BOSTON | Every morning, Jacob Fowler wakes up with one goal in mind: to become the next number one goalie for the Montreal Canadiens. He still has a long way to go to get there, and he knows it full well. Because of this, he redoubled his efforts, allowing him to lose 17 pounds of body mass in just four months.
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When he appeared before this author last week during a multi-day visit to Boston, Fowler showed a much sharper face than the one he presented after his selection in Nashville last June.
When drafted, the lists stated he weighed 223 pounds and was 6 feet 2 inches tall. Since the start of the season, he has been listed by the Boston College Eagles at 214 pounds.
“I weighed myself this morning and I’m at 206,” he told us with a smile when we asked him about this apparent weight loss.
Jacob Fowler has lost 17 pounds since June 29, the day he was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens. Photo Terry Wyatt/Getty Images/AFP
More zucchini and less steak!
And none of this is a coincidence. When preparing the draft, Martin Lapointe, co-director of recruiting at CH, indicated to the media that the American goalkeeper’s physical condition was not a cause for concern. However, the organization, working with the Eagles organization, created a training and nutrition plan for Fowler to refine his physique.
“I’ve been training hard in the gym this summer to get leaner and faster. This allows me to be more explosive and make saves that I wasn’t able to make before.”
From a nutritional perspective, he was presented with a diet that better suited the needs of an athlete of his level.
“It’s nothing completely different, but it’s all about being more balanced. You can’t eat steak every night in the NCAA! “I can still eat things I like, but I also have to add other things that aren’t as good, like zucchini,” he laughs.
Boston College Nutrition Director Liz Wluka assures that Jacob Fowler’s diet was not a major problem. He simply needed to organize his meals better so that he had the necessary calorie intake to have energy throughout the day.
“Jacob is really very disciplined,” she assures. He is offered four meals a day as well as three other protein snacks. It is also important that he hydrates well with electrolyte drinks, among other things. He respects everything down to the letter.”
Immediate effect
The result is convincing for him: at the age of 18, he was not only able to fight for a place as the Eagles’ best goalkeeper, he also mastered this task with flying colors.
He has won five of his first six NCAA starts so far while maintaining a 2.15 goals-against average and .919 save percentage.
“He has a presence in front of the net and you can see it as soon as he steps on the ice. He’s not as nervous as many first-year players at his position would be. “He’s always calm,” describes his trainer Greg Brown.
But his successes are not the only result of a better diet, assures Eagles goalkeeping coach Mike Ayers.
“He works hard and is very focused on his goals. He wants to know every detail of the opponent, be it by asking questions or making lots of videos to learn the tendencies of each player on the other team. His preparation is exceptional.”
A goal in mind
All of this work serves a very specific, long-term goal, assures Fowler. Finally, there is a strong bond between the Montreal Canadiens and their family as some of them are from Montreal.
So the ultimate dream would be to one day be the trusted man in Montreal. Does he think he has what it takes to become one one day?
“Yes,” he says, looking us straight in the eyes. This is what motivates me every day. I know that the path there is not easy and that there is only one number one goalkeeper spot. To get there I have to earn it every day and work harder than the guys who are already there but also those who will come after me. It motivates me every day to give my all here. However, I know it won’t happen right away and I need to make sure I dominate the college ranks now. »