FEATURE STORY: JAKE ALLEN
> top goalie honours. In the 2009-2010 season, he won the Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy as the top goaltender in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League as well as CHL Goaltender of the Year award. He remembers realising that if he wanted to make a life in hockey, he would need to go to work.
“ That’ s when it sort of opened my eyes and I had to put a stake into it,” said Jake.“ I think that’ s similar to investing in yourself in business. There are always little details that you invest in yourself to achieve those goals.”
Becoming successful is one thing. Staying that way is another. Murph knew from the outset that as an insurance adjuster, he was already one down in most people’ s books. The first step for him was convincing people he was trustworthy. The second was being trustworthy.
“ If I thought there was the slightest suspicion that they thought I was working just for the insurance company, I’ d spend some time [ showing them ]
that I was working for them as well as the insurance company. And I’ d convince them to trust me.”
Jake also lives in a world built on results and reputation. He signed a four-year contract over the summer that will pay him $ 17.4 million.
A FORTUNATE POSITION TO BE IN, FOR SURE, BUT NOT A GUARANTEED ONE.
For a goaltender, there is nowhere to hide. No fourth line to play on if your play slips. Two goaltenders per team and only one net.
“ There are so many good young players that your security is never secure. You know, your job is always on the line and a contract is great, but at the end of the day, if you’ re not performing, you’ re not going to play. And that’ s where all the work and the details come into play and keep yourself sharp.”
Separated by 2,500 kilometres of highway, Jake and his grandfather still stay in touch. When they talk, it’ s mostly about news from home and family. Jake and his girlfriend, Shannon, have begun their own family. Their daughter, Lennon, was born in January. Jake is quick to acknowledge that making millions playing hockey has afforded him a fantastic life. But it’ s also an itinerant life, and being far from home is never easy.
“ It’ s tough being this far away from [ our families ]. Only a few people have gotten to meet Lennon so far, and we just want to show off how special she is,” said Jake.“ I’ m very fortunate to play in the NHL, and I have a great life and I’ m really lucky. But on the other end of the spectrum, too, there’ s those things like family and your hometown that you
26 | SPRING 2017