Viva Montoya!
Hockey goes Havana in Hartford as the Rangers Groom Someone Who Could Be the First Cuban-American Goaltender in NHL History.
Mike Scandura
MLNSportsZone.com
Goalie Al Montoya is on the verge of becoming the answer to a trivia question: Who was the first Cuban-American to play in the NHL?
Montoya, the 20-year-old New York Rangers' first-round pick (6th OA) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, was recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack on Oct. 12 when Kevin Weekes strained a groin muscle. After sitting for two games, Montoya was reassigned to Hartford when Weekes returned.
Masked Man of Michigan
The Rangers plucked Montoya from the University of Michigan. In three seasons he compiled an 86-29-8 record with a 2.36 goals-against average. He ranks among the school's leaders in categories like victories (fourth), shutouts (third with 13), save percentage (tied for it with a .908 mark). In 20 career post-season games, Montoya really shined. Not only was he 15-5 with a .928 save percentage plus three shutouts, but his goals-against average was a microscopic 1.80.
Where Success Begins
Montoya is as fast as an eye blink when it comes to attributing the reason for his success.
"My family is the number one reason I'm here today and doing what I've done," he tells MLN.
It’s where the intense drive to succeed begins. His mother, Irina Silva, escaped from Cuba with her parents when she was nine. After first setting foot in Miami, relocated to Chicago where she worked her way through medical school en route to becoming a physician and raised a family of four sons.
"My mom is the rock of our family. Every day when we go out there and put on jerseys with our names on them, we look back on the sacrifices she made so my brothers and I could reach where we are."
"I was fortunate to have three brothers with one or two who always wanted to do something," Montoya recalled of his youth in Chicago. Montoya's older half-brother David Walsh graduated from the Naval Academy and is employed in naval intelligence. Twin brothers, 19-year-old Carlos and Marcos, are sophomores at the University of Illinois.
"We had our best friends right there and played all the games we wanted … baseball, soccer, tennis, whatever we could get our hands on.
From Havana to Hockey
Hockey isn't a prime-time sport in Cuba, but a fortuitous set of circumstances led Montoya to take up the sport.
"We lived across the street from a rink and my older brother was into hockey," he recalled. "And mom wanted us to do everything."
Montoya began playing Mite hockey primarily as a forward. But since players are rotated through positions, he once got a crack at playing goal.
It was love at first sight.
"My second year as a Mite, our travel team didn't have a goalie and I remember that I had loved it," said Montoya. "After that I kept going and going and had a great time with it."
Montoya had such a "great time" that he eventually was tabbed by USA Hockey for its developmental program. He backstopped the Under-17 team that won a gold medal at the World Challenge and shortly thereafter led the Junior National Team to its first Under-20 World Championship.
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