Toronto Marlies goaltender Ben Scrivens talked to InGoal Magazine about his unusual stance and glove position in this week's Ask a Pro. (InGoal file photo)

The Toronto Maple Leafs may be out of the playoffs again, but top goaltending prospect Ben Scrivens is still playing hockey through mid-May with the AHL affiliate Marlies, leading the crosstown farm club through two rounds and to the Calder Cup Semi Finals.

Scrivens leads the AHL with a 1.61 goals-against average and .944 save percentage after eliminating the Abbotsford Heat in five games Wednesday night, and continues to build on a an up-and-down season that saw him struggle with his focus at times in the AHL, but also play his first games at the NHL level, compiling a 4-5-2 record and .903 save percentage with the Maple Leafs.

The thoughtful Alberta native and Cornell University Grad, has been a part of InGoal’s Ask a Pro program before, joining James Reimer and fellow puck-stopping prospect Jussi Rynnas in a two-part session that included thoughts on Toronto’s goaltending development, and how he got started with Leafs’ goaltending guru Francois Allaire in Switzerland. Scrivens took some time out from his playoff run this week to talk to InGoal about everything from his unusual stance and glove positioning, to mental tips, and his season so far, including the important role of his ongoing playoff experiences in the American League:

“I feel more confident right now at this exact moment, Scrivens said. “We’ve got a really good team so that helps any goaltender out, but in terms of my development this is huge. You always want to play meaningful games late in the season and into the summer. Toronto has been pretty adamant about getting their guys playing if they are not in the playoffs. Guys are always in the World Championships if they are not here playing meaningful hockey, and as a goalie it’s no different. You want to test your mettle in pressure situations, and that’s what the playoffs are.”

~ InGoal reader John Milhouse asks: Do you continue to work on technique in the playoffs, or is it more mental at this point?

Scrivens: “No, it’s mental, it’s consistency, it’s a whole bunch of different stuff, but at this point part of Frankie’s system is you put in the work during the year. We work hard in practices, we do 45-minute goalie session and then we stay on the ice for an hour-and-a-half practice, so it’s a long day some days. But the benefit of going through all that pain during the season is now you get into playoffs and you are not trying to re-invent everything, you aren’t trying to solve issues that have just come up. By this point in the season you should be confident with your game and if there’s a tweak here or there, fine, but it’s not re-inventing anything.

Scrivens has a fairly low, wide base, but still generates a lot of power and speed in his lateral pushes. (InGoal file photo)

“Frankie is with us on the ice in Toronto and [Jean-Ian Filiatrault], our other goalie coach travels with us. He works with the guys in Reading, the fifth guy, and also Garret Sparks in Guelph, so like last year when I as up and Reims was up, Jean-Ian was with us because there was no one in the coast. So right now Jean-Ian comes on the road with us and Frankie is in Toronto with us, so we always have a goaltending coach with us. The amount of input they both have is still huge.

“We talk every single day, we go over every game, goals – this is good, this is bad, keep doing this or that – the only things that changes is we’re not doing long goalie sessions where we work on this play or that play. We’ve done all that work already, so now it’s more about maintaining that and your energy levels and confidence, and just making sure you are ready. Because you never know, in the regular season we can spend 45 minutes on a goalie session and then an hour and a half on the ice. You can spend two and a half hours in your gear and you know the most you are going to play the next day is 65 minutes, right? Even if it goes into a shootout it’s not going any longer. I know now how much I can push myself and when I’m like ‘okay I need to take a few less reps here to make sure I have the energy to get through tonight.’ Because you can end up playing 120 minutes in the playoffs, you never know how long you are going to go. You can’t overexert yourself in practice because you don’t know how long the game might go.”

~ InGoal Facebook fan Edward Sinclair asks: How does he stay mentally focused?

Scrivens: “I had a hiccup this year in late January and February where I was just making mental mistakes and it wasn’t any one thing, it was a culmination of errors, where there is no ‘oh, I did this wrong and I’ll just change that.’ It was finding out all I have to do in order to stay sharp for a full 60 minutes and going through that definitely helped me out at this point now because I am able to gauge myself. I have kind of a checklist now, where instead of what am I doing wrong, it’s just make sure I am doing this now or that now, and they are all connected to each other and when one slips they all slip. So I have to make sure they are all at a high level.”

Scriven comes out of his crease, stands alone atop the hash marks, and puts his head down to concentrate during long breaks in action. (InGoal File Photo)

~ InGoal follow up: Is that what you’re doing during breaks in the game when you come out to the top of hash marks facing the opposing net, and put your head down? It looks like you might be talking to yourself there.

Scrivens: “Yeah, just kind of talking to myself and going through that mental checklist, but it’s a lot of killing time too. One of the things I found this year was when your mind starts to wander, and that talk within your head is kind of getting to ‘oh, what did I have for dinner or I wonder what so and so … ’ humans are notoriously terrible multitaskers so if you try to think about this and do that, everything goes downhill. So one of the things [Marlies head coach] Dallas [Eakins] suggested to me was talking to myself. You can’t think about anything else when you are talking to yourself because you can only really do one thing at once. So just by reciting different stuff, like the checklist out loud, it keeps you focused.”

~ What kinds of things are on your checklist
“Things like ‘top of the crease,’ or ‘watch the puck,’ just simple things, nothing earth shattering. It just keeps you focused with positive reinforcement, and again there is a parallel to golf: Before you line up to take your shot, it’s ‘keep your head down, back straight, follow through with your elbow.’ It’s nothing that I’m sure hundreds of goalies don’t do anyway.”

~ InGoal Facebook Fan Steve Pace asks” You have a very unusual glove positioning; how did that develop and why? And Marvin Pinero has a similar question: Why is your catcher so high up? What benefits do you get from it than having a normal stance?

Scrivens likes to hold his glove so it is more perpendicular to the path of a puck coming up off the ice, effectively maximizing the surface area that is square to the puck. (InGoal File Photo)

Scrivens: “My thinking behind it – and I am huge into logic and reason in terms of how I do things – so if you have your glove sideways [with the thumb pointed straight up or even more open] where does the puck come from? The puck comes up from the ice, so the angle it comes at is up so I want to face as much of the glove as possible perpendicular to that path. And then the other thing I was going with, is what’s harder to do – because mostly every goalie is dropping while they are making saves – so what’s harder to do, lift a limb back up against the momentum of your body, or start with the arm up top and keep it there? So you have gravity and momentum working with you more. Again so much of it is trial and error, and everybody has their own way of doing things. But I found that works for me. I like to stay up top because that’s where guys shoot the most if they’ve got time and space. They are looking upstairs, so try and take that away visually and then if they shoot it up there you are not moving anything, it’s not as much of a reaction save to try and windmill it every time. And then anything down I am already going down, and I’ve got gravity and momentum going down and that helps me get it down and close everything up fast still.”

Toronto Marlies goaltender Ben Scrivens talked to InGoal Magazine about his unusual stance and glove position in this week's Ask a Pro. (InGoal file photo)

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Cory Schneider is ready to take over the No. 1 job from Roberto Luongo, who is ready to leave Vancouver. (David Hutchison photo)

Among the many reasons most observers believe goaltender Cory Schneider is ready to handle being a No.1 goaltender in a market as intense as Vancouver is how he already deals with the spotlight that comes with the job.

Schneider was again at his well-reasoned best as the Canucks cleaned out their lockers this week, saying all the right things while also making it clear he wants to be – and is ready for the chance to become – a starting goaltender.

The comments were strong, almost pointed, but the 26-year-old delivered them in a way that was disarming, again showing a level headedness and media savvy that defies his age and experience. He credited some of that to watching Roberto Luongo, who a few minutes later delivered an equally impressive statement about being willing to waive the no-trade clause on his 12-year, $64-million contract, opening the door for Schneider to take over as the No.1.

That ascension is sure to come with some bumps. Being a workhorse starter means less time to work on your game – and Schneider worked as hard as anyone between starts to stay sharp – and more opportunities for opponents to pick out and exploit tendencies. There will be ups and downs, just as there were with Luongo, but Schneider, whose more neutral style preferences make it harder to break down his game, seems well-equipped to handle them.

InGoal will have more from the Canucks’ next No.1 in the coming weeks, including some drills and advice from him in upcoming issues of the magazine, but for now we’re going to present his season ending media session as this week’s Ask A Pro.

Consider it Exhibit A in how far both have come off the ice as they prepare to go different ways on it. Schneider started by downplaying any certainty he’d be taking over in goal for the Canucks next season – and keep in mind he talked before Loungo and his declaration it might be time to move on – and made a strong case for why he’s ready to do so.

Cory Schneider (David Hutchison photo)

Schneider: “We could end up being back here together and we’re good friends. Yeah I ended up being the starting goalie at the end but I don’t think it was replacing Roberto as the starting goaltender, it was just something to switch up the momentum and then you kind of have to keep going with the guy. We’ve always considered ourselves a 1A, 1B type scenario. Titles don’t mean a whole lot. It’s how you play, the results you put out, and there are worse things than having two starting goaltenders on one team.”

Asked about the statement he made with his play this season, Schneider said: “I still haven’t played a full slate of games yet. I only played 30 games and three playoff games. It was another step in the right direction but I still haven’t taken the step I’m hoping to take.” Schneider also said it was premature to talk contract extension with Luongo still there.

“It’s a great luxury to have two starting goaltenders. It depends on what Roberto wants to do, what the team wants to do and then finally at last what I want to do. Ultimately it comes down to the team. I really don’t have a lot of say as a restricted free agent. I’ll listen to what they have to say and offer and what their plan is, and go from there.”

Schneider cited several areas he hopes to improve this summer, when he returns to his hometown near Boston and plans to work with long-time coach Brian Daccord at Stop It Goaltending, a goalie school company Schneider now owns a piece of. They include puck handling, and “overall conditioning and strength, making sure my body is able to withstand hopefully playing 60 or 70 games.”

Yes, that sounded like a goalie that is preparing to do just that, and Schneider didn’t shy away from that when asked about playing more: “Everyone loves to play. Would I like to get an opportunity to be a starting goaltender? Sure, I think everyone would and I think I’ve at least earned the right to get a chance and to get a look, and wherever that may be I don’t know. If it’s here great.”

Schneider, who has been a great team guy, admitted it might now be time to think about himself. He’s only a year away from unrestricted free agency, though the Canucks will certainly try to lock him up long-term if they part with Luongo.

“I haven’t thought about what’s best for me in a long time. I don’t know if its time to start doing that but I’m not going to change my stance a whole lot. Things have to happen from both sides. It can’t just be me pounding my fist demanding things. It has to be whatever they decided to do and that has to be in accordance with what I feel is good for me as well. At this point I don’t know what’s best for me.”

Schneider said he’s “fortunate to break into the league on team like this,” but made it clear he’s ready for a bigger role, whether in Vancouver or elsewhere.

“I’d love to start somewhere, it would be great to get an opportunity. I feel I deserve a look and opportunity to play more than 30 games but sometimes it does not always work that way. I’ve always just tried to play well and if that forces them to make a tough decision I’d rather do that and play well than not play well and make it an easy decision. You want to play on contending teams and winning teams and this is clearly one of them so it’s definitely an option and probably the top option. But again if they present different options or the scenario changes you have to adjust.”

Asked if he was ready to be a No.1, Schneider said: “I’m not sure what else to do. How many more 30-game seasons can you play and still wonder if you are ready or not? I don’t think anybody should be given a title or starting role, you have to earn it. So I’m not saying someone should hand the reigns over but at least deserve a look, at least get a chance to play some games in a row and take that mantle.”

He talked about how he evolved to that stage this season: “It’s just the mentality. Last year was more just a getting my feet wet year and getting used to the league and this year was more of trying to establish myself and take away any of that nervousness and uncertainty and show that I can do it.”

Cory Schneider will have less time to work on his game as a workhorse No.1 (InGoal file photo)

Schneider also talked about the need to get his chance sooner rather than later: “It’s a little different with goalie, the peak and prime years may be a little bit different that other guys, but I’m not a young prospect anymore, I’m 26 and if I can have a 10-year career from here on out that would be amazing. It’s not as if I have endless amount of years to do something. It’s either got to happen or its not. So hopefully get an opportunity to start next year.”

As for Luongo, Schneider, who also welcomed the scrutiny of playing in a hockey-mad market, made it clear the incumbent has played a big role in his development over the last two seasons, and deserves more respect.

“I’ll take a lot [from Roberto] the professionalism, the respect, how hard he works, the way he is able to handle pressure and criticism and praise and combine it all into just playing hockey and working to be one of the most consistent goalies year in and year out in the League. And that’s something I would strive for and love to attain. If I can accomplish half of what he’s done in his career so far that would be a pretty good career. I learned a lot from him and took a lot away from him.

“Roberto is still a fantastic goalie in this league, I don’t think people give him enough credit. He’s still an elite goalie at this level. It’s not as if he should be cast aside as somebody who can’t get the job done anymore because he’s a great, great goaltender. If we’re both back here we’ll figure it out, we’ll make it work, we’re friends, we’re teammates, we’ve made it work before. If not we’ll move on.

“It would have to some way or another if they decide that’s what’s going to happen, just make it work somehow. I don’t know how they would handle it, but my issue would be to keep my relationship with Roberto up and handle that with him. I respect the heck out of him, I have a lot of respect for him as a friend and teammate and he supports me and always encourages me and helped me get to where I am. The dynamic between us doesn’t change much, we’re both proud guys, we’re both competitors, we both want to play so it’s tough for either one of us to sit out, especially Lou considering he’s been one of the most dominant goalies the past decade in this league and he’s still got plenty of good years left.”

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Alex Auld. Scott Slingsby Photo.

InGoal Magazine cleaned out the tape recorder for this week’s Ask a Pro, going back to find previously un-transcribed conversations with Ottawa’s Alex Auld and Chicago’s Ray Emery, who both answered questions from readers earlier this season.

We’ll start with Auld, a veteran who has always been a true student of the position.

The Senators’ backup started with a question from InGoal reader Tony, who asked: We have middle school goalies who have trouble with shots from players who use the outside go-around the defenseman on an angle. Usually the goalies are just too deep and get scored on as the player beats the defenseman. The forward typically does not deke around the goalie because they see some net as they beat the defenseman, but it’s hard to tell from the bench. Do you have any tips?

Auld broke it down into three possibilities, depending on how deep in the zone the attacking player is before he gets around the defenseman, and whether or not his path to the net then became clean, or if there remained some defensive pressure in the middle.

The first was if the attacking player got cleanly around the defender down below the face-off circle, close to the goal line.

Alex Auld: “The biggest thing is if you play like a knee down on the post, if you play that style then you will have a spot on the ice that is kind of your release point, if you know what I mean – somewhere that if he gets into that area that is your play.”

Things change if the defenseman gets beat higher up the ice, but still maintains some pressure from the inside.

Alex Auld: “And if it’s higher up, you want to maintain good depth and I don’t think you want to back up too far, especially if the D is not beat clean you can play the fact the attacking player maybe can’t cut back into the middle, so use it to your advantage that the D can kind of cut him off from cutting back across the net and stay more aggressive.”

The last situation is when the defenseman is beat cleanly and the attacking player is around him from above the face-off dot.

Alex Auld. Scott Slingsby Photo.

Alex Auld: “Then I think you have to play it like it’s almost a mini breakway, you need some momentum backwards. It’s hard to put into words, it’s more a of a feel, but if he’s beat clean, you want some momentum back and maintain your patience.”

~ InGoal reader Larry Footlick asks: What is the best way that you have found to break in a goalie glove?

Alex Auld: “Just catch with it. It’s amazing guys at the pro level, how much time they spend catching pucks. My whole pro ceareer I love having guys line up top of the circle and just shoot pucks and just catch it and just track it with your eyes. And that gets you really comfortable with it and tracking the puck into it and catching it automatically in games and practices. The biggest thing is repetition. And for pro guys the best way to break in a glove is to not let it get too old, because then it’s not that different when you get a new one, but I know that’s not the reality for a lot of people. That’s probably why it’s so hard for them. Most people wear stuff so long it gets so comfortable and anything new feels so foreign to them. That’s a big thing, just the repetition and then it helps you in your game too just being able to catch pucks more regularly. I know some people tape them closed or whatever but I’ve never found I needed that. I just use it.”

~ InGoal reader Mike Chase asks: What part of the skate blade do you use for a butterfly push/slide?
(Editor’s note: Martin Biron recently said on twitter that he uses the heel of his skate)

Ray Emery: “The toe.”

Alex Auld: “I try to use my whole blade. The key is you want to have enogh mobility in your hips that you can get a good plant. I know with different guys if you don’t have enough flexion in your skate, if your blade doesn’t get planted deep enough, then it’s hard to get planted perpendicular to the way you want move, but that’s the biggest thing. To me it’s a T-push from down on your knees and I’d never T-push with my toe if I was just standing up. So I think you want to get as much of the blade down the ice as possible and try to repeat that. That’s not to say once in a while you are not just going to get your toe or heel or whatever, but if you want to go straight, get the rotation first and make a good hard, strong, straight push.”

~ InGoal reader Samuel Kalmkoff asks: I am goalie that plays Bantam AA Tier 1 in Regina, Saskatchewan and would like to ask what advice he would have for a young goalie who aspires to one day make it to the NHL?

Ray Emery. Ken DeNardo photo.

Ray Emery: “Make sure you enjoy the game. If you don’t like it, don’t do it. You go through different phases in your life, different aspects that can sometimes get to be like a job, but I’ve always enjoyed playing the game.”

~ InGoal reader Jaz Johnson asks: I’m in 6th grade. I’m a HUGE fan of the Blackhawks and I tend goal for 2 Rolling Meadows Renegades teams. This double teaming is hard, but my coaches think I’m good enough to play with both. So here is my question. I would like to know if your parents (when you were younger) threatened to take you out of hockey because of grades. This is happening to me and hockey is my life. They believe that I am involved with to many things. I play the flute, volleyball, and I’m going to try out for poms or basketball next year. Do you think this is a wise decision? Or should I quit Band so i can get more time for Hockey?

Ray Emery: “If I had any advice for a kid I wouldn’t play hockey year round and I definitely wouldn’t make it the only thing that I’m interested in. When it comes down to 16, 17, 18 year old kids, more often than not it’s the guy that it is still fresh for and exciting for that’s going to have that energy and that drive, rather than a kid who has been going to every goalie school and playing year round. That kid might be getting kind of sick of it and might want to see other things, but the kid that had a good variety of things in his life is going to have that extra drive to really dedicate himself when the time comes.”

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Curtis Sanford takes a breather during practice. The hard-working Columbus goalie worked nearly 30 minutes past the end of practice with goalie coach Ian Clark. David Hutchison photo.

At 5-foot-11 Curtis Sanford won’t be mistaken for a prototypical large-bodied NHL goaltender, like teammate Stave Mason.  The affable Columbus puckstopper has worked hard to battle back to the NHL after some observers wondered if his career had levelled off and topped out as an established, solid veteran presence capable of anchoring an AHL franchise. As InGoal saw in two recent practices, despite playing on a team whose playoff hopes had long-since disappeared and fighting ongoing injuries, Sanford continues to battle, repeating drill after drill with goalie coach Ian Clark long after teammates had left the ice. He’s not giving up his place in the NHL without a fight.

Long after the team bus had left for the hotel, Sanford stuck around the locker room to share his experience and insight with InGoal readers.

~InGoal reader Joel from Hamilton asks: Can you talk about the journey back to the NHL – what has it meant to you?

Curtis Sanford: ”Obviously in the back of your mind you want it to happen and I’m kind of a guy that looks at things as a glass half-full rather than half-empty and it was just all about timing and opportunity and it just so happens I received both of them this year. Things have come together on a personal level but obviously from a team standpoint we want the year to go better and I wish I had a few more wins under my belt but its been great getting another chance and I’m just trying to enjoy every moment of it.”

~InGoal: We’re seeing more smaller guys 5’10” or 5’11” making it recently and you’re one of those guys. What do you have to do differently in your game, or what’s different between you and Steve [Mason]?

Curtis Sanford: ”Well obviously the depths that we play at are significantly different.  I kind of take a look at how Tim Thomas and Jonathan Quick play. I’ve really tried to find a similarity with those guys and some stuff they do with their game and try to bring into my own. It’s kind of stealing from them but they’ve managed a way to be aggressive and use the more depth to their advantage.”

At 5'11", Sanford has to establish a more aggressive initial depth than teammate Steve Mason

~InGoal: Where do you establish your initial depth off the rush?

Curtis Sanford: ”Probably before I was getting out there pretty far, probably three feet above now I’ve pretty much chopped it back now to just over a foot and remain patient and keep that depth as long as I can and then obviously when it gets in-zone it’s more around a little bit above the top of the crease line.”

~InGoal: Is it fair to say that a smaller guy needs more lateral mobility because of that depth?

Curtis Sanford: ”Oh definitely, yea. We don’t have long limbs or anything like that like Pekka Rinne and those guys so working on lateral movements, rotations within your butterfly you have to be able to trigger them really quick and really have an efficient push across so that you’re getting in that position quickly.”

~InGoal: If I had a 14 year old goalie standing here who maybe would only be 5’10” some day what should he be working on? Any tips you might give him?

Curtis Sanford: ”A lot of the things that I’ve been working on are obviously establishing that depth, keep on working on depth off the rush, depth from your end zone play and obviously working on your post play, being able to trigger of posts and into your depth really quickly because the plays develop in your zone so much more quickly and you want to be able to get to your depth before your screen gets there before you, so you have that little extra room to work with.”

Curtis Sanford's Unique Stick Modification saves his fingers while providing a better seal in the paddle down position

~InGoal: Can you tell us a bit about your stick? That’s pretty unique.

Curtis Sanford: ”Yea it’s something that an old Finnish goalie Pasi Nurminen – I got that from him – I didn’t know him but I saw one of his sticks one time and basically what it allows you to do is it allows you to have that flush coverage on the ice in paddle-down without pinching your fingers off. I got sick and tired of having black and blue fingernails. It’s kind of a wimpy thing but it works for me.”

~InGoal: Do you do it yourself, or do the trainers do it?

Curtis Sanford: ”No, actually Reebok does it for me and before they had it Warrior did it for me. They’re pretty good at finding ways to please everybody.”

~InGoal  reader Jessica S. asks: What do you think of your new Reebok P4s?

Curtis Sanford: ”Oh these are awesome. Roberto got me to switch when I was playing here in Vancouver and ever since I put them on and I don’t see myself wearing anything else. I’ve been really pleased with them and working with the guys at Reebok and they’re awesome. I work with Christian Marois there and they do anything they can to keep you happy and their stuff is second to none as far as I’m concerned.”

~InGoal: What can you tell us about yours?

Curtis Sanford: ”No external breaks, double internal. A lot of guys don’t have these two buckles (above the knee) and then they just use these (points to elastic/velcro knee strap) to cinch in the knee. I don’t even know why I have these here because I wear them so loose but it’s just something I’ve been used to.”

~InGoal : What do you feel different this year in the P4?

Curtis Sanford: ”Well I think this here (knee stack) is a little different this is a little more, it doesn’t give as much, it almost works as a second stack in there it stays really solid. The thing I like the most about it is the new knee pads. You go down and you just feel like you have a little bit more. Other than that there’s not too much.” [Editor's Note: Reebok's Pro Rep informs us they are not actually new knee pads he's wearing but a stock catalog item the KPREVP knee pad.)

~InGoal: How many sets in a year?

Curtis Sanford: "This is my third set of these and I have one for our third jersey. When you’re on the ice as much as we are, you go through them."

~InGoal Facebook follower Christian Jay Frølich Jensen asks: Who was the greatest inspiration in your career?

Curtis Sanford: "The two guys I looked up to the most were obviously Grant Fhur – when they were going through the dynasty years in Edmonton and they were always winning you know it’s always fun to look up to a guy that’s winning and flashing the leather, glove saves and whatever. And then you know when I started to appreciate the position more it ended up being Patrick Roy just being able to watch him you know the competitive level, positioning, squareness, it’s something that you don’t really recognize until you grow up a little bit more and you're trying to learn more about what certain guys are doing and he was one of those guys who I looked at and I said that’s how I want to play the game."

~InGoal Facebook follower Michael Mag asks: Sandman, I met you in the blue line shop a few weeks ago, my question is the same as I asked you then........" are you ready to let me buy the powder blue p4 set and one of your dillon masks?"......your one of my top goalies, good luck and keep up the god work brother

Curtis Sanford: [laughing] “I’m going to have to say – my wife wants to put those on display in our house, so I don’t think I’ll be able to sell those or else I won’t have a happy wife at home but I’ll see what I can do about one of my masks for sure.”

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Carey Price took the time to talk to InGoal about everything from equipment to movement drills during a recent visit. Scott Slingsby Photo

Carey Price was having a tough practice at the end of an admittedly frustrating season.

The Montreal Canadiens’ star stopper had already made kindling of two sticks across the top of his cross bar. So much for the notion Price doesn’t care enough.

As practice came to an end, however, Price was not among the first to bail for the locker room. Instead he sought out goaltending coach Pierre Groulx for some extra situation-specific work after practice. So much for the theories he doesn’t work hard enough.

Price even stuck it out after cutting one of his toe ties during the drill, stopping several times to try and get the loose lace tied back on at least enough to continue working.

As for what he was working on, a still-steaming Price dismissed the inquiring minds of the media scrum after a couple of pointed, poorly timed post-practice questions about the frustration of a lost season, but then graciously took 15 minutes for some one-on-one time with InGoal to go over the things he was working on, and take a handful of Ask a Pro questions from our readers.

It started with a review of his late-practice session with Groulx (InGoal has some video highlights below), which Price said was based on giving up a goal to Calgary captain Jarome Iginla earlier in the week (NHL.com video also below) on a bit of a broken play after a blocked shot left Price over-committed and unable to get across for a wraparound after Iginla cut behind the net.

So Price worked on his movements out of VH, or one-pad down, with Groulx.

“It’s the minor adjustments that are important, things you don’t really think about doing in a game but that’s why you practice, so you don’t have to think about it,” Price told InGoal after the extra session. “Like a small adjustment like that. I got beat from the side of the net by Iginla in Calgary so then you come back and go over the things you should have done correctly and try to drill it into you so you don’t have to think about it when it comes to game time.”

Here is the video of the goal:

… and here is the video from Price’s response while working with Groulx:

That’s also the perfect place to start this week’s Ask a Pro with Price, since his silky smooth crease movements, especially on the knees, was a favourite subject – along with questions about his new Reebok equipment – for the InGoal inquisitors:

~ InGoal reader David Alexander asks: Carey seems to be a guy who tends to get his body in front of pucks in tight, especially on rebounds. In particular he tends to make some tremendous saves on rebounds in tight, but makes them look so easy. Could he talk about what he does to get his body in front of so many pucks in tight as opposed to opening up in a desperation format. Obviously his power pushes are outstanding, but are there any other keys he uses. And Marc Bidder adds: Carey always seems so square to the puck and his angles are always on, without being too far outside the paint. What does he do to practice this and what can we do to improve our positioning/angles/anticipation?

Carey Price moves as smoothly and efficiently on his knees as anyone in the game (Kevin Woodley photo)

Carey Price: “I think that’s credited to Rollie (Melanson, the former Canadiens’ and current Canucks’ goalie coach) actually. My first four years, that’s all we did was movement drills, especially down. The move while I was down was always my strength and being able to cover the bottom of the net has been a strength since working with Rollie.”

~ InGoal follow up: are we seeing some more pop-up recoveries in the mix these days too?

Carey Price: “Yeah, I mix it up. I’ve been a lot more just reacting and I know Tim (Thomas) is a big believer in just doing whatever it takes, so I kind of mix it up more now.”

~ InGoal Facebook fan Cody Osborne asks: Any crease movement drills – mainly butterfly slides/recovery – you can recommend?

Carey Price: “Yeah, one of the movement drills we do a lot is start on the post and go out towards the far dot, squaring up to the far dot, and then back to the short-side post and back across. We do that one a lot, and then mix it up going to the short-side dot first and then back across to far post. Those are the basic warm up drills we do, just mimicking movements in the game.”

The precision and power of Price's in-crease movements and adjustments on the knees can be seen by the snow blowing off his left skate after sliding off the right post then squaring up and moving out to challenge a point shot here. (Kevin Woodley photo)

~ InGoal reader Scott Forbes asks: He always has such a calm and cool swagger when he plays. When things are not going well how does he maintain that swagger?

Carey Price: “I think it’s a bit of both experience and personality. It’s just about being confident and enjoying what you are doing. You get frustrated obviously at times, obviously, just from being a competitive person, and I think I just have a blend of competitiveness and cockiness and attitude I guess.”

~ InGoal Facebook fan Tristan Helik asks: Playing as a goaltender is all about focus. Is it difficult to focus and play in a city like Montreal? How does he react to the pressure? Jason Wakeley adds: When a lot of people wrote you off as a starter what did you do to prepare yourself mentally to overcome that obstacle? And InGoal wonders about the frustration of hearing how calm and composed he looks when the Canadiens are winning, but that it is interpreted as being too casual or not trying when they are losing?

Carey Price: “I’ve learned not to listen. You grow thick skin when you play in a hockey market, any guy will tell you that, whether it’s Loungo here in Vancouver or (James) Riemer or (Jonas) Gustavsson in Toronto. It’s just the nature of the position and markets and if it hasn’t changed in the last 100 years it’s not going to change in the next 100.”

~ InGoal reader Nicholas Giroux asks: Got any tips for playing the puck?

Carey Price: “I think the key to puckhandling is being aware of the forecheck. We do a lot of scouting of other teams forechecks so we kind of know what they are going to be bringing. So being prepared for a 2-1-2, or a 1-2-2, you have to know what is coming at you, and that makes a really big difference when you are going out of the crease to play the puck.”

Price says good puck handling starts with being prepared for the forecheck and getting an early read on it behind the net. (Kevin Woodley photo)

~ InGoal Facebook fan Daryle Gessner asks: Have you read “The Game” and if so what point from the book really rang true? Also, what are your go-to music pre- and post-game? And Tyler Wenande wonders: How do you get in “the zone” before every game?

Carey Price: “The Game, no I haven’t read it yet, and I don’t really have any specific music. I just listen to whatever is blaring on the stereo in the room. This year there is more country music, though (Price participates in rodeo during the summer months). I think I pull a little bit more weight in the room. When I first came here I wouldn’t have been able to get a country song on the stereo to save my life but now, even this morning, that’s all we played was country, so that’s changed a little. But I’m pretty normal in my preparation. I just do some stretching and whatnot. I get dressed really early. I start getting dressed about half an hour before warm ups. A lot of guys will start getting dressed like 10 minutes before warm up, but I am usually in my gear like 15 minutes before I get on the ice for warm up. I do a lot of just thinking about what we talked about in our morning meetings, about their power play set ups, or their forechecking for instance. I think about a lot of things like that.”

~ InGoal reader B. Hill writes: Ask him why he switched to the the Reebok P4′s and I heard he spent a lot of time tinkering and modifying his new P4′s? What kind of things has he done to these pads?

Price said his Reebok pads have evolved this season, with a pre curve and single break now allowing the overlap seen here in front of him. (Kevin Woodley photo)

~ InGoal follow up: We can see you’ve also removed the knee cradle, putting only the thin piece back on top of the knee stack itself to maintain the overall thickness of the area you land on, but keeping the rest wide open to allow the pads to rotate even more easily around your kneepads. Have you changed anything else around the knee area?

Carey Price: “I actually use the IIHF kneestack, I don’t use the NHL regulation one, so it’s actually smaller. It’s shorter (width wise). Just because when I was trying to bring my knees together, the corners of the stack would come together and leave a space between my knees above it. If they were a bit too long I couldn’t get everything else closed above them, so I found shortening that up allowed my kneepads to come together.”

Price had a few more answers for InGoal, including about the changes he’s made in both his initial depth and glove positioning in the NHL, and a great response to custom stick questions from Dec Ryan and Joe Pippel. But we are going to save those for the next edition of the InGoal Digital Magazine, including a how-to tip based on the stick response that can help your puck handling!

So stay tuned, and in the meantime a big thank you to Carey for taking the time to talk to InGoal Magazine, and be sure to check out the photos below for more shots of how his gear is working for him:

A look at the new Reebok leg channel option inspired by Price

The side of Price's pads show the strapping option from the knee stack down to the outer calf wrap, and the new leg channel colour options, from Reebok

This photo demonstrates how well Price's pads rotate around his custom knee pads, with the already redesigned knee cradle removed (and the thin white layer maintaining the kneestack thickness) to create even more room for easy transitions to the ice.

Another look at the changes Price has made in the knee area.

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Chris Mason wearing his custom Brian's SubZero Gear with Jets Logo

Given the popularity of his Jets-logo pads and gloves, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that our Ask a Pro with Winnipeg goaltender Chris Mason quickly turned into a review of his unique Brian’s Sub-Zero equipment.

As the only goalie wearing the new line in the NHL, Mason is the perfect person to ask how the Sub-Zeros have held up, especially the revolutionary Velcro-based strapping system that helps the pads achieve their incredible light weight. That made this sit-down with Mason an ideal follow up to InGoal’s initial review of the Sub-Zero in the inaugural digital magazine.

The answers bode well for those who already bought into on the Sub-Zero hype, including the fact he delayed breaking out the “Jets” pads only because his first set was holding up so well before finally giving in to the pressure to debut the popular new-look pads (That delay also gave Mason time to get a great new mask from EyeCandyAir that perfectly matches the pads). But they aren’t the only great responses.

In addition to questions about the team-logoed gear, the personable and popular veteran talked about his championship stint in Norway during the NHL lockout, and how it actually helped him prepare for the evolving NHL when he returned, how he prepares on a game day, and the key to reading pucks off sticks.

As you read Mason’s thoughts, be sure to check out the initial InGoal review of the Sub-Zero line. And if you aren’t reading this through our newsletter, it means you aren’t getting it first, so be sure to sign up for the free weekly email, which includes the chance to post questions to other NHL goalies. And be sure to “like” InGoal on Facebook for more chances to ask questions of the top pros – like the questions Carey Price answered for us last week, an interview that will be published in next week’s newsletter and in the April magazine.

In the meantime, enjoy Chris Mason, one of the NHL’s best guys:

InGoal Facebook fan Scott Christensen asks, “how was playing Norway during the lockout? Differences, overall experience and how’d he decide to go there?”

Chris Mason: “I loved it. The year previous was my first year in the NHL and I really wanted to play somewhere, and just get the playing time, and I had the opportunity to go there. And obviously with the rink being different, the style of play is a little more about smaller players, good skaters, and a lot of good skill on the bigger ice surface. So it was definitely an adjustment with the angles and the east-west was longer. And then coming back to the NHL with the new rules and a more open game, I definitely think the need to be patient over there helped coming back. You can’t get locked in and stuck on your knees a lot because they hold on and they look for that extra pass, and the way the NHL is now, guys aren’t coming down the wing and just blasting it at the net and driving any more. They’ve got their heads up and they are looking for trailers and plays across the ice, so it’s been a huge change the last five-six years.”

InGoal reader Derek Labossiere asks, “What are you pre-game warm-ups/ routines? They both seem so focused early in games.”

Chris Mason: “If I am playing I will go back and eat always at the same time and try to get my nap in the afternoon around about 2 o’clock for 45 minutes to an hour max. I like to get to the rink about three hours before a game, watch a little tape, and sometimes I’ll watch some shootout tape just in case that comes into play. Power play is definitely another focus, but we do a lot of that in the morning as a team, look at a lot of end-zone and set up and things like that. That’s definitely valuable information for a goaltender.”

InGoal follow up: do you use any hand-eye co-ordination exercises pre-game?

Chris Mason: “At home we play table tennis. We have a ping-pong table in the hallway at the MTS Center and I really think that does help with hand-eye so we do that before every game. But I’ll also ride the bike for 10 minutes to get the blood flowing and stretch after that, and that’s pretty well it. And I’ll just go sit in stall about 10 minutes before I take a shower and do some visualization. I just kind of simulate plays in my head, follow them around the zone, and just try to see the way pucks are coming off guy’s sticks and things like that.”

InGoal: Your former goalie coach in Nasville, Mitch Korn, has talked to InGoal in the past about that ability to read pucks off a shooter’s stick as something you’ve always done well. Is it something you can work to improve or innate?

Chris Mason: “I definitely think the anticipation and ability to read the body language and just the way the hands are positioned and things like that – when you are on as a goalie I think that’s one of the keys, reading pucks off sticks – because goalies make saves sometimes that there’s no way they should be able to and that’s partially anticipation and you know where he’s shooting because of the way his stick looks. But of course the good players are good at hiding that and changing it at the last second. It’s definitely a skill you can work on.”

InGoal reader Logan Angus asks: “Obviously the inspiration for his custom graphic sub zeroes came from the Jets logo, but did he come up with the idea to put it on his pads? or did Brians or somebody else approach him with the idea?” 

Chris Mason: “I called them just to tell him kind of what I was thinking and asked if we could do something with the Jets logo because I just thought it’s really symmetrical and I thought it would look great on a pair of pads, and they sent me an email with six different templates of different ideas and that was the one I chose.”

Facebook fan Nick Toncheff asks: “The Sub-Zeros, do you feel the strapping system on the pads has helped your game?” (InGoal also asked how the straps have held up)

Chris Mason: “I haven’t had to change the Velcro straps on either set. I mean it’s easy if you wanted to change the strapping, you just pull them out, but I’ve had no reason to change them at all, they’ve been great. The Velcro stood up perfectly. I used that first set of pads for quite a long time, probably a lot longer than most guys would use one set of pads, and it was perfectly fine when I changed. I just wanted to use the new stuff. I really wanted to get into them, but my other ones were still sturdy, they felt great, and I honestly probably could have kept wearing them all year if I wanted to. I don’t usually go through a lot of pads like some guys, but I can easily do two, three pairs a year, I’ve done that in the past, but this year I definitely could have gone longer in the first set of pads, but I really wanted to get into these (Jets logo) pads and I was getting a lot of pressure from the guys.”

InGoal reader Louis-Quentin Dubé asks: “Does the Sub-Zero taper at the boot limit the seal to the ice or is the seal unaffected due to pad rotation? And how does the mesh in the leg channel hold up on the Sub-Zero?”

Chris Mason: “The first set I had I think was a 78-degree taper and wanted the toe a little more square and the next set they squared it off (to an 84-degree taper) and I just preferred that a lot better. It kind of seals the ice a little more and when you are sticking your leg out making that toe save it just feels like you have more pad on the ice. But I still felt like I had a good seal through the rest of the pad in both angles, and the knee stacks are pretty good too, and I feel like they cut down the five hole.”

InGoal: And the mesh inside leg channel?

Chris Mason: “It’s held up great and it’s so comfortable. This whole pad, is a little lighter weight, and it’s held up so well. When I first put these pads on in the summer, I knew that I was going to make the switch because they felt so good. Usually when I put on a pair of pads it takes me a while to get comfortable but I put these on and right away they felt like they cradled my leg and felt so good.”

InGoal Facebook fan ChristianAllan Lim ?asks: “Do you guys have any mods on your C/A? If so, what are they? And what model c/a do you guys use? Thx!!”

Chris Mason: “Brian’s just sent me their stock new Sub-Zero chest protector and I liked it so I didn’t have to change anything.”

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Without a lot of work in games lately, Buffalo Sabres backup Jhonas Enroth focuses on movement drills to stay sharp (InGoal File Photo)

It has been an easy six weeks for Buffalo backup Jhonas Enroth.

The Sabres’ diminutive Swedish stopper – Enroth is the NHL’s smallest goalie at 5-foot-10 — has only played once in that span, and only lasted 27 minutes in that Dec. 16 start against Philadelphia, giving up three goals on 18 shots in what turned into a 7-2 win for the Flyers.

Stuck behind a resurgent Ryan Miller (and for more on the surprising real reason his season has turned, look for the next edition of InGoal Magazine in April) as Buffalo tries to make a late run for the playoffs, Enroth still leads the league in games by a rookie goaltender, with 24, and is tied with San Jose’s Thomas Greiss with eight wins.

Still, this is a far cry from last season, when the 23 year old led the Sabres unlikely late season charge to the postseason, going on a 6-0-1 run after Miller was concussed.

Staying sharp in practice isn’t easy, which is where InGoal started this week’s Ask a Pro, with an interesting revelation about how Enroth uses a heart monitor to ensure he doesn’t work too hard on a game-day skate for fear of being worn out if he’s called upon:

Jhonas Enroth: “I usually take practice days a little more seriously, trying to work harder on those, and on game days I am trying to prepare myself like I am playing that night, do everything that I would have done if I was starting. And then when we have power play drills, I really try to be sharp on those. We’ve been doing a good job of making sure I don’t go too hard on game days and morning skates. We are using heart rate monitors every practice, so I can know what level I should go to in order to still be fresh at night. We have it on the computer back here and the athletic trainer is watching it and I can go to him and ask how my work is that I’ve been doing so far.”

InGoal reader Joey Patterson asks: what’s your paddle length and pad size? And Jarid Warren wonders why you use the 580-break trapper.

Buffalo Sabres Goalie Jhonas Enroth plays with 34+2 Reebok P4 pads and a 26-inch paddle on his stick, which is among the most active in the NHL. (InGoal File Photo)

JE: “I have to ask the trainer the first one – 26 inches on paddle size – and I think I use it, I have a pretty active stick. For pads, I actually changed my Reebok P4 about three weeks ago. I used to wear a little more bent pad, but now I’m a little more stiffer and straight pad. It’s always been just one break (at the knee) but the top part above it used to be pre-curved and now it’s straight. And the size is 34 plus 2, so 36 inches overall. The 580-break is the one I grew up in. I’ve always used that glove, so I am having a hard time to change, I really like it. I tried the 590 break but I just love this glove too much.”

Speaking of size, Rj La Pene asks: As a shorter goaltender do you feel there are extra things you have to do to compensate and be successful?

JE: “I have to move a little bit better, I always have to be in really good position, and I always have to get my feet under me. That’s the biggest key for me, I think. I have to try and make more moves up on the skates instead of sliding too much, and get my feet under me as quick as I can.”

And fair to say you make a lot more half-butterfly saves? Like a Henrik Lundqvist, it seems you don’t default to butterfly nearly as often as other, bigger goaltenders.

With so much space available up high, Enroth can't afford to get caught on his goal line line this too often, unless it's a scramble down low, as was the case here (InGoal File Photo)

JE: “Yeah, I would think so. I am trying to go a little bit more touch, if you want to say that, or more feel. And trying to read a little bit more than other guys I guess, and that’s all about patience on the skates.”

InGoal reader Matt Smitha asks: What is the biggest difference between tending goal in the Elitserien (the “Elite League” in his native Sweden) as opposed to the NHL?

JE: “Over here it’s a lot quicker, there’s a lot more shots and you have to be ready all the time. Over there it’s more passing and longer passes and stuff like that. I like playing over here better, but that style of (pass-first game in Sweden) where players hold the puck and look to make one more play can help develop patience. We have a lot of great young goalies coming from Sweden and that may be one of the reasons, because they have been playing on big ice surfaces for a while.”

InGoal reader David Henderson asks: Have you picked up anything from Ryan Miller? Or has he even picked up anything from you?

JE: “No, I can’t really say that. We’re pretty much different styles I would say. He’s going a lot on feel too, actually, but I haven’t really picked up anything special from his game. We talk a lot about the position, and he’s been really great, a good guy to have next to you in the locker room, and he gives me tips and good stuff to think about, but more about opponents and games and situational stuff he likes to do.”

InGoal reader Jason Wakeley asks: What’s your workout routine consist of? Any exercises you’ve found that work for you that nobody else really does?

JE: “I’m not a yoga guy yet, but I would like to try yoga. I am planning on adding it during the summer. But just basic stuff, a lot of core work, a lot of stuff to try and be flexible and a lot of leg work too. My workouts are designed to make me quick and explosive, so stuff with lots of short, fast powerful movements.”

One more from us here at InGoal: Can you talk about the state of Swedish goaltending? Talking to guys like Henrik Lundqvist, it seems to have followed the Finnish model, with more coaching available over the last five to 10 years, and a lot more structure and resources in place from top to bottom. What was your experience within the system?

Even when he's doing movement drills outside the crease, Enroth focuses on visualizing saves, in this case with an active stick to steer a blocker-side shot, rather than locking prematurely into blocking mode. (InGoal File Photo)

JE: “I have had a goalie coach my whole career. I think I was probably one of the first guys from Sweden to always have someone there from age 12-13. I still played as a forward too at that age, but I liked playing goalie better so I always knew I was going to play goalie. But now there are so many goalie coaches back home, so many great young goalies coming up in Sweden, and it’s probably because we have been really working hard on it, and the Federation has been really putting more time and money into it. For sure we’ve started working more like the Finnish Federation did before us, a lot of goaltending coaches and development help.”

Have you so far avoided the plague of creating too many locked-up blocking goalies, something that has crept into the development systems over here?

“I think that’s a problem. A lot of young goalies playing butterfly style just go down and block, and you have to be able to read the game too and react to the puck too.”

Watching Enroth practice, with a variety of half butterfly saves selections in his arsenal, especially on the glove side (again, a la Lundqvist), it’s not a problem for him.

InGoal hopes you enjoyed the Ask A Pro with him. Please submit questions for next week’s Ask A Pro by emailing to askapro@ingoalmag.com or “like” us on Facebook and keep an eye out for last-minute opportunities to pose questions to your favorite goalies there. Up next are the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens keepers.

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InGoal caught up with Ty Conklin before his recent demotion to the AHL, talking about everything from his Warrior equipment to what music he listens to and what is going through his head during the national anthem.

Conklin flashes the leather as Jimmy Howard watches during practice.

InGoal recently got the chance to sit down with affable Detroit Red Wings Goaltender Ty Conklin. That evening would see starter Jimmy Howard break a finger and the Wings bring Joey MacDonald up from Grand Rapids in the American League. Detroit gave MacDonald the chance to play right away and he ran with it, winning six in a row while compiling a 1.66 GAA and .934 save percentage.

When Howard was ready to return to the lineup Detroit General Manager Ken Holland made room for him by waiving Conklin, who struggled in the few appearances he was given this year.Conklin went 3-5-0 with a 3.40 goals-against average and .878 save percentage in his second stint with the Wings.

Not that Conklin would complain – he’s always been too much of a team-first guy to complain and would be the first to say he’s needed to play better this season – but it should be pointed out that for as much credit as MacDonald deserves for earning the No.2 job, Conklin never got a chance to keep it on home ice. Playing behind a Red Wings team that has set NHL records with 23-straight wins at Joe Louis Arena but continues to be average at best on the road, Conklin has yet to see a single minute of ice time at home this season. Not a single minute.

Every one of his 11 appearances – and it’s hard to stay sharp when that’s over four-plus months and includes two relief outing – has been on the road this season, where the Red Wings are a pedestrian 15-15-1 heading into Tuesday’s game in Chicago. And while it could be argued Conklin’s struggles play a role in that record, it’s equally fair to suggest the popular backup deserved a chance to build some badly needed momentum and confidence with an occasional outing behind a team that pledged going into the season to better defend its home turf.

“I think Ty Conklin needs to play,” Wings general manager Ken Holland told the team’s web site Monday. “He hasn’t really got it going. His starts have been sporadic and I think his play has probably been sporadic. He’s played some good games and played some games not so good.”

Ty Conklin is one of the most likeable guys in the game and was happy to sit down and take questions from InGoal readers

And with that we’ll get right to the questions including several from our readers.

~ Eric from Detroit asks: What have you picked up from Jimmy and what has he picked up from you?

Ty Conklin:

“Well, hopefully Jimmy hasn’t picked up anything from me. I don’t think he needs anything from me. I’ll be honest, I always try to pick up things from guys I play with even guys I watch. I’m no different than anybody else. You have a pretty structured way on how you play – what’s gotten you to the NHL – but there’s always ways to improve. You see a strength in somebody you’re playing against or somebody you’re playing with and in Jimmy’s case I like his ready stance more than a lot of guys.” 

~ InGoal follow-up: What do you like about it?

Jimmy shows off his high glove set position that Conklin admires and is becoming common in today's game.

Ty Conklin:

“Well, I just feel like he’s got his hands in front of him. He keeps his hands up really well. Better than most guys. I think that’s why you see him able to get to pucks just under the bar better than most guys.”

~ InGoal: That’s a big topic in the game this year, isn’t it? [note: see the article in the most recent issue of the InGoal Digital Magazine]

Ty Conklin:

I think there’s a lot of different ways to play goal and no one way is the only way but the way I play, I feel like that’s something that I’ve tried – I like the way he does that. There’s other things in his game but that’s one of them – I like the way he keeps his hands up and it starts with a good ready position.

~ InGoal: Have you seen an evolution in his game since your first stop in Detroit?

Ty Conklin:

You know, I wish I could tell you I have. I’ve seen the success and I’ve seen him mature certainly. That comes with experience obviously.  You know I haven’t seen him day in and day out like a lot of guys have like [Detroit goaltending Coach] Jim Bedard but he’s become one of the top guys in the game. Certianly in my opinion and I think its becoming more of a common theme – he’s being spoken about as one of the better guys in the league.

~ Ryan from Toronto asks:  How do you like the Warrior gear?

Ty Conklin:

I like it. You know what? I think it’s a step up from last year’s stuff. This stuff is really good. A lot of the gear is similar. Obviously Vaughn is softer Reebok is a lot harder. I think these strike a good balance. They are pretty close to the Bauers especially in appearance. What I like about these is the guys will just make them how you want them made – if you want them stiffer in certain areas or stiffer right away.

~ InGoal follow-up: Have they made different pads for you to try?

Ty Conklin:

No. This is the model I wanted. I like the flat front. My biggest thing is I like stiffness in the boot area and I like them to soften up a little bit.

 

~ InGoal: Is there anything that stands out compared to last year?

Ty Conklin:

They’re light! They’re a different type of pad this year. The quality from pair to pair is better.

~ InGoal: Asked him about the non-standard lacing at top of his blocker….

Ty Conklin:

Is it? To be honest I’m not overly particular. You like it the way you like it but I don’t nit-pick. I like the blockers really hard. I like the pads stiff in the boot.

~ InGoal: A couple more from the kids…
~ Dan from Minneapolis asks: What’s in the water bottle when you’re out there?

Ty Conklin:

Water. Just water.

~ Chantal from California asks: What’s on your iPod?

Ty Conklin:

I don’t have an iPod. I’ve got an iPhone – actually I don’t have an iPhone either anymore I got rid of my iPhone.

~ InGoal follow-up: So you’re not a music guy?
Ty Conklin:

No, not really. Kids wouldn’t want to listen to the stuff I listen to – I mean it’s older stuff.

~ InGoal: What older stuff? – I’m older!

Ty Conklin:

Um, Dire Straites – Mark Knopfler. I like a lot of Dave Matthews band.

~ John  from Kitchener, Ontario asks: “What’s going through your head during the national anthem when you’re playing.”

Ty Conklin:

Nothing really. Just trying to get calmed down. Trying to get ready.

~ InGoal follow up: Do you have a routine. Anything you try to think about?

Ty Conklin:

Um yea. You have key phrases you say to yourself.

~ InGoal: What would be a key phrase?

Ty Conklin:

Well – the first thing should always be “have fun.” It’s more fun to stop pucks than to let them in – but it should always be have fun.

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I have been in contact with Phil Maltese of Maltese Sports for several years since buying his first generation mask gel system many moons ago, after learning that Olaf Kolzig had it in his mask back in 2001, at which point I had to have it too.

For those unfamiliar with Maltese gel, it is a direct replacement for mask foam that claims to be safer, cleaner, and cooler.

So all the cool kids must have been using it, right? Not so much. The gel was also a lot heavier than standard mask foams, which caused many to shy away. But as technology goes, so does the goalie industry, and Maltese Sports is back with a brand new invention: The Maltese Mask Gel version 3.

Not only is the latest incarnation easier to apply to your mask, safer than standard foams, and come with antibacterial properties (no more hockey smell? Sign me up), but it is now also comparable in weight to standard mask foams. They’ve accomplished this by using a new process to impregnated the foam with air, making it lighter and more shapeable while drastically reducing the overall weight with losing its protective properties. After hearing all that, I had to give it a try again.

Maltese V3 installed in a mask

I called Phil up and he set me up with a gel combo/throat protector, and his Version 3 Mask Gel System.

All I had to do was wait for it to arrive and slap it in the old mask. Of course as always that was easier said than done.

Yes, the Maltese V3 installs easily, but the old foam was a pain to get out. Sore fingers aside, I find I have a more custom and comfortable fit with the V3 installed in my mask. I get that closer to the cage feel I like with my face – and better vision through the cage as a result – it’s a lot cooler, as there is way less of the V3 gel in the mask than there was foam, and the slight weight difference is hardly noticeable now due to the new V3 gel technology.

Shots in the mask with don’t seem to ring as bad, and I have felt fewer concussive impacts (that slapped feeling you get sometimes after getting hit square in the face). In my opinion, if you are looking to get a mask refurbished, need to replace the foam in your mask, or looking for more protection, at least give Maltese Mask Gel consideration. It is comparatively priced to other replacement foam kits, and for you chin sling lovers out there, Maltese offers a chin sling option now as well.

The author and his Maltese Throat Protector

After getting the products from Phil (His Throat/Combo is something I will never be without now after trying.) I was curious about how he got his start in hockey and how he came up with some of his ideas. I also wondered why more people weren’t using his products, and what he thought of all of the concussions and head injuries we are seeing lately, so I called him up, and he agreed to do an interview with me.

The following is our conversation. Phil warned me that he gets a little excited at times, and can be candid, but that only made me want to talk with him more:

IGM: So what is your hockey background?

PM: My background in hockey started back in the early seventies outside in front of my house in a post world war housing development. Back then I played anything I could because sitting on your ass playing video games wasn’t invented yet. But one day we got a very fuzzy picture of what appeared to be a hockey game on the TV. It was one of those UHF stations … Channel 29.  You squint at the TV most of the time trying to figure out what was happening and then you get a flash of a real image and that’s when I saw Bernie Parent with ‘that’ mask of his. That’s when I decided to learn to skate … at fourteen years old.  Goalie was the only position for me, which was good, because I didn’t know how to skate. But if you want something bad enough – translation, are willing to humiliate yourself in order to learn – you too can play this game. Fortunately for me, my school had its own rink and before you know it, I’m getting around in a very non-ambulatory way. Long story short, I’ve been a goalie for thirty-six years.

IGM: Let’s talk some history – What makes someone get started in implementing gel in to hockey equipment?

PM: “I bought one of the masks (pro players were wearing) back in the day. It was cool looking like the other guys, however, after a period of time of owning and using the mask, let’s say two years to be fair, the padding would no longer hold the shape of the mask no matter which adhesive I tried. Plus it smelled and was now hard – tough to squeeze. So I sat down and had a good think. I can’t remember now how I arrived at gel, but it had to have been a commercial for Dr. Scholl’s gel foot beds that got me to thinking. So I made a phone call to the company on the back of one of those foot bed packages. I couldn’t believe how deep within the company I was able to get. I spoke to a gentleman and told him my intended use. He confessed a gel supplier was who I really wanted to speak with. The glitch was he wasn’t allowed to tell me the name of the gel supplier. Naturally I made a disappointed sigh and just before we hung up, he said the name! From there I called the right people and before you could say “large sums of money” we were on our way to version one of the gel interior.

“When it was due to arrive it occurred to me that the previous padding (foam) was a half inch thick most places. How was something half the thickness going cause my mask to fit now? Didn’t even occur to me to think how is quarter inch padding going to protect me? Naturally, I was very excited to see if I was the proud owner of a real idea or just a hair-brained idea. I put the mask on, adjusted the back plate straps and much to my surprise, the mask felt like it fit and it felt nice – but a little heavy. Turns out version one weighed a hefty fourteen ounces. First game wearing it, I get kicked in the head full force. Both the ref and player asked if I was all right, immediately I got up, shook my mask into place and headed for my post. Amazingly, I was more than okay, I was stoked!”

IGM: What’s your take on the head injuries happening in the NHL? Players or equipment?

 PM: “In my opinion, most of those head injuries – talking goalies here – could be avoided if one simple aspect of the mask was changed and that’s the interior padding. What did you think I would say? These are my own experiences with various padding that seems to occur after the padding has gone from its supple feel to hardening. That padding is also a sponge for one’s sweat and filth and that builds with every use. Just like all the other foam padding, they were not specifically designed to attenuate impacts. That padding is in there to provide a degree of comfort and take up space. I’m starting to see a lot of complaints about customers mask padding. The latest is how foam irritates the skin.

Maltese V3 Gel Kit comes ready to install in your mask.

“The feedback from Ginny Capicchioni regarding her gel’d mask was very encouraging.  (She is the only woman to play men’s box lacrosse and she made the USA men’s box lacrosse team that recently played a tournament in the Czech republic.) Ginny is not a tall person so that puts her head right in harm’s way and she loves her gel setup. Another guy I sent a ‘loaner’ mask to reported that he took a ‘howitzer’ of a shot to the chin of the mask and even though in the past he has been concussed, he reported no side effects of any kind after that impact. I think it’s time to check with the real decision makers of hockey teams: The accountants.  There’s no denying that pro hockey players are a commodity and therefore an investment by their teams. If your star goalie gets knocked out, so to speak, of the lineup and this means you either miss the playoffs altogether or you don’t get deep, then you have to make a change to prevent that. My gel is that change.”

IGM: Why are so many head injuries occurring?

PM: “As previously stated, I think given that most masks are made of similar high grade materials – or at least they should be. The area where I believe makers ‘cheap’ out is in the padding they use.”

IGM: Do certifications make masks safer?

PM: “One of my favorite topics. I went through this process once, and my mask and gel setup passed on its first try. Testing at HECC involves an anvil drop test. This is where the head gear in question is placed or should I say strapped to a lead head form. Raised to a height of six feet and then dropped on what HECC calls an anvil, which is really a flat metal surface. That’s it. So that’s why we have mask lined with foam. The lead head form feels nothing so technically you could line any piece with concrete (there’s that reference again) and the head form wouldn’t complain. They perform another test to make sure the cage doesn’t break too easily and for butt ends to get through. That’s it! So in the end when a parent who knows very little about masks sees that ‘Good Housekeeping’ seal of approval, they’re drawing the conclusion that this mask will keep their child safe, but what they don’t know is how many tries it took to get that mask certified.”

IGM: Is it pointless to have a certification? Is it kind of a sell it to the highest bidder mentality?

PM: “I think a standard should be established, but without the antiquated set of criteria. It’s time to move toward a biofidelic head form with sensors to measure the force of impacts, decibel levels and pertinent data like that, so actually protecting the goalies head can occur.”

IGM: Would your product help? Why? Do you have proof?

PM: “My product would absolutely help because of the simple fact that my gel was specifically designed to attenuate impacts. An example would be, when I found gel it was being used in mostly medical applications. Like a cushion for an amputated leg in a prosthetic limb or a gel ring for the head of a newborn or as a bed pad to prevent bed sores. I just applied this technology to my sport, more specifically my position: goalie. As for proof, that resides in documents, which I have.”

IGM: How do you go about R&D with your products?

PM: “Ahhh, this is a closely guarded secret! I test the products myself initially. If I get the results I’m looking for then I ask for volunteers. They understand that their risk is minimal because I would never allow a quasi-effective product to go out. I have to be convinced that it’s working the way intended. If those volunteers are experiencing the same things as I or if they discovered something on their own then we make an adjustment.”

IGM: I know you a little better than the average consumer, and I know you don’t have a huge budget, are you often the guinea pig? (Is that why you agreed to talk with me?)

PM: “Absolutely, I’m the guinea pig! I wouldn’t have it any other way. Even if I had a huge budget, I would still want to be the initial tester because I don’t want anyone of my crew or customers getting hurt.”

IGM: Why do you think it is we don’t see Maltese gel in the better known mask/helmet manufacturer’s products?

PM: “Well, initially as in first version of the gel, when I shopped it around the big boys, all they mostly wanted to know was what did it weigh. After I told them, that was the end of the conversation. After it became clear to me that I was going to enjoy self-imposed gel exclusivity, I began making my own products to prove to myself that protection matters more than weight.  After all we are goalies playing a relatively stationary position with hard projectiles flying into us. …

“I have no real idea why the mask makers reject my material, but it doesn’t matter because the end user sees the value especially if they are having a negative experience with their current padding. Like skin irritations or concussions. You know, minor stuff.”

This is why thin padding is desirable, but not if that padding is junk. Quarter inch gel has served my customers for the past twelve years better than the various thicknesses other mask makers use.  I once pulled the foam out of an Itech mask that was an inch thick in the forehead.  To me any thicker than 3/8” and you’re too far away from the action.  While I’m at it, chin cups are the devils work and so is padding the entire inside of a goalie mask with foam.

IGM: If you had one opportunity to tell the world about Maltese Hockey, what would you say? Why should people use your products?

PM: “I play the position. I know what works and what doesn’t and many of the gear designs are just not thought out or designed by college boys that don’t even play hockey. When I get hurt another product is born. Simple, logical design has always worked for me. But most importantly, I care about my customer’s safety. I care that my name is on the product. I care that my customers get their money’s worth and I care that my product actually performs the way I say it will.”

As you can see, Phil is passionate about what he does, and the vibe I get from him is he truly cares. His products are born out of a need for something safer and more protective than what we have out there. Concussions have become an all too real reality in our sport and we definitely need to be better protected!

If you are interested in any of the Maltese products you can get in touch with Phil, and see his products through his website at www.MalteseSports.com.

Copyright The Goalie Magazine - InGoalMag.com

Martin Biron will demand HBO attention, if only to explain that annoying noise every time he takes off his skates.

If you’re looking for potential breakout stars during this year’s edition of the hit HBO series “24/7″ featuring the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, keep your eyes on the crease – or more likely the end of the bench – because as popular as Rangers star Henrik Lundqvist is, his backup, Martin Biron, is one of the game’s most engaging puck stoppers.

But even if Biron doesn’t get enough air time to show off his incredible personality, wit and ability to tell a story, he’s bound to have a “roll” in the show. That’s because of the rolls of sock tape he uses every time he gets dressed, and the hard-to-miss sound they make every time he takes it all off, a noise sure to be picked up by the HBO cameras in the locker room.

With almost an entire roll around each ankle alone, it’s hard to miss, as you’ll hear after Biron explains how he got started using so much of the sticky stuff (he had to have it imported privately in Europe during the lockout) in the video below:

It’s not the first time Biron has explained his penchant for sock tape, joking in the past he keeps the companies in business and owns lots of stock in them. Biron also talked last season about the significant changes he made in his style under Rangers goalie guru Benoit Allaire (HBO viewers will see a lot of similarities to Lundqvist on the ice), offered advice for kids, and broke down his equipment preferences (some ancient) during an InGoal Ask a Pro segment last season. Be sure to check it out, whether HBO does or not.

Copyright The Goalie Magazine - InGoalMag.com