Shop Talk: Latest Behind the Mask Goalie School another success
The goalies arrived early on Monday, July 1, to check in for the 33rd Annual Behind the Mask Goalie School.
They got an official school jersey, raffle ticket and lots of free swag including, a backpack, BTM hat and custom water bottle. Zoey won a set of CCM Beats headphones from the raffle to start the week off in style.
After a brief meeting outlining the program and expectations, it was off to change and get on the ice for the first of nine on-ice sessions that week. In each ice session, we spend 30 minutes on goalie-specific power skating, followed by an hour at four different skills stations, and rotating between stations every 15 minutes. The stations include the Boni puck shooting machine, two instructional stations and a shooting station. Over the week, 20 local players of all ages and from many organizations volunteered to shoot. It gave them lots of practice as well.
After the ice session, the goalies were off to the turf field for dryland training. Monday and Tuesday, fitness expert Tyler put the goalies through a variety of drills. Wednesday, Roseanne did yoga with the goalies. And on Thursday, the goalies by group played soccer, football, floor ball and dodge ball.
The goalies left the turf field for video analysis and lunch. Each group in the puck shooting machine station is videotaped during the morning session. Two instructors go over the video with each group as the other goalies relax and enjoy lunch and making or continuing friendships.
After lunch each day, we would have guest speakers. Monday was Dan from Bauer showing all the new Bauer goalie gear. Each goalie got a pair of Bauer sunglasses. Tuesday, Tim from CCM showed the new CCM gear and product videos. Tim gave every goalie swag from shirts to cell phone chargers. Wednesday, Corey Hirsch spoke to the goalies about mental preparation, eating habits, working out off the ice and lots of great stories from his playing career.
Goalies then got ready for the second on-ice session of the day. After that session, the day was over. The goalies worked hard, learned work ethic. Learned that if they didn’t do it right, they did it again until it was done correctly.
The BTM Goalie School is not for those that don’t want to work hard. It is a tough week that will make you better.
The week culminated Friday with an epic shootout. Many parents, grandparents, family and friends came out to watch Patrick (pictured at top) outlast 41 other goalies to win the trophy in what was one of the best shootouts in BTM history.
Trophies were awarded after the shootout for the showdown winner, Most Improved (Ian) and Most Dedicated (Jonah). The goalies filed off the ice to head home after a great fun week.
I left the ice already looking forward to the 2020 school.
Randy Exelby is the owner of Behind The Mask Hockey Shops.
(Sept. 10, 2019)