Latest Posts
School of Block: Discussing Explosiveness
May 16th
On Tuesday afternoon, I had an opportunity to chat with former Rangers goaltender Steve Valiquette. He was the goalie coach for Quinnipiac this past season, and he had such a great experience that he’s looking forward to coaching more goalies on a more regular basis.
Jon Elkin Talks Mike Smith and Patience
May 15th
When it comes to finding a pro-level goalie coach that can take your game to the highest level possible, I often tell parents and players to find the ones that truly understand patience.
Avalanche Sign Their Trifecta…Now What?
May 11th
Earlier today, the Colorado Avalanche announced the signing of their three goalie prospects; Kent Patterson, Kieran Millan, and Sami Aittokallio. While it came as no surprise that the Avalanche signed all three of them, it now presents the organization with a new conundrum they’ve never faced before with such promising talent; where do they all play next season?
Fan590 Radio: Smith, Quick, Leafs Goalies
May 11th
On late Thursday night, I was a guest on Sportsnet FAN590 in Toronto. The show was Norm Rumak’s Sportsnet Overnight, so the segment didn’t air until 2:30 in the morning on the East Coast. It was pre-recorded at 8pm my time, so I was able to get a copy of the segment courtesy of the station.
Petr Mrazek: Tigr Tigr Burning Bright
May 7th
They say goalies should always be cool, calm and collected.
They say goalies should always be the most composed and stoic players on the ice, too. No egregious celebrating, no display of emotion when giving up a goal, winning a game, or when their team scores.
They say goalies should essentially move, think and look exactly the same, no matter what is happening, all the time.
When I hear people say these things, I tend to worry.
The Threat of Turning Your Head
May 3rd
Eye attachment is not only an essential element of good goaltending, it’s an absolute necessity. To keep your eyes glued to the puck at all times is to allow the body (and mind) to display (and increase) confidence when making a save.
Profile: The Sudden Rise of Anthony Stolarz
May 3rd
When Central Scouting published their final season rankings in early-April, I was most surprised by the unexpected rise of 18-year-old goaltender Anthony Stolarz.
NHL Entry Draft Profile: Jon Gillies
Apr 30th
Now that my weekly “In the Cage” column for NHL.com’s fantasy hockey microsite is done for the 2011-12 season, I have shifted gears to the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the release of Central Scouting’s final season rankings on Monday April 9, I have written profiles on three different draft-eligible goaltenders. Below are introductions and links to those articles.
Braden Holtby and the Gift of Opportunity
Apr 26th
Fourteen nights later, I finally had a chance to dissect the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a much wider lens, and from a wider perspective. By doing so, I came to the conclusion that what Braden Holtby experienced over the last four weeks stemmed from a rare gift of opportunity, one given to (or earned by) maybe two percent of the entire pro goalie population over the last 10 years.
Sadler: Goalie Scouting & Evaluation, Part 3
Apr 26th
As the only independent service in North America, The Goalie Guild is committed to raising awareness about the world of pro goalie scouting and evaluation. With this in mind, we are proud to publish a three-part series written by Larry Sadler called “Goaltender Scouting, Evaluation, and Selection” for our readers.
For over 30 years, Larry Sadler has analyzed goaltending at all levels and age groups. His work with various hockey schools, camps and clinics throughout Ontario have provided him the opportunity to test and to refine his skills as a goaltending coach. His successful work with University, Junior and High School goaltenders has demonstrated his ability to teach and to dramatically refine the skills of elite goaltenders. -SmartGoalie.com.