The St. John Sea Dogs will be looking to a former North Bay Trapper to lead them between the pipes for the foreseeable future. 18-year-old netminder Justin Robinson will look to lead the team and gain valuable experience in the final stretch of the season after the team announced on Saturday (January 19) they have released overage goaltender Charles-Edward Gravel.
Last season, Robinson led all QMJHL non-import rookies with an .890 save percentage and will now get the chance to showcase what he can do as a starter.
Robinson grew up in Témiscaming, Quebec, and played most of his minor hockey years in North Bay.
"I grew up in Quebec, played minor hockey there till first year of Atom. After that, I wanted to pursue higher-level hockey, and North Bay was the closest place for me to play,” Robinson recalls. “I joined the Trappers in the second year of Atom and played Triple-A right through my second year of Bantam. I played with the same group of guys throughout those five years in North Bay. It was a great time, great experience, and I made a bunch of friends who I am still close with."
Throughout his youth, Robinson had the fortune of working with dedicated coaches who helped shape his skills and mindset. "I had a few coaches over the years in North Bay that were great to work with. I had amazing opportunities with our coaches, working on mental toughness, off-ice training, on-ice training, you name it. It was great development for me and got me to where I am today," he says.
Robinson's passion for being a goaltender started early. "As soon as I wanted to play hockey, I wanted to be a goalie. But my dad wanted me to learn how to skate properly first. So, for the first two years of hockey, I played as a player. In my third year, I transitioned to a goalie and loved it ever since the first shot I stopped," he shares.
The evolving nature of the game has always been a driving force for Robinson. "The game is evolving every day. Players are getting bigger, stronger, and faster. Technology is getting better, and other teams have pre-scouting reports on you. You have to work on your weaknesses and focus on the details in your game," he explains.
Despite expecting to be drafted in the 2022 OHL priority selection, Robinson found his path leading him to the QMJHL. "In my draft year, I was under the impression of being drafted in the OHL, having played in Ontario my whole life. I had a few calls from OHL teams throughout the year. A week or two before the OHL draft, I was made aware that I wasn't available for the OHL draft because of where I live. I transitioned into the QMJHL draft pool and ended up being drafted by the Sea Dogs," he recounts.
The call from the Sea Dogs, who were on their way to winning the Memorial Cup that spring, was a memorable moment for Robinson. "I remember being at home and watching the Memorial Cup. One of my best friends from Témiscaming, Nico Laforge was on the Sea Dogs that year. When I got the call from Trevor Georgie, the president of the Sea Dogs, I was very happy and had a smile on my face all day," he recalls after being selected in the sixth round (#97 overall).
Adjusting to a new city, and province, was a challenge Robinson embraced as he moved to New Brunswick. "St. John is a bigger city than Témiscaming. Having a great billet family here helps a lot. It's different from back home, but it's something to adapt to, and I'm feeling very comfortable here now," he says.
Traveling with the Sea Dogs has introduced Robinson to new experiences. "The farthest distance I traveled with the Trappers was a tournament in Lake Placid, New York, which was about an eight-hour drive. With the Sea Dogs, our travel to Montreal is about ten to eleven hours. The closest team in our league is an hour and a half away, and our division expands to Cape Breton, which is a seven-hour drive," he shares.
Robinson, who was a guest last summer on the Goalie Resiliency podcast, says he also has unique pre-game rituals that keep him focused. "Ever since I was playing in North Bay, I've learned how to juggle. It's something I do pre-game while listening to music. I also started learning new tricks while juggling," he says.
Admiring hockey legends has always been a source of inspiration for Robinson. "Growing up, I always idolized Carey Price for his calmness in the net. I loved watching him play," he says, adding with a smile, "Yes, I was a Habs fan growing up."
Balancing hockey with education is a priority for Robinson who won the Scholastics Player of the Month in April of 2024. "Schooling is very important to me. My parents were always very fond of it. It's something to fall back on. Hockey is what I want to pursue in life, but I need to have a backup plan, and school is very important to me. It's a commitment, but it's what we want to do," he concludes.
Reflecting on his growth, Robinson credits his mentors and personal efforts. "Last year, I made the team and had a great goalie in front of me, a 20-year-old Patrick Weaver. I learned a lot from him. Over the summer, I worked on being the best version of myself. This year, I have another 20-year-old goalie in front of me, and I'm working on pushing him and myself to help our team as a duo," he explains.
Now he has the chance to become the team’s number one goaltender, getting more playing time, more reps and showcasing what he can bring to the table when he is relied upon, night in and night out.
Justin Robinson was a guest on the hockey goaltending oriented podcast, Goalie Resiliency, hosted by Dr. Rob Graham, and BayToday's Chris Dawson.
