Adam Scheel is no stranger to handling pressure.

He left the University of North Dakota as one of the most successful goaltenders in the storied history of the program. He remains the all-time leader with a goals against average of 1.95, having surpassed current Florida Everblades netminder Cam Johnson for the honor. He is also second in winning percentage at .729.

Scheel played in big games at the NCAA level, and he knows that has helped him get ready for what has so far been a successful pro career.

“I think going to school there did leaps and bounds for me,” the Idaho Steelheads goalie told FloHockey via cell phone. 

“I pretty much credit all of my success to that program. The coaching staff there, they do such a great job with building guys and molding them to be ready for what comes in pro hockey.”

The lessons he learned playing at North Dakota State remain relevant.

“I even find myself now just realizing all the things I was taught there,” Scheel added, who signed with the Dalls Stars after his junior year.

“Maybe I wasn’t in the right time to learn when I was at school, with being a little younger and more immature, but now I take those lessons I learned and carry them with me everywhere, so I think that was a huge reason for any success I’ve had this far.”

😱 Adam Scheel with some highlight reel stuff here in the second period!! pic.twitter.com/tPr7qybP6m

— Idaho Steelheads (@Steelheads) February 19, 2023

It is, of course, unrealistic to expect the unprecedented level of success he had in his three-year career collegiate career to translate to the pro game, but, using the lessons he learned, things seem to have clicked this year in Idaho during his second full professional season.

“But goaltending is one of, if not the hardest, positions in all of sports. It takes a little while. This year, I feel like I’ve grown so much in my game and as a person, so I’m just continuing to try to grow and continuing to try and learn," he said. 

Statistically, that much has been evident this year.

The 23-year-old has won 14 of his 20 starts, posting a 2.30 goals against average and .921 save percentage, while sharing the net with another prized Dallas Stars prospect, Remi Poirier, on what statistically has been the league’s best team.

Add in Jake Kupsky, who started the year in Idaho but has since been summoned to Abbotsford in the American Hockey League, and there was no shortage of competition to get the net this year in Idaho.

As Scheel continues to grow, both on and off the ice, it has been the perfect storm for a marked improvement this season.

TRANSACTION NEWS: (G) Rémi Poirier and (F) Antonio Stranges have been recalled by the @TexasStars.

READ : https://t.co/RXlPk9d40i

— Idaho Steelheads (@Steelheads) February 16, 2023

“Anytime you have more than one guy who can kick, it creates a healthy competition within your own team,” he said. 

“Jake and Remi are both two of my very close friends, and I have a great relationship with both of them, so it’s nice having guys I can watch and learn from and take bits and pieces from each of their games and see how I can implement it into my own. But, at the end of the day, it’s about the team, first and foremost. We’ve got a real good group here, and we’re looking to do something special this year.”

How special?  

The Steelheads are the Kelly Cup favorites after starting the season with a stunning 38-8-1-2 record – something Scheel says he attributes in part to the off-ice camaraderie the group has built from living at the same apartment complex, which has helped gain valuable chemistry on the ice.

At the same time, collectively, they aren’t thinking that far ahead just yet, especially with so much of the regular season remaining.

 “I take it one day at a time – one practice, one game, one skate,” Scheel said. 

“I try not to put the cart before the horse, but I know for some guys, it’s probably tough. When you’re on such a good squad, it’s hard. You think ‘what if, come June/July, we’re Kelly Cup champs. I try to just stay present and focused on the job at hand."