventh round (207th overall) of the 2022 NHL draft, DiVincentiis went back to the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League and had a tremendous season — one that earned him Goalie of the Year honours in the OHL.

But during the following season, DiVincentiis saw his game dip dramatically and he went from being a shoo-in to be on Canada’s world junior team in 2024 to not getting invited to the final evaluation camp.

That development was devastating for DiVincentiis, but he tried to use it as a learning lesson as he finished off his junior career and prepared to make the jump to pro hockey.

DiVincentiis split his rookie season between the Moose and the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL, where he played 20 games.

“I’m just trying to get better every single day. Ultimately, I’ve waited for this moment to be called up and, now that I’m here, I’ve just got to continue getting better every day and wait for my opportunity.”

Prior to the injury to Connor Hellebuyck, DiVincentiis had been sharing the crease with Milic.

DiVincentiis is 6-7 with a 2.49 goals-against average and .915 save percentage with one shutout in 13 games with the Moose this season.

DiVincentiis was excited for his friend and goalie partner to get his first taste of NHL action, but it also reinforced how close he was to reaching his own goal.

“Absolutely. We’re competing every day down there, so when you see a good buddy of yours get called up, you’re super pumped for him and excited for him to get going,” said DiVincentiis. “Ultimately, yeah, (his own NHL debut) could be right around the corner. I don’t know when it’s going to come. But my job is to be ready every single night and just take it day-by-day.”

The appreciation for the highs and lows of the journey were on display on Monday afternoon.

“My parents and grandparents and all my family have helped me tremendously to get here. The money and everything they’ve done,” said DiVincentiis. “To be able to share (the news) with them, I know my dad is already on the way here. I’m super excited to see him and be able to share this moment with him.

“I would say the sacrifice and continuing to believe in myself that one day this could be a possibility and (now) it’s right around the corner.

There will be another thrill on the horizon for DiVincentiis, as Jets head coach Scott Arniel revealed that he would be getting his first NHL action at some point in the near future.

“On that, yes, probably,” said Arniel. “This has kind of been the plan. We have two young goaltenders. We were going to get the two of them here. I want them around (goalie coach Wade Flaherty). I want them to go through these practice days. I want them to see our shooters. I want them to be around our group.

“These are two young goaltenders that are all part of the process of building. As we know, it’s a very, very tough position to play. And this is really about getting opportunity and experience. We know (Hellebuyck is) coming (back relatively soon). So, it gives us an opportunity to see what we do have. It allows them to kind of build their brand, build their game for the future.”

DiVincentiis isn’t sure how long he’ll be with the big club, but he plans to soak in every bit of the experience.

“I’m just trying to get better every single day. Ultimately, I’ve waited for this moment to be called up and, now that I’m here, I’ve just got to continue getting better every day and wait for my opportunity,” said DiVincentiis. “Never will I stop getting those goose bumps being in the NHL.”

winnipegfreepress.com/kenwiebe