The Toronto Maple Leafs strength between the pipes to start the season is led by a former OHL Champion with the London Knights

Since the Toronto Maple Leafs didn't re-sign Frederik Andersen at the end of the 2020-21 season, the franchise has gone through a carousel of goaltenders hoping to find their next starter. 

They have experimented with Petr Mrazek, Jack Campbell, Matt Murray (who is still with the organization), Ilya Samsonov, Martin Jones, and Joseph Woll. 

Toronto drafted Joseph Woll in the third round, 61 spots after they selected Auston Matthews in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He has shown the organization that he has the technical skills, athleticism, and play-tracking ability to be a number-one goalie for them. 

However, he has run into his fair share of injuries in his young career already and found himself on the Maple Leafs' injured reserve to start this season due to lower-body tightness. 

Despite the challenges posed by Woll's recent injury, this situation has opened the door for an OHL alumnus to step in as the starting goaltender for Toronto at the beginning of the 2024-25 season. 

The early results indicate that he has embraced the opportunity and is performing admirably, showcasing his skills and potential. This positive development could benefit the team in the long run.

That former OHL player stepping up for the Maple Leafs is the towering Anthony Stolarz. 

After attending the University of Nebraska-Omaha to start the 2012-13 season, he dropped out of the NCAA and came over to London to play in the OHL. He became the Knights' starter in the playoffs and led them to an OHL Championship with a 13-4-1 record, a 2.53 goals-against average, and a .923 save percentage in the post-season. 

Stolarz was benched during the 2013 Championship series for Games five, six, and seven against the Barrie Colts due to subpar performance in the series-opening four games. 

Stolarz returned to the OHL for another season with London in 2013-14, which turned out to be a very complicated season for the 6-foot-6 goaltender.

On Jan. 17, 2014, Stolarz was cut by a skate during a game against the Saginaw Spirit. He was taken out of the game on a stretcher. Stolarz underwent surgery for the cut, a procedure which required 55 stitches and required him to miss 17 games. He only played 35 games that season but finished with the highest save percentage (.926). 

Shortly after his return, Stolarz received an eight-game suspension on Mar. 26 after slashing Windsor Spitfire forward Josh Ho-Sang in the back of the head.

Anthony started in back-to-back Memorial Cup tournaments for London, but his performance was underwhelming. He finished his OHL career with a record of 38-8-4, a 2.44 goals-against average, and a .924 save percentage.

Stolarz proved to be one of the NHL's most reliable backups last season in Florida, earning a Stanley Cup ring in the sunshine state. His strong play behind Sergei Bobrovsky earned him a pretty payday with Toronto in the off-season. The Maple Leafs signed the 30-year-old netminder to a two-year contract worth $2.5 million annually. 

With Woll on the sidelines and unable to form the tandem Toronto was hoping for between him and Stolarz to start the season, the team has had to lean on the Stanley Cup champ who has been excellent thus far. 

Stolarz ranks fourth in save percentage (.940) and fifth in goals-against average (1.70) amongst goaltenders with three or more games played to start the season. 

Playing alongside fellow London Knight alumnus Mitch Marner, Max Domi, and John Tavares, have the Maple Leafs found a diamond in the rough with Stolarz in net? And, if Joseph Woll continues to be plagued by injuries, can the organization rely on him to continue this hot start to his career in the blue and white? 

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