Kasimir Kaskisuo, goalie and YouTuber, is trying out for the Bruins

BRIGHTON, Mass.

Come December, NHL players are generally too occupied with their day jobs to attend public-hockey sessions at the Burnsville Ice Center.

Yet last winter, once or twice a week, Kasimir Kaskisuo visited the Burnsville, Minn., rink with John Schiavo, a Southern Professional Hockey League player, as his shooter and $15 in hand for their entry.

Advertisement For an unemployed goalie three months into the NHL season, it was the best Kaskisuo could do to stay ready for a call.

Going back and skating at that same rink this summer was giving me PTSD, Kaskisuo recalled this week with a laugh.

Just from remembering those December mornings, going there and not really knowing what was going to happen.

He had received offers from European clubs.

But the 30-year-old who lives in Lakeville, Minn., with his wife, Whitney, and daughter, Fox wanted to play in North America after spending the two previous seasons with Leksands in Sweden.

So he waited.

He trained at his local gym.

He stopped shots.

And on Dec.

18, he signed a professional tryout agreement with the Laval Rocket, the Montreal Canadiens AHL affiliate.

Kaskisuo, at last, had gotten a job.

One reason Kaskisuo was able to stay patient was an alternate income stream.

Kaskisuo is a YouTuber.

Back in camp Kaskisuo is on his second tryout in as many seasons.

This time, its with the Boston Bruins .

One week before camp, the Bruins contacted Jay Grossman, Kaskisuos agent, to express their interest.

On Sept.

18, Kaskisuo signed his PTO in time for the first day of on-ice work.

On his PTO, the only income Kaskisuo is guaranteed is the $137 in per diem the NHL grants every player.

The team pays for his hotel room and food at the rink.

The offer came because Jeremy Swayman , the Bruins No.

1 goalie, is unsigned .

Bringing Kaskisuo on gave the Bruins the six goalies they preferred for the start of camp.

How long Kaskisuo stays is unknown.

The Bruins can let him go at any time.

I know theres a lot of stuff going on, Kaskisuo said, referring to Swaymans negotiations with the Bruins.

Theres five other goalies too.

Everybodys in a different position.

I cant start focusing on them.

I just need to do my own job.

I understand that every day, any day could be my last day.

Im keeping that in mind and embracing the opportunity.

Kaskisuo has made two prior NHL appearances: one with the Toronto Maple Leafs and another with the Nashville Predators .

The Finn understands the stress not just of employment but life as a fringe NHL goalie.

He has put it out there for everyone to see.

Im still unemployed, Kaskisuo said in a video posted to his YouTube channel on Oct.

8, 2023.

Unsigned.

Free agent.

No team yet.

Its tough now when training camps have started here in North America and still nothing.

Just trying to be patient, find the right spot.

Its a tough situation when nothings come out yet.

Its no fun.

Kaskisuos YouTube adventure began in the 2020 NHL playoffs in the Eastern Conference bubble with the Maple Leafs.

After watching several NBA and NFL players create behind-the-scenes content, Kaskisuo wanted to try.

On July 27, 2020, Kaskisuo posted his first video.

First time vlogger so a lot to learn, he wrote in the caption.

Advertisement The video has logged more than 166,000 views.

Four years later, Kaskisuo has his system just about down.

He uses a Sony ZV-1 camera atop a Joby GorillaPod 1K tripod.

For his on-ice clips, Kaskisuo shoots with a GoPro HERO11 Black attached to his mask.

He edits his videos on a MacBook.

His YouTube channel includes Amazon links to his video equipment.

There is also a link to his merch: hats, T-shirts and hoodies with his personalized KK logo.

Kaskisuos videos vary.

In some, he takes viewers inside hotels and team buses.

In others, he incorporates clips of his saves and goals against and analyzes his technique.

My favorite thing to watch, if I just scroll on YouTube, is watching different athletes and their daily stuff.

Im definitely going to be watching that Amazon show, Kaskisuo said of the upcoming Amazon behind-the-scenes series .

I like to watch all the ones from football.

Its very motivating too, as an athlete and as someone who does the content side of it as well.

GO DEEPER How Amazon's NHL docuseries got player buy-in to reveal the 'raw emotion' of Stanley Cup hockey Kaskisuo has 64,800 subscribers.

Because of his reach, companies have asked him to try their products on camera.

In some of the videos, he wears the Sense Arena virtual reality headset, which some goalies use to mimic stopping pucks.

Subscribers can get $50 off a headset if they use the KAZ promo code.

Of course, viewers are encouraged to like and subscribe.

Its definitely helped during times, offseasons, and not having a job, Kaskisuo said of his YouTube revenue, the amount of which he did not disclose.

Its been a big help for the family.

In his most recent video, in which he explains the contents of his goalie bag, Kaskisuo is wearing a New York Yankees hat.

On Tuesday after practice, he had a Boston Red Sox hat on.

The day I signed, I figured I couldnt wear that here, Kaskisuo said of his previous lid.

So I had to go upgrade it.

Whats to come Joonas Korpisalo and Brandon Bussi are atop the depth chart while Swayman is unsigned.

Michael DiPietro , the No.

3 goalie, is on a one-year, two-way NHL deal.

Ryan Bischel and Nolan Maier are in the mix for the AHL Providence and ECHL Maine affiliates.

Bussi started the preseason opener.

Korpisalo was in net for the second game.

DiPietro backed up both times.

Advertisement Where Kaskisuo fits is uncertain.

By now, he is used to uncertainty.

He is a regular visitor to PuckPedia, where he studies organizational goalie rankings and contracts.

July starts, and theres only a couple goalies here and there signing, Kaskisuo said.

You start to look at the depth charts.

Then asking about these teams and sending a list to my agent.

My agents making a list.

You start getting back a lot of noes.

Spots are filled up.

Obviously when camps are right around the corner, then its not fun anymore.

But the day before camp, to get the call, I didnt miss anything.

So that was good.

Kaskisuo has not posted to his channel since signing with the Bruins.

For now, he is focusing on his on-ice job.

Content creation, however, is not going away.

No, Kaskisuo said when asked if he considered himself a YouTuber.

Well, maybe.

Yeah, I guess.

A lot of people, when they recognize me, say they love my videos and not like, Youre a great goalie, or anything like that.

So Im trying to change that a little bit.

But at least Im getting recognized.

I feel like the reach is pretty big in the hockey community.

(Top photos: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images and Fluto Shinzawa / The Athletic ).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.