Laval, Quebec-born goaltender Olivier Ciarlo has quickly become a household name for the Green Army as he has been a backbone for the Okotoks Oilers in his first season with the team.
Ciarlo spent the last four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada before heading over to the BCHL this season.
"Process-wise, I wasn't expecting to have that kind of talk with my team in the "Q", I wasn't expecting to be cut. Quite frankly I thought I did pretty good in the "Q" my last year. So I decided to look for the options that I had and I had quite a few options back at home and the Maritimes. My agent did a pretty good job finding a spot here in the "BC"...," Ciarlo explained.
Ciarlo is happy that he made the move out west and said that the competition in the BCHL closely resembles the skill level in the QMJHL.
"It's been my favourite year of hockey and it just kind of brought back all the fun memories I have had in the past years. I have been here for two months now and I have never had that much fun playing hockey," he added.
He praised the area, his teammates, and the fans, along with the possibility of playing in school around the area once his junior career is over which has made the move to the west so much fun.
The pressure of playing in the BCHL knowing scouts are always looming around doesn't affect Ciarlo's game at all as he had NHL scouts appearing at his games in the QMJHL and says he doesn't even notice them. He's open to going into the NCAA but said he would like to play in USports with a team like the Calgary Dinos.
This is the first time he has ever visited the province of Alberta and Ciarlo has been soaking it all in.
"It's amazing, I took so many pictures I feel like I'm a tourist right now. Every time I go to B.C. or travel around I just take pictures and send them to my parents, and I'm like "That's what I'm living right now, living the dream," Ciarlo said.
He said he's going to make it a priority to visit the mountains while he's in the area and even mentioned that he plans on visiting the Calgary Stampede this summer. He also added that he is a big country music fan.
Even though he grew up close to Montreal his childhood hero was L.A. Kings netminder Jonathan Quick. In his youth, he would try and replicate Quick's butterfly style but said as he got older it's a difficult style to play long-term so he has added alternate weapons to his goaltending method. Ciarlo said he also really enjoys watching Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman and tried to integrate some of Swayman's form into his game.
When asked if he would like to see the Nordiques back in the NHL he mentioned he would really enjoy that especially since his Uncle lives in Quebec City but also stated that if he had a choice, he would bring back the MLB Expo's first. If the Nordiques were to come back they would play out of the Videotron Centre, a place Ciarlo is very familiar with.
"I played in the Videotron Centre probably like 30 times in the "Q", it's amazing," he mentioned.
Ciarlo was traded last season from Drakkar and Armada which saw him play closer to home and get to spend more time with his parents. While no player is thrilled about getting traded Ciarlo made the most of it.
"I had the best team in Canada that year so, I wasn't playing terribly. I had a rough first half like I always did, but this year was different. I learned that I was going to get traded in two months. It was just the worst thing ever because I had all my buddies there and played with them for three and a half years. It was rough, I just went on a streak, and I had three shutouts in a row and I was going on a roll but the trade was already made," Ciarlo explained.
The trade last season also helped him prepare for the change in moving to Okotoks to play in the BCHL. Ciarlo has also taken up a leadership role in the net helping 18-year-old Swede Simon Westling get used to the North American style game.
"I really feel like your goalie partner has to be your best friend. If that's not the case, it's not going to work. He doesn't talk that much, he's not a big talker but he's been great. I try as much as possible to share the experience that I have had. I think he understands that too, I have had a lot of success in the past, and a long career, this is my fifth year. I talked to Deis (Oilers head coach and GM) and he was like "Hey man, make him a good goalie". So that's my job this year. I have two jobs, stop pucks and be there for Simon," he explained.
One thing he makes sure to do before every game is to sit in the stands and visualize the game before it's played. Former NHL goalie Ryan Miller and current Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebyuck do the same before each game which helps with mental focus.
Most goalies aren't fond of playing back-to-back games but that's not something Ciarlo complains about mentioning one year he played 34 times in 38 games to close the last half of a season. With a 48-save win earlier in the season, shot totals aren't something that bothers him as well as he doesn't focus on how many shots he gets but just stops one puck at a time.
Ciarlo is very thankful for his parents as he is an only child and they have put a ton of time helping him get to where he is.
"I don't have any siblings, so I'm their main concern when it comes to kids. I think my parents are amazing, every hockey player is going to say the same thing. They have done everything, like driving me to the rink at 6:00 a.m. since I was five years old. I'm extremely grateful for what they have done. I flew them in this week, my dad's here and they are coming back in late November. I'm trying to give back to them as much as possible. They have just been great and so supportive of this move to the BCHL. They have been amazing for 15 years already, it's been a long journey but a great one," Ciarlo said.
When asked if he wishes he had a sibling he joked saying "I'm a goalie" and mentioning he's happy just being alone in his net.
Ciarlo wasn't always between the pipes as he started out as a forward and a goalie during his early minor hockey days. He also played goal in soccer and was a stud in the net. His passion for hockey was stronger so that's why he decided to pursue the game played on ice.
The Green Army has witnessed some stellar play from Ciarlo in net and he appreciates the fans who come out to cheer them on. He said that fans can expect the Oilers to continue to climb the rankings as they are gelling and predicts many more wins this season.
Ciarlo would also go on to say that getting integrated into the locker room with a whole new team has been easy.
"It just feels like I have been playing with these guys for 15 years," he mentioned.
10 Questions with Olivier Ciarlo
What is your go-to cheat meal?
"I'm a big candy person, I have a sweet tooth. I like Reece's Pieces a lot. On the road I always take a little pack of Reece's Pieces, the really small ones because you get a bit more.
Favourite team and player growing up?
"Jonathan Quick and the L.A. Kings."
Favourite sport other than hockey?
"I would say baseball. I never played baseball but I'm just a big Boston Red Sox fan. I follow baseball a lot, like right now with the World Series."
What is your guilty pleasure song?
"I don't know really but I would say a song I will listen to for the rest of my life is Good Riddance by Green Day. It's my favourite song in the world, I can listen to it when happy, sad, angry... It's a great tune."
Do you prefer using white or black hockey tape?
"I used to be a white hockey tape guy, but black now. Change of scenery, changing everything, feel good with it."
What is your pre-game ritual?
"I would say I always eat pasta before a game. It's been like that for I don't know how long. I take my pasta 30 minutes before I leave and then I go take a shower, then I'm ready to go. It's pasta, tomato sauce, and a lot of cheese."
What is your favourite TV show and movie?
"TV show, it's either Breaking Bad or The Office. I would say The Office because I have watched it eight times. I listen to the whole show really paying attention a couple of times and then I put it aside and do something at the same time. Movie I would say Shawshank Redemption, that movie is just great."
If you could meet anyone in the world alive or dead, who would it be?
"I would say Jonathan Quick, just ask him how he is so flexible at 38 years old."
What is the best chirp you have ever said or heard?
"It was the best chirp because it was so bad. Two years ago I was playing against Sherbrooke back in the "Q" and a pretty important guy who got drafted into the NHL, he told me to shut up because I had a cage on. I just told him, what do you want me to do? It was the best chirp for how bad it was. I felt embarrassed for him. What do you want me to do, put a visor on?"
Would you rather go back in time or visit the future?
"Back in time. I liked it when Rome was a big empire, I know a lot of stuff about that. I would love to go back and see how things were back then. That or dinosaur times."
Bonus
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you would buy?
"Probably a nice car, not like a Lamborgini or anything. Just a nice car, I got a car at home and I need to change it. But I would buy a car or a condo."
If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?
"Probably teleportation, whenever we go back from a road trip I just can't wait to get back home."
What is your secret talent?
"People have told me I sing pretty well. Just like everybody I like to sing in the shower."