Episode 18 Stephane Waite
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Stephane Waite, two-time Stanley Cup winning goaltending coach with the Montreal Canadiens, emphasizes that the practice habits minor-hockey coaches should instill in young goalies are the same principles he applies at the NHL level. Waite builds structured practice plans designed to develop his goalies, then wants them to set that structure aside and play on pure instinct once the puck drops in a game.
- Waite designs practice plans with specific goaltending development goals, not generic skating or shot-stopping repetition.
- The practice habits Waite instills in NHL goalies mirror what minor-hockey coaches should be doing with young netminders.
- When it's game time, Waite coaches his goalies to trust their preparation and play on instinct rather than overthinking mechanics.
- Goalie pad fitting requires more than traditional ATK (ankle-to-knee) measurements — proper sizing demands a more comprehensive approach.
- The interview was conducted inside the Montreal Canadiens offices, offering a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on NHL goaltending development.
This week on InGoal Radio presented by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports, we are joined by Stephane Waite, two-time Stanley Cup winning goalie coach and current goaltending coach of the Montreal Canadiens. Waite, shared insights into the pro game, what needs in practice to help his goalies success (hint: the same things minor-hockey coaches should be doing), specifics on how he builds a practice plan and then how he wants his goalies to just play more on instinct when its game-time. There’s much more in this lengthy chat we had inside the Montreal Canadiens offices.
Thanks to The Hockey Shop Source for Sports in Surrey, BC we are able to bring you this, and every, episode of InGoal Radio. Kevin visits Cam this week and talks about how to properly fit pads, why old guidelines using measurements like ATK are not enough and more.
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