Episode 234 of the InGoal Radio Podcast, presented by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports, features the fascinating journey to an NHL contract of Vancouver Canucks prospect Nikita Tolopilo.

In that feature interview, presented by NHL Sense Arena, Tolopilo, who started playing goal in Belarus because he was tall and flexible, shares stories and lessons from his journey to becoming a coveted NHL free agent last spring. It includes leaving home as a teenager to play in Switzerland, where he was coached by ex-NHL goalie David Aebischer, then going back to Belarus and a couple years in the KHL before signing in Sweden, where things really started to take off three seasons ago. The 6-foot-6 goalie walks us through his technical and tactical evolution in Sweden and the decision to stay there one more year after getting NHL contract offers, why he eventually chose the Canucks ahead of order offers, and the challenges of adjusting to a very different style of play in the AHL early this year.

All that, plus an in-person trip to The Hockey Shop Source for Sports for a look at the new Bauer AG5NT stick, which uses Boron to help weigh in at an incredibly light 1.25 pounds!