“Jordin FourFour, definitely.”  Cedric Robinson doesn’t even need to think twice when asked about his childhood heroes.  “I grew up watching Renegades games with my dad, and he would always show me old clips of Jordin FourFour making crazy acrobatic saves and stealing games.”  The childhood connection is great and all, but it takes a special breed to emulate FourFour’s style and success.  Robinson, at first glance, is cut from similar stock.

Robinson plays a decidedly different style, avoiding the butterfly that dominates modern goaltending, but was fortunate enough to sprout up to a towering 6’7”.  At only 17 years old, Robinson stands only one inch shorter than FourFour himself.  Thanks to his tremendous size, Robinson displays flashes of number 44 by using his big body presence in the net.  “I didn’t know what to do when I broke 6 foot [sic] as a teenager, so I just kept watching old film.  The way Jordin FourFour used his height and mass to cover the net was a huge inspiration.”  The Falcons draftee has a similar way of reading plays, as well.  “Back then, it was easier to stay up and look over heads, get a grip on the play.  I borrowed that from Jordin and use those looks to keep track of key players.”  His ability to monitor the styles of forwards on the ice and track the action has kept Robinson successful much like his role model.

Even the stylistic decisions between the two are similar.  “FourFour got away with staying in his crease a lot,” Robinson pines, “and letting his defense pick up the play behind the net.  I really prefer doing the same.”  While FourFour’s decision may have been preference, Robinson covers up his weak skating by staying post-to-post.

“I really want to be like him one day.  Hall of Famer, a Challenge Cup champion, maybe even work in a front office sometime.”  Robinson has big plans for the future, and a good head on his shoulders following one of the league’s best ever.