Over the course of Main Camp, media intern Emily Polglaze will be catching up with some of Janesville’s new prospects. These include draft picks, tendered players, and camp invitees. Next up is another goaltender, Benjamin Allard-Robitaille. Robitaille will play in Saturday’s All-Star Game.
Name: Benjamin Allard-Robitaille
Position: Goalie
Birth year: 1999
Hometown: Levis, QC, CAN
Allard-Robitaille finished his 2016-2017 season with the Montreal-Est Rangers of the Quebec Junior Hockey League. He posted a .860 save percentage in seven regular season games and also saw time in net for two playoff games. He will be playing for Team Navy during Main Camp.
EP: Where did you play last year?
BAR: Last year I started the year in a prep school, but then I switched and played some Junior A in Montreal instead, in the the QJAAAHL, so I spent the end of the year there.
EP: What brings you to Janesville’s main camp?
BAR: It’s a really good program to develop players, I’ve seen that it’s one of the best programs to develop and go further either in the USHL or Division I, so that interested me. I’ve seen pretty good goalie development too with a good goalie coach.
EP: How would you describe yourself as a player?
BAR: I’m a pretty big goalie, so I just try to rely on my size and also I like to react to the puck a little more too. I’m more of a hybrid. I don’t move much, I try to stay in my space, but react to the shot.
EP: Who do you model your game after?
BAR: Coming from Quebec, I’d say Carey Price, like most other goalies from there. But I also like Devan Dubnyk and Pekka Rinne. I love their compete level every single night. Price is more of a laid-back, relaxed goalie, so I try to get the most out of the mixes of those guys and better my game.
EP: What are your thoughts on camp so far?
BAR: Camp has been a lot of fun, but nonetheless a very competitive environment. The goalie practices have been intense but fun with goalie coach Clemens, and the games are highly competitive. There are a lot of guys for a few spots and the pressure is definitely there but that’s what makes it fun.
EP: What are your goals for Main Camp?
BAR: I’m going to show them what I can and can’t do and see if they want to develop me further. I’ll show what I have to offer and we’ll see what happens from there.