Pro Drills inspired by Warren Strelow Featuring Sabres Seamus Kotyk and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
- The Warren Strelow stick drill trains goalies to stop drifting forward into saves by requiring them to step over a stick before getting set.
- Seamus Kotyk uses this drill only two or three times per season — enough to correct crease drift without overworking the movement pattern.
- Stepping over the stick forces goalies to develop edge awareness, single-leg balance, and deliberate foot control rather than relying on habit.
- Vary the drill by alternating the lead foot, moving the stick to different positions, or changing shot locations to increase difficulty.
- The drill originates from Warren Strelow and Wayne Thomas's work with San Jose Sharks goalies and remains relevant in modern pro goaltending development.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen photo – Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire
Over the past two weeks we introduced a series of movement drills with Buffalo Sabres puck-stopping prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and their goaltending development coach, Seamus Kotyk, inspired by the late Warren Strelow, a legend in the goalie coach fraternity.
This week, we bring you another drill Strelow and his successor with San Jose Sharks, Wayne Thomas, used to use whenever their goalies started drifting into – and after making – saves.
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