Taped-In: Dartmouth Goaltender Emmett Croteau

Interview by Christina Winnegar | June 15 2026

In the moments of reflection when Emmett Croteau thinks back to where it all began, memories of a draft stage or a championship celebration are not what come first. What he remembers is the fundamental stage in who he grew to become in the crease: an outdoor rink, a chair pushed across the ice and a kid who was not even sure if he liked skating.

For a brief moment, the idea of hockey slipped away, then pulled him back in.

Years later, Croteau would hear his name called in the sixth round by the Montréal Canadiens, backstop Dartmouth College to an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championship, and become a respected goaltender in Division I college hockey. Yet through every milestone, he has carried a simple philosophy with him – one first shared by a goaltender coach during the days of junior hockey that would eventually shape his game on and off the ice: “Just vibe where your feet are.”

1. What was your introduction to the game, and what is your earliest memory on the ice?

My earliest memory on the ice is probably just being on the outdoor rink, just like ripping around with a chair, and just having fun. I think that was when I was a little kid, when I first put on the skates. I didn't really like it, so I took some time away, and I found myself right back shortly after. Since then, the game has just latched onto me and helped me become who I am today. 

2. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received in your hockey career?

My second year of junior hockey, my goalie coach at the time, PD Melgoza, once told me, "Just vibe where your feet are," and at first, listen, I was like, "What does that even mean?" It just confused me at the time. But, as I've grown up, and I've been through what I've been through throughout my career, and what I've accomplished: the most important thing, and the only thing you need to worry about is what you're doing at the current moment. So my feet are right here with me, so just vibe where your feet are.

3. What’s one sacrifice people never see behind the scenes of chasing a professional hockey career?

At the time, it could have seemed like a sacrifice, but over time, it was worth it. I was just kind of at a young age, you know, missing a lot of, you know, fun events, or birthday parties, or social gatherings, or weddings, or family reunions, or, you know, so many, so many things that you know come with being, you know, a kid, a teenager, young adult, like that. You'd like to be a part of that. You kind of have to basically choose which road you want to take, because ultimately, if you want to be the best you can be, it's tough to do both. So, I think growing up, I made a lot of sacrifices, and, you know, was committed to hockey. I look back, and you know, maybe now it doesn't seem so hard, but back then it was tough growing up, and missing so much, being on the road and playing games and training, and all that.

4. What keeps you grounded (outside of hockey) during the long seasons?

I'm pretty routine-based, and I find things that keep me entertained and work for me and keep me aligned physically and mentally. So, I think it's important to have things to do when you're not at the rink. When I'm not at the rink, I like to kind of stray away from hockey and kind of do my own thing. I like to listen to music. I think it's a big thing. I listen to a lot of music, read and do things like play basketball, watch movies, play video games, try out a new coffee shop and try out a new restaurant. These things get me away from the sport, and just let me be with myself and take some time on my own.

5. Walk us through your tape job. What is the story behind it? Is your tape job something that has evolved with you over the years, or has it always stayed the same?

My tape job, I tried my first year of juniors, and then ever since then, I have just been doing the same thing. For the knob, my dad did it for me when I was a little kid, so I've been doing the same thing he's been doing since I first started playing. My stick-blade tape job changed as I was growing up. I was messing around and doing weird stuff with it, but I finally found a tape job that works for me. It’s pretty standard. Just heal to the toe; leave the toe untaped.

6. What version of yourself do you believe hockey has shaped the most?

Every different version of myself has taught me so much. I think, specifically, the hardships I've went through so far in my career and at a young age, I think those if you approach them with the right mindset, you can, you can pull lessons and teachings, and, and when you, when you approach it from that, you can be grateful for the times that you struggled, because those are opportunities to learn and grow.

7. What part of your personality shows up most in your game?

My competitiveness and my edge, I like to play, play with fire, and I like to play with passion, and put my whole heart out there, but obviously, there's a balance with that. As I've grown up, I've been able to kind of manage that and keep that flame at a balanced level. But, I'd say playing with an edge in, and a flame is definitely something that helps me perform at my best. 

8. What is a moment in your hockey career that changed the way you see yourself off the ice?

I remember at a younger age attending a WHL camp and just seeing what it would take. I think that was my first kind of view into the high levels of junior hockey, and what it would take mentally and physically. I think from just seeing like all the current players, meeting the staff, and the fitness testing and the on ice,  that was a big kind of like moment of, okay, this is what this is about, and this is what I'll have to do to take steps forward and be able to take hockey as far as I want to go. So, I think it was maybe a little bit of an eye-opening experience to just like this is what's next, and try and learn and figure out what I have to do to make myself succeed at the next level.

9. What did it mean to you to be drafted by the Montréal Canadiens specifically, considering the history of the organization? What is your most fond memory from draft day?

Regardless of who you're picked by, it's something special. But obviously, they're a historic franchise with so much rich history and such a deep fan base. My grandpa is a huge Canadians fan, so I think that made it that much more special. But, I think just the most fond memory of that day was just like sharing that with my family, and being able to just use that as a stepping stone within my journey. Just because you’re drafted, it doesn't really mean anything, but it's a cool accomplishment, and a cool thing to have happen to you. So I shared that with my family, and was grateful for that. 

10. What is the most superstitious thing about your hockey routine? 

The most superstitious thing about my hockey routine, honestly, is that everything I do there's a purpose behind it, and whether it's meditation or juggling or breathing or listening to some music, I think it all serves a purpose, as much as it could sound superstitious. But, I pretty much do everything at the same time, and all my prep is all my prep is doesn't change much, too much. If there are obstacles or things that do happen to change, I'm able to kind of seamlessly transition and not get too caught up in that, which has taken years to figure out.

11. How would you describe the culture playing on a team like Dartmouth? 

I think that ever since I've stepped foot on the campus, Coach Cashman and Coach Tapp have created a culture of gratitude, hard work, and just being a dog, I guess that's the way to describe it. Just nose to the grindstone. So we're all in a place where we're having fun playing a sport that we're able to do, and we're pushing ourselves so hard doing it, so it's just such a healthy balance of love, fun, and just hard work, to where it's created a culture where we've been able to have some success thus far.

12. If your stick could tell one story about your 2025-26 season, what would it say?

Probably, how hard it hit the ground when we won our ECAC championship. I think that was one of my fondest hockey memories so far. It speaks volumes to what Dartmouth has been building, what I've been grateful to be a part of so far at Dartmouth, and what hopefully we're still building towards.

13. What is one thing you wish fans understood about the mental side of being a goalie?

There's nothing really I wish they'd understand, but I guess people give you crap about goalies just stand there, and all they have to do is stop the puck, which is fair, I guess,  from an outsider's point of view, that's what it could seem like. But goalies put countless time into those little one-inch movements that look so small, but can be the difference of you winning a championship and not winning a championship. So I think sometimes goalies get maybe a little more credit than they should, but they also get a little more slack than they should. But that's what makes the position fun, and that's why we play it.

14. What is your setup (stick, flex, gear preference, etc)? 

I've always used Bauer sticks with the P-31 curve. I like to play the puck, and that one helps me get accuracy and power behind playing the puck. I'm not sure about flex. I think most sticks are the same flex; regardless, I don't need too much, as I shouldn't. It's always a good reminder that if I'm playing the puck too much, I should probably chill out a little bit. You don't need too much flex there; there's no need to be firing it down the ice.

15. If ‘Best Dam Tape’ made a signature tape design or wax scent for you, what would it be and why? 

I'd probably say a Red Bull scent or a tea tree scent. I always have a sugar-free Red Bull before every game. And in my pregame shower at the hotel or in my dorm, I always have my tea tree shampoo. Just love the smell of it. So I think those would be my signature wax scents. I don't know if I could get behind anything other than white tape, so I'll stick with a signature white tape.

16. When you reflect on your journey, what would be the soundtrack to your life? It can be an album, song, or even an artist that resonates with you. 

My Way by Frank Sinatra. It's a good song, you know. My grandpa showed me Frank Sinatra when I was a kid, when he would drive me to hockey when I was younger, and it’s something I still listen to to this day. I've taken a pretty unique route throughout my journey, and I think that I've done it unapologetically. I've done it for myself and my family, and I'm having fun, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to do it. I try to constantly learn and grow and have fun doing it. I think that song, that song fully puts a bow on that as a whole.

Maybe that is why Frank Sinatra’s signature song “My Way” feels like the perfect soundtrack to Croteau’s journey. Not because the path followed has been easy, but because it belonged to him. Through the early sacrifices of missed family gatherings, countless hours refining micro movements measured in inches that have the power to make or break a game, championship moments, and the pressure that comes coupled with tending the crease, he has learned to stay present, trust the process and embrace every lesson along the way. If his stick could tell the story of this past season, it might talk about crashing into the ice after Dartmouth’s ECAC title. But Croteau’s story is bigger than a championship. It is about navigating and finding purpose in every step of your journey, appreciating where your feet are, and moving forward entirely on your own terms.

This feature is part of an ongoing partnership series between HAZZE MEDIA (Sports) and Best Dam Tape that highlights stories from across the hockey community. To learn more about Best Dam Tape products or to purchase Emmett's tape job, visit: https://bestdamtape.com.