After back surgery, SC Stingrays goalie Garin Bjorklund is having a breakout season

Garin Bjorklund knew his back was going to be a problem.

After four years in the Western Hockey League, the South Carolina Stingrays goalie had just signed his first professional contract in the summer of 2022 and was taking part in his initial NHL preseason camp with the Washington Capitals.

Nothing was going to keep him out of the net.

Except, unfortunately, two herniated disks in Bjorklunds lower back.

I went through camp, and my back was not where it needed to be, said Bjorklund, who was a sixth-round draft pick of the Capitals in 2020.

Then I went down to Hershey, got into a couple of exhibition games, and it just kept getting worse and worse.

Bjorklund was a hockey player.

He was tough.

The Calgary, Alberta, native could battle through the pain and kept his spot on the roster.

It just got to be too much, he said.

In the fall of 2022, Bjorklund underwent extensive back surgery to repair the damage to his herniated disks.

Bjorklunds pro career had been put on hold before it even had a chance to start.

He spent the next six months going through grueling rehab sessions to get his body right for the ice.

I was around the guys every day, so I still felt like I was a part of the team, Bjorklund said.

That was really important mentally.

Going through rehab can be lonely, but the guys did a great job of keeping me involved.

After an up-and-down season a year ago as a rookie, Bjorklund is having a breakout campaign with the Stingrays.

Through 19 starts, Bjorklund is 12-3-3 with a 2.16 goals against average good for third in the ECHL and a .923 save percentage.

Garin has been one of the best storylines for us all year, said Stingrays coach Jared Nightingale.

Hes battled through some injuries, and I feel like going through injuries reveals a lot about a persons character, and he has run with opportunities hes been given.

Hes accountable, he holds himself to a high standard and never points fingers at anyone.

I always enjoyed playing in front of goalies like that during my career.

In 11 of his 19 starts this season, he has allowed two or fewer goals.

Garin has been lights out here lately, said Stingrays defenseman Connor Moore.

Hes made some incredible saves to keep us in games.

Without him in net, we wouldnt be where we are right now in the standings.

The South Carolina Stingrays have a long history of developing and promoting goalies from the ECHL to the NHL.

Over the past 15 years, no less than eight goalies that once suited up for the Stingrays have gone on to play on the biggest stages in professional hockey, including Braden Holtby (Washington), Logan Thompson (Washington), Vitek Vanecek (San Jose), Pheonix Copley (L.A.

Kings), Philipp Grubauer (Seattle), James Reimer (Anaheim), Hunter Shepard (Washington) and Michal Neuvirth (Philadelphia).

I dont think youll find another team in the ECHL that has the kind of track record that the Capitals have in developing goalies, Nightingale said.

The players see that the Capitals care about this organization and developing players for the highest levels.

There is a real relationship between all three levels, and thats not true for all organizations." Normally, most ECHL teams carry just a pair of goalies on their rosters for salary cap reasons.

The emergence of undrafted rookie Seth Eisele has forced Nightingale to rotate goalies.

Bjorklund shares the net with fellow Capitals draft pick Mitchell Gibson and Eisele.

Even in the NHL you need more than one goalie to make a run, Nightingale said.

Its important to have depth at every position, and were fortunate that all of our guys are doing well.

It certainly makes for some tough decisions, but thats a good problem to have.

Having former NHL standout Olaf Kolzig, the Capitals all-time leader in wins for a goalie, as a roving coach hasnt hurt Bjorklunds development either.

Anytime (Kolzig) is in town I try to pick his brain and just be a sponge and soak everything up hes teaching me, Bjorklund said.

Hes a great resource to have, and its one of the reasons why I think the Capitals have been so successful at placing goalies in the NHL.

Holtby, 35, like Bjorklund was a Washington draft pick and worked his way up the depth chart to eventually earn the starting job for the Capitals leading the club to its first Stanley Cup title in 2018.

He is also working with the Capitals' prospects.

I looked up to Braden when I was coming up, Bjorklund said.

Any time he comes to South Carolina and works with us, you have to open your ears and listen to him and take any advice, wisdom he can give you..

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