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Drew Karlovits’s dream to play goalie became his dad’s mission, until ALS took him. Now, at BC High, it’s Drew’s purpose.
LYNN — Drew Karlovits first told his parents, Peter and Heather, that he wanted to play goalie at 3 years old.
His parents believed it was a phase and didn’t want to endure the early mornings at the rink, hoping it would blow over.
At 6 years old, Drew finally got his wish and after three weeks of learn to skate, he donned goalie pads for the first time.
He’s been hooked ever since.
His passion has led the Cohasset resident to BC High, where, at age 16, he took over as the starting goaltender job as a freshman and has excelled as a sophomore.
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He plays to honor his late father, who died in 2019 from ALS. One of Peter’s great joys was watching Drew play hockey. When his condition worsened, friends would facetime Peter from the rink or he’d watch on LiveBarn. To this day, Peter’s friends show up to celebrate Drew’s success.
“[Peter] made me really promise that I’d give him every opportunity possible,” said Heather.
Heather believes that fuels Drew to be the best he can be.
“My dad, he didn’t play hockey,” said Drew. “I told him that I wanted to play hockey, that I wanted to play goalie, I saw Tuukka Rask on TV. My dad did everything for me. He got me a set of gear, brought me to learn to skate, taught me how to play goalie. He was always watching the NHL games with me and everything.”
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After an 0-4 start last season, BC High coach John Flaherty called Karlovits’ number. The Eagles won his first start. By midseason, the crease was his. He hasn’t looked back since.
“He wasn’t going to take a backseat to anybody,” said Flaherty. ”He wanted that net and he was going to compete for it. And he did.”
As a sophomore, Karlovits has shined, sporting a dazzling .955 save percentage to go along with a 1.33 goals against average and five shutouts. After a remarkable 46-save shutout against No. 6 Catholic Memorial, Karlovits posted his second of the week as No. 8 BC High blanked No. 11 St. Mary’s, 4-0, at Connery Rink on Saturday.
“His game has matured,” said Flaherty. “Last year, he was making saves. Now, he’s refined his game to the point where he’s playing a mature position. He’s not wasting energy. He’s a little more quiet in the crease. He’s an athletic goalie, but he’s relying a little bit more on his technical side and falling back on athleticism when he needs to.”
Karlovits hates being scored on — even in practice. If a puck squeaks by him, he turns around and scoops it out of the net. His fierce competitiveness has morphed into the goaltender’s motto: Nothing gets past him.
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His play and his demeanor have earned Karlovits respect in the locker room, as he’s beloved by those around him. This season, he’s found his voice, communicating with his defensemen and feeling comfortable enough to step forward in the locker room.
“What that brotherhood has done is incredible,” said Heather Karlovits. “He wouldn’t be where he is without them.”
Heather drives two hours a day to help Drew make sure that he can stay committed to his studies and play the game that he loves. It leads to long days as a single parent — but it’s out of love, and appreciated by Drew.
“It’s good to know that someone has your back, no matter what,” said Drew. “Even if I had a bad game, she’s always there for me no matter what.”
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