For 18-year-old Riley Arts, hockey is not just a game that he loves, it’s in his blood.
Arts’ grandfather played professional hockey in the Netherlands and his father’s cousin was in the NHL.
“I just loved the game since I was young,” he said.
Arts told InnisfilToday that he started skating at two years old, joined a team at four years old, and was never forced to practice or play.
Continued dedication and love of the game are necessary because Arts is the goaltender for the Listowel Cyclones in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) B Loop. “We’re on the ice pretty much every day — especially now in (the) playoffs.”
Arts and his teammates won their division’s championship, called the Cherrey Cup, on Friday, April 12.
“That was a big moment for our team,” he said.
The Listowel Cyclones will compete in a tournament that begins with a round-robin of the league’s top three teams. It will be the first time that Arts will compete in the Sutherland Cup, which is named after James Thomas Sutherland, referred to as the "father of hockey in Ontario," by the GOJHL.
A graduate of Goodfellow Public School and Nantyr Shores Secondary School, he said of Innisfil, “It’s such a nice town. I’m happy that I have the opportunity to live here.”
As a fellow Canadian, Arts is proud of Sidney Crosby’s success with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he models his game based on the play of Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros, who is five feet, 11 inches tall.
At five feet, eight inches, Arts is one of the few goalies in a top junior league under six feet.
When asked about his height, he said that it motivates him: “I don’t think I’d be as hard a worker as I am right now.”
Arts’ efforts have been recognized as he was selected as the GOJHL Goaltender of the Month for December.
“That was my first time getting goaltender of the month,” he said.
Arts told InnisfilToday that his goalie platoon partner was injured, so he played more games than usual over that stretch: “I proved myself.”
Arts was also the co-recipient of the Twin Cities Trophies Award for lowest team goals against average in the Midwestern conference.
“It was a big honour to win with my goalie partner (Dixon Grimes),” he said. “I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.”
In 25 games, Arts had 18 wins and 5 shutouts.
“The defencemen help me out,” he said. “You have to have a good team in front of you.”
After another two years in the juniors, Arts’ goal is to play hockey in the NCAA.
Though he has always been interested in firefighting, he plans to study business. He explained that while playing hockey remains the priority, he may find a business based outdoors in the future.
“It’s awesome to help people and stay active,” he said.
As the Listowel Cyclones forge ahead in the playoffs, Arts said, “Our coaches put in so much work. You can’t complain about being at the rink with your buddies.”
