Outworking Doubt: Vinnie Purpura's Journey Between The Pipes

For Savannah Ghost Pirates goaltender, Vinnie Purpura, his road to success has had its bouts of adversity, patience, and learning to trust the process.

The goaltending position is built on riding the highs and the lows. One moment can define the game at hand, while the next game can test confidence. Having gone through difficult stretches and changing opportunities, Purpura has learned that how a player responds often matters just as much as the performance.

When asked about the experience that shaped him the most, Purpura pointed to a moment in his college career: “I look at failures as what shaped me most. I look back at college. Being told my sophomore year that I had to transfer or I just wasn't going to play. I think at the time it ate me up a little bit, but I look back on that moment and kind of see that as a defining moment in what has made me the goalie that I am today.”

Setbacks have helped to shape his career, but the successes have kept his passion alive. He gives the utmost credit to his parents for ingraining the work ethic that has guided him. “They kind of taught me the hard work and putting your head down and just doing the little things will eventually get you to where you want to be,” he said. “It's the small things that you just continue to chip away at, and then eventually good stuff will just keep happening.”

Having that mindset became important during his professional journey. Over the course of his professional career, Purpura has continued to build his résumé between the pipes. He has appeared in 94 professional games. He has made stops with the Adirondack Thunder, Reading Royals, and Savannah Ghost Pirates. He is currently on an AHL contract with Charlotte Checkers. His time with both Reading and Savannah last season provided valuable experience, particularly as he transitioned from a very limited role and became a more consistent presence in the net.

Staying ready for the opportunity

Purpura experienced how quickly opportunities can change during his time with the Reading Royals and Savannah Ghost Pirates. After appearing in just three games with Reading by nearly Christmas last season, he was traded to Savannah, where he went on to play most of the games.

Rather than doubting himself during very limited playing time, Purpura stayed ready and prepared. “I think, especially for goalies, opportunities come and go so fast, and if you're not ready for an opportunity and you don't play well, then it's next man up. If the opportunity arises and you're ready to go, I think that's when things start to snowball for you and things happen fast.”

Having that experience reinforced the idea of being prepared for the next opportunity. Purpura’s game day routine reflects that mindset. He keeps things easy-going and relaxed. “When I'm playing at my best, it's very relaxed and go with the flow, joking around, that sort of thing.”

The mental side of the position

Confidence is one of Purpura’s biggest traits in his game. “I think confidence is 70% of the game, honestly. When I'm playing with confidence, I feel like I can't be beat.” Maintaining that confidence through tough stretches takes work and Purpura relies on a philosophy that he carries with him not only on ice but off the ice as well.

A quote that has stuck with him is simple: You can't outwork your doubt. “When you're feeling doubt about your game or doubt about anything in the real world too, you just have to work hard at the things that got you to where you were and continue to work just a little bit harder on those days where you're not feeling it.”

Learning that part of mental growth has meant moving past goals against him or goals he wants back. He recognizes that mistakes are part of the game and the position. “Just reminding yourself you're going to get scored on. It comes with the territory. Just taking a deep breath, just kind of forgetting about it, just maybe even laughing it off. It is what it is. Just continuing to the next play.”

Experience in net has also helped to slow the game down for him. He can anticipate plays and become more patient. In turn, he can position himself better.

Communicating with his defenseman is another important part of his development. “I think when I'm communicating a lot, that helps our D out, and then when the D are communicating a lot, that helps me out. When it's quiet on the ice, that's when stuff that we don't expect to happen ends up happening.”

Trusting the process

As Purpura’s career continues, he has shifted his focus from statistics and individual results. He now measures success by the amount of preparation that goes into every game. “My focus is on what I do throughout the week to get ready for the game. Once the game comes around, I know that I've done everything that I needed to do in order to be ready for that game.”

He understands that losses are part of the game and allowing one tough performance to continue into the next, can become a problem. “If you just focus on your process, just focus on the next shot, then the results just take care of themselves.”

Looking back to his earlier days, he wishes he understood that then. When he was a younger player, a loss would affect his entire week. Now, as he just turned 28 on October 29th, he recognizes being consistent, being prepared, and enjoying the journey are much more important in the long run.

Advice he would give to his younger self now that he is in the throes of professional hockey: “Trust the process. It's a long journey.”