Goalies … goalie coaches
They are the goalies. They are the quirky kids. Unlike any other position, they can win or lose a hockey game on their own. Meanwhile, a good goalie coach can make a real difference for a good goalie. There are good goalie coaches out there, just as there are those who, unfortunately, are imposters.
Starting right from the young ages of minor hockey, goaltending is a position that should not be messed with. Goalies are for the most part and thereabouts among the smartest kids on the team. The good ones are wired to channel and put into perspective the risks and rewards that come with the position. Which is where a good goalie coach can come into play.
Perhaps just as much as size and skill and technique, the mental mindset of the goalie — regardless of age — is what can separate average from good, good from exceptional, status quo from advancement. Just as a good goalie coach can tweak what needs tweaking and work with and develop and make a good young goalie even better.
As a hockey writer of 50 years and a fan of the game ever since I can remember, the goalie position has always been a preferred one. The majority of my all time favourite Ontario Hockey League players are goalies including Memorial Cup champions Kevin Hodson of the Soo Greyhounds and Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires.
At any rate, besides watching goalies stop pucks and how they handle success, adversity and pressure — especially pressure — I also pay close attention to goalie coaches. I study them. I listen to what they have to say. I ask others about them. And then I form as best of a learned opinion as I can.
On either side of the International Bridge at Sault Ste. Marie, goalie coaches and tutors who can be trusted with the development of up and coming youngsters at the minor hockey and junior levels would include younger guys like Donnie Bruni and Noah Zeppa and older more seasoned ones such as Terry Barbeau, Bruno Bragagnolo and Bill Vanderleest.
Meanwhile, in the southwestern Ontario area of Windsor and Essex County there are the reputable likes of Pete Crankshaw, Nate Crankshaw et al of Prospects Goaltending as well as Matt Anthony of the BioSteel Sports Academy.
The above is how I see it. It is what I have been told by people in the game who I know and trust. It is what I am comfortable relaying about the goalie position and those who instruct, teach and develop it.
Obviously, every team at any level needs a good goalie or two. Just as every goalie needs a permissible goalie coach who knows what he is doing and knows what he is talking about.
A spurious pretender should be easy to figure out as a goalie coach in name only. Just as a legitimate goalie coach will teach, train, develop and give the honest truth to his pupils — like it or not — and be appreciated.
Here’s to the young, committed, up and coming goalies as they navigate the toughest position in hockey. And just as importantly, here’s to the coaches who train them, not drain them.
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Coaches are primarily volunteers… donating countless hours, days and months guiding our kids to the best of their abilities.
Many have eventually given up because of the inherent bias of those grandparents, parents and other relatives who are quick to criticize but don’t really appreciate the pressures of selecting and guiding a team.
Even experienced journalists can lose objectivity. This does not make them ‘imposters’.
Thank you to all of the volunteers who guide our youth despite the cheap shots!
Pressure of selecting and a guiding a team? Such as making sure their own kids and their fellow coaches kids and the kids of their friends make the team — year after year — at the expense of others who are more deserving? You want to talk about cheap shots? Don’t get me started on the levels of corruption within the ranks of certain Sault Major Hockey Association “coaches” who do what they do only to make sure their own kids make the team.
Well said Randy. And Alf, you are either completely ignorant or should run for politics if you know better and can say with a straight face, BS. It is sad how unrepresentative some of these teams are due to selfish parents, ruining the potential development for so many, so evil and cruel to those deserving and denied opportunities.
Dissgusting that 5 players (Good players) from the U14 Soo Team that won the NOHA Championship this season were CUT … why? Ask the Coach’s who were responsible (that is if they return messages!?) Gut-less? P.S. My Son made the Team but I am dissgusted all the same.
Every year It is alway’s something a Coach from SAULT MAJOR corrupting the Process by not only picking there own Kid but there Friends kids while screwing better Players all for there own personal greed and ego’s.
Let your kids make a Team on their own for F— Sakes !!!!!
We hear about personal vendettas against other Parents Year after Year and yet nothing ever changes. And you wonder why kids are taking off to Barrie , Hamilton , and Windsor ??? Give your head a shake !
As for you Alf – ????????????????????????? You lost me.