I teach for a goalie school here in Quebec City and sure enough, the kids with the best butterfly are the girls. They laugh at me because I basically have no flare whatsoever, and am not likely to get one anytime soon at age 45.

As far as Shanon Szabados is concerned, she seems not only an outstanding goalie but also a gracious person; very generous in her giving me interviews and autographed photos for my son’s bedroom wall. A lot has been written about her this week; some of it recounting how much crap she had to go through to have her chance to play in a men’s league. I think there will be women playing pro hockey in goal before any other position. Maybe she will be the first (Hayley Wickenheier’s stint in Europe notwithstanding).

Greetings to your family and your mom Terri in particular. Philippino goalies need to stick together. It would be nice to know what hockey is like in Japan. If you haven’t read his book, Dave Bidini wrote a real gem called Tropic of Hockey; all about playing in tournaments in weird places like Saudi Arabia, China and Transylvania among other places…

Just finished watching Shannon win the Gold medal at the Olympics. I was so impressed with her after the 1st, I called back home to Canada to ask who she was.

I will be 47 this year and am playing goal in the Japanese nationals next week. I only mention this because being called out of a 10-year retirement to play semi-pro would only be possible in goal. Goaltending doesn’t require the same type of strength as your starting power-forward. Without getting too much into the playing of goal, physical strength in nowhere near the top requirements. Remember it is the only position in hockey where the other team is trying NOT to hit you. Where a female may have narrower shoulders, they naturally have better hip rotation and with the gear nowadays, a woman’s physique may have the advantage with the modern butterfly and importance of a quick flare. There is an alarming number of goalies with groin injuries, even in the NHL. (Matter of opinion but I believe it contributed to the demise of Hasek) Though Shannon is only 5’8″, there have been shorter NHL goalie greats, Roger Crozier and Rogie Vachon to name a couple(both 5’6″, yes, i know, different game then). It is mental strength that makes the difference, not gender, and without a doubt, Shannon has it.

To date, she has excelled at every level she has played. Were she to get a shot at the pros, the only question will be if she can adjust to the speed – lateral transitions, shot speed and shot releases. But this is true for any goalie trying to make the pros.

Going way back, but when i faced Gaston Gingras (stint with the Habs) the adjustment I had to make was never blink when he crossed center ice.

I truly wish Shannon the best.