Goaltender Doug Wakelyn is one of the newest members of the UNLV Skatin’ Rebels. The former University of Central Oklahoma netminder spent three seasons with the Bronchos, putting up a save percentage of 0.923 and allowing an average of 2.11 goals per game.
What specific factors led to your decision to transfer to UNLV?
“The biggest part was that we had a coaching absence at the University of Central Oklahoma. I wasn’t fully served in the future there, and so I wanted to make sure I kept playing hockey at a very high competitive level.
So UNLV being runners-up last year, having a good hockey team played against them multiple times as a little bit of a rivalry, got to kind of know how good they were and know that they were very competitive, and have an urge to win.
The big thing that made me transfer here was doing a Professional Golf Management Program.
So, the program here at UNLV looks absolutely fantastic. So that was a good reason why I looked into transforming here.”
What are you looking forward to while playing here?
“I want to win the national championship. So that is a big goal of mine.
As I mentioned before, because they beat us, and in the semi-finals became runner-up, they have the one to win for now, and that’s what I want to do.
My ultimate goal for hockey is winning the national championship back in Vegas.”
What’s your ideal pregame routine? (music, meals, superstitions, etc.)
“I don’t have too much. I just try to get a good night’s sleep before and maybe get up, get a little bit active in the morning, and then take a nap.
Then I usually have pesto pasta chicken before as my pregame meal, and once I get to the end, I’m very much to myself. I don’t need to talk too much; I just put headphones on.
More of the music I like to listen to is classic rock. And then go through my stretches, and I will do ball exercises to warm up my hand and back.”
What can Rebel fans expect from your style of play?
“Hopefully, that just means no goals are going in, so it’s all offensive.
At the end of the day, my biggest hope is that I don’t see a shot on the net, and we win every game because of that.
I’m just trying to battle and do the best I can for the guys in front of me, for the team, and give them the best chance to win.”
Last year playing in the net for UCO, can you talk about what the experience was like playing against UNLV? What was going through your head when you played the Rebels at home?
“There were always battles against UNLV and many great challenges; last year was the first time I played against UNLV, and I got my first taste of it.
Just those types of highly competitive games are extremely fun for me to be a part of. They test me. And at the end day, you gotta beat some of the best teams to be the best.
That’s the goal, and you gotta earn your way and work towards the ultimate goal of winning a National Championship.”
What is it like to switch to the other side of a rivalry like UCO-UNLV?
“When you’re on one team [and] you don’t like the other, going to the other can be a little bit different and make you a little bit unsure of what’s going on, but these guys have been done a great job and welcome me in welcoming me here on the team, and even with the school and everything, I’m looking forward to playing with them.
They’ve been great, and I’m just looking to go out and compete with them.”
What/Who has been your biggest inspiration/motivator?
“So obviously, my main role model and person I looked up to was my father getting into hockey, and with the high levels he played, it was something I wanted to do, and I’ve always kind of grown up with him.
I worked with some guys, such as Pete Frye, and they’ve also helped me do that. As far as somebody who’s played in the NHL, more recently, one of my biggest favorite boys and role models would be Roberto Luongo.”
Wakeland along with the rest of the Skatin’ Rebels continue to gear up during training camp leading up to their first series of the season on the road against an NCAA division one opponent in the Lindenwood University Lions on Oct. 5 and 6.
