Wilkes-Barre/Scranton/Wheeling Nailers: Jaxon Castor

After game four of the Kelly Cup Playoffs in Round One, Jaxon Castor sat down with Olde City Sports Network to speak on college, playoff experience, and what took him into hockey!

Castor played at the collegiate level for five seasons at St. Cloud University in Minnesota. Castor played in 53 games throughout his time at St. Cloud and averaged a 2.54 GAA and .906 save percentage throughout the five seasons. “It's a top school in the country every year. You're playing against the best teams in the best conference every single year. A lot of guys from that league are in this league and in the NHL. So just playing against really good competition and competing for championships helped me a lot and the culture there translated great to the culture here. It's very similar, every guy loves one another. My time in Saint Cloud was awesome.”

Throughout Castor’s professional career, he has played for the Florida Everblades, Charlotte Checkers, Atlanta Gladiators, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and Wheeling Nailers. Castor touched on what he picked up throughout his professional career so far from every team. “I think it's more off the ice, like people skills. Sometimes you gotta live with a guy you've never met, I've done that a few times. Just getting along with everyone and being able to mesh with anybody is a skill I took away from that.”

Castor stepped in during the 2023-2024 playoff run for the Wheeling Nailers for eight games. In the 2024-2025 season, he played in one post-season game. Castor speaks on what he took from the 2023-2024 run to bring into this seasons playoff games. “It's just like experience, right? I lost our first game. I think I let in like five or six. and just being able to bounce back from tough games, tough goals like I did today, like my first goal was terrible and the guys had my back and we didn't look back from there..”

Castor has faced injuries throughout his professional days. Just like any player, facing an injury is never a happy time, but putting the work in is what matters the most to get back to playing. “Just like anyone else. It's not easy, just doing the hard work and doing rehab and going to the training room every day. It's not fun, not being out on the ice, but it's something you gotta do if you wanna get back.”

Goalies, arguably, have the toughest job on the ice, being the last line of defense for the team. Mental preparation along with physical preparation is what goes into a goaltenders game day warm up. “A lot of visualization, positive self talk. Obviously, physical warm up and stuff like that, but it's kind of second nature to me at this point. I've been doing it for so long, I'm just trying to stay consistent.”

When growing up, players look to the players before them, and to model their game after. Castor was no different. The Phoenix, Arizona native touches on who he tends to model his game after and who he looked up to.  “Well, goalies growing up, I love to watch Mike Smith when he was on the [Arizona] Coyotes. They went on a good run there when I was a teen and Carey Price is always a guy, he's one of the best of all time. He was even keel and nothing bothers him, so that's how I try to be.”

Getting the start in hockey came at a unique way for Castor. “I actually started playing roller hockey in the cul-de-sac in Arizona. I have an older brother and the kids in the cul-de-sac were older than me, so they stuck me in a net and haven’t looked back since I fell in love with it. I always insisted on playing goalie.” Castor touched on what attracted him to being a goaltender when he was a kid “When I was a little, the gear and the helmets was obviously something that attracted me as a little kid and I’d sit in front of the TV watching the coyotes with my mini hockey gear, my mini helmet on and my dad was a huge [Detroit] Red Wings fan, too. They were awesome in the early 2000s, so it was fun watching them and the Coyotes.”

Much like forwards and defenseman, netminders have strengths and weaknesses as well. “I think my biggest strength is just my mental ability to not get rattled or thrown off my game. Just like today, letting up a really soft goal. In the playoffs, a do or die game is a terrible feeling, but you gotta wash it and move on and like I said, thankfully the guys had my back.”

Castor was on an ECHL contract for the 2024-2025 season, but was re-called to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and played one game for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this past season. He played in 14 games for the Wheeling Nailers this season.

- Samantha Wismer/ Olde City Sports Network

- Photos By/ Stacey Gramlich/ Olde City Sports Network