Interview #10 - Trevor Gorsuch

Trevor Gorsuch is an American hockey goaltender currently playing for the Kalamazoo Wings. Gorsuch played collegiate hockey at Western Michigan before signing his first pro contract with the Toledo Walleye. Since them, Gorsuch has played for teams such as the Reading Royals, Utah Grizzlies, and Fort Wayne Komets. Read the interview below to find out more about Gorsuch's path to pro.

1) Growing up in Missouri, what was your youth hockey career like?
Growing up in Missouri my early playing days were tough because we only had one AAA team in the St. Louis area. So unfortunately we were never the strongest of teams because St. Louis wasn’t a major hockey city like it is growing to become.

2) What made you decide to be a goaltender rather than a skater?
I think what made me become a goalie was initially the gear. But what made me stick with it was I truly enjoyed that feeling of robbing a shooter when they thought they had an easy goal. I grew up watching guys like Brodeur, Roy and Hasek so those highlight reel saves really stuck with me.

3) You spent your collegiate career at Western Michigan University, how was the transition from juniors to college?
The transition from juniors to college was challenging but in a good way. I’ve always been the kind of person who loves a challenge so I loved battling against adversity because that makes achieving my goals even sweeter. It was more so the academics that was the biggest challenge as it had been four years since I had been in school.

4) What’s the toughest part about balancing both athletics and school?
As I said before, academics is the hardest part about being a college athlete. Being an athlete requires a lot of sacrifice just by itself so now adding school on top made a social life very limited. But you really learn to manage and balance hockey, school and life after a little while and that balance makes all three of those much easier.

5) What was your favorite on ice collegiate memory?
It’s really hard to pinpoint one moment, however there are two that come to mind above the rest. The first is my first ever college start at Lawson against Miami of Ohio. The rush of hearing your name called and the Lawson Lunatics going wild is a feeling words can’t do justice. The second would be my senior season and sweeping North Dakota in North Dakota including a shutout. That whole weekend was an amazing memory that I will cherish forever.

6) How did you feel after signing your first professional contract with the Toledo Walleye?
When I first signed with Toledo, everything happened so fast that emotions were almost nonexistent. It was like riding shotgun in a car going a million miles an hour haha. However, once I returned to WMU to finish my senior year I was able to reflect and realize just how amazing that time was and how excited I was for the future.

7) Throughout your time since going pro, you’ve played for quite a few teams and have traveled to quite a few cities. What’s your favorite city you’ve been to?
Yeah I have definitely put some miles on my car but it’s been worth it. Each place I go and each game I play is another opportunity and story. But I would have to say the two best cities I have been so far are Salt Lake City, UT and Toledo. Both are unique in their own ways but both hold special places in my heart.

8) The past two seasons have been very tough for every sport, especially hockey, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. How has COVID impacted you and your professional journey?
)During this pandemic my journey has been interesting to say the least haha as you alluded earlier, I ended up playing for four different teams this season due to the COVID crazy season. Teams were constantly bringing in and shipping out guys to fill out rosters and compete. So in that respect I was very fortunate to be able to play and have those opportunities. But I would also say it was an amazing experience to travel across the country and play with some many new teammates and against new teams.

9) You’re now with the Kalamazoo Wings, what are your expectations on both an individual and team level heading into the new season?
Signing with the Kalamazoo Wings was as close to a no-brainer as possible. The opportunity to play is high and it’s in a city I am very familiar with. I think my own individual goals are the same goals I’ve had for myself my entire career: win more games than I lose, have a solid GAA and save %, and be a good teammate. For the team, I want to be a championship contender and make something special happen in Kalamazoo.

10) What’s your why?
My why, that’s an interesting question. I guess you could say that athletics and sport runs in my family as my dad played pro tennis back in the 70’s, his uncle won Wimbledon in 1963, and my grandpa was the all service boxing champ and had a couple of pro fights. But if I dig deeper I believe it is because I truly love playing hockey and it has been my passion since I was a little boy. I always dream of playing pro hockey and that dream has helped me get where I am today but I still want more.


11) Who’s the best player you’ve ever played against?
The best player I’ve played against is again a tough question as I played against a lot of great players while I was growing up, in juniors and especially in college.

12) Who’s your biggest role model and why?
My biggest role model is my dad. Being a former pro athlete he taught me from a young age what challenges I had ahead of me and helped shape me into the man I am today. My dad also became very successful as a financial advisor after his playing days were over but all his hard work for his job never interfered with time with his family. He is a true family man who puts his family first and that is what I aspire to be when my playing days are over.

13) If you could say one thing to your 10 year old self, what would it be?
If I could go back and say something to a 10 year old me it would be this; be open-minded. For so long I thought I was good enough and didn’t need to change or adapt my game but I was wrong. Change is a natural thing and a lot of people tried to help me see that through the years and my stubbornness blinded me to that.
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14) Any last words for the readers?
My final thoughts to the readers, always be yourself and never give less than 100% everyday in everything you do. Those are ideas I try to live my life by and I think they’ve done me well so far!
 

Big thanks to Trevor for the amazing interview! Truly an awesome guy and amazing player. Best of luck with the season ahead!
Photo via https://www.oursportscentral.com/graphics/pictures/lg20210116-624599.jpg

Chris Dailey

Founder, The Sports Court