The Wild goaltender opens up about his strong start to the season, which included breaking a franchise record earlier this month.
Daniel Hauser's spectacular career can now be deemed historic. With his win against the Victoria Royals, the Alberta-born goaltender became the Wild/ICE franchise leader in wins with 86. A two-time WHL (East) First All-Star Team, he is looking to help Wenatchee not just qualify for the playoffs this season but lead his team to the East Final for the third straight season.
Hauser has been with the Wild organization his entire WHL career. Originally a sixth-round draft pick back in 2019, he has made the most of his opportunities and now sits alone at the top of the franchise wins leaderboard. Looking back, he is grateful that Winnipeg took a chance on him, as it has proven to be beneficial for both parties.
"When I was 15 years old, I was fortunate enough to be drafted by Winnipeg," said Hauser. "I'm super grateful for all they've done for me and all the opportunities they've given me.
One benefit Hauser has had over his WHL career is the level of competition he has had to face in practice. Whether it was Peyton Krebs or Zach Benson, he has consistently had to try and stop first-rounders on a daily basis. As he explains, this has been a major factor in not just his development but also his success up to this point.
"When I was younger, you know, being able to see (Carson) Lambos, Benny (Zach Benson), Savoy (Matthew Savoie) and Geeks (Conor Geekie), all these guys are pretty talented players and seeing them every day in practice, I think it was, huge for my development. I'm super grateful that I got the opportunity to work with them."
On top of getting to know new teammates, Hauser had to get used to new surroundings this season as the ICE moved south to Wenatchee. This meant adjusting to a different style of play and facing opponents like the Portland Winterhawks or Everett Silvertips on a regular basis rather than once a year. While there was an adjustment period, he seems to have found his stride and is currently riding a seven-game win streak against Western Conference opponents.
"It seems like a bit of a different game down here. I think it's a lot more grittier down in the States. There's a different kind of style played down here. That's been a bit of an adjustment, but the way our coaches kind of preached our system and our culture around the team. I think we've been making strides all year, and hopefully, we can continue to do that."
One thing that has transitioned from Winnipeg to Wenatchee is the teams' success playing in front of the home fans. With a record of 7-1 so far on the season at the Town Toyota Center, they hold the second-highest point percentage at home across the entire WHL. As Hauser explains, this support from not just the fans but the entire organization has played a role in the team's on-ice success.
" Credit to the awesome fans we have. From the team to the coaches and the management, it's all been all been amazing. I'm really, really proud to be part of this organization, and we're really grateful for the opportunity."
It is not just their goaltender who has had a strong start to the season, but the entire Wild team. This is even more impressive when considering all the adversity this group has faced early on in the season. As Hauser explains, everyone is buying in and willing to put in the extra work to ensure that they can have a successful first season in front of their new fans.
"I think we're just coming together. I don't really know if I've seen a group come together this quickly. I think everyone's really buying into our system. Everyone's battling for each other. Everyone wants to see the guy beside them succeed. So, I think we're kind of really establishing a brotherhood in the dressing room, and we're willing to do whatever it takes to win right now."
With 87 career wins, Hauser has now moved into the top 50 for all-time wins in WHL history. Moving into the top 50 is special, but it also means he is just 13 away from becoming just the 19th goaltender ever to hit 100 career wins. While he admits it is something he has thought about, he is more focused on being the best he can be on a daily basis.
"If I'm being completely honest, it does kind of creep in the back of your mind a little bit. I have thought about it here and there, but you know, I know it's kind of cliche, but I honestly do try to take it day by day. I've been doing that for pretty well my whole hockey career. You know, day by day, game by game, practice by practice. So I think if I continue to do that, continue to try to put my best foot forward every day. Hopefully, all the rest will come."
At this point, it is safe to say Hauser has been one of the best goaltenders in the WHL over the last decade. Since he joined the league during the 2020-21 season, he leads all goaltenders in wins and has over 25 more than Dylan Ernst, who sits in second place. If he keeps up this level of play, not only should he smash the 100 mark, but he could break the all-time WHL record of 122 next season.