Veteran net‑minder Philipp Grubauer is back in Seattle, gearing up for what he hopes will be his final chapter with the Kraken. After a season that saw the team battle for playoff positioning, Grubauer is using the off‑season to give back to the community that welcomed him.
A Summer of Mentorship
At a week‑long youth hockey clinic held at the Kraken’s training facility, Grubauer teamed up with coach Julia Takatsuka to work with 50 aspiring goalies, ranging from five to nineteen years old, including ten girls. The program combined on‑ice drills focused on skating technique and body control with dryland exercises designed to build strength and mental resilience.
Participants traveled from four U.S. states and British Columbia, with a notable contingent from Moses Lake, to take part in the camp. Takatsuka highlighted the clinic’s role in the Kraken’s broader effort to expand hockey’s footprint, especially on the girls’ side, and praised the enthusiastic turnout as a sign of growing interest.
Grubauer, a Stanley Cup champion with the Washington Capitals in 2019, spoke about his own formative years in Bavaria, where structured goaltending instruction shaped his career. He described the clinic as a way to pay forward the mentorship he received early on, offering personalized tips to each youngster and emphasizing the importance of fundamentals.
Having signed as a free agent before the Kraken’s inaugural NHL season, Grubauer is entering the final year of his contract. He has expressed a desire to play another season or two if the team remains competitive, focusing on helping Seattle contend for a playoff berth while continuing to develop the next generation of goaltenders.