There’s something magical about Christmas time for goalies. Right up to the biggest NHL stars, it’s hard to find a goalie who doesn’t have a fond memory of finding a special piece of equipment under the tree. Whether it was a new stick, a custom mask or full set of pads and gloves, for some that special present either inspired or cemented a love for the position. For others it sometimes signified a step up to getting more serious about it, but every goalie has a story.
InGoal Magazine looks forward to sharing a collection of those stories from NHL goalies every Christmas, but for now we want to help make this year a memorable one by sharing some of our favorite items from the past year sure to brighten the big day for the goalie in your life.
For those of you organized enough to already have your goalie’s stockings stuffed, there are also some great savings listed below just in case you want to stuff your own equipment bag instead, because let’s face it, if there was ever a year for Christmas self-care, this is it.
So, in no particular order, here are items that every goalie might enjoy:
GIFT OF GOALTENDING
Two years ago we played modest and put ourselves at the bottom of the list as “last but certainly not least” but we’re going a bit bolder this time because seriously, we think a gift subscription to InGoal Premium is the perfect gift for all goalies, and because we deliver digitally, you can buy right up to the last minute.
Seriously, though, what could be better than a full year of access to tips, drills and advice from top NHL goaltenders and goalie coaches? How about three full years for the price of one?
That’s right, buy a one-year gift subscription to InGoal Premium and you not only get access for the upcoming year, but you also get access to our entire archive of two years of premium content, featuring more than 100 Pro-Reads with NHL goalies doing video review sessions to help young goalies learn to read the game better, plus more than 100 other Pro Tips and Pro Drills from top goalies and coaches like Carey Price, Carter Hart, Connor Hellebuyck, Ian Clark, Bob Essensa, Robb Tallas and many more.
You can order a gift subscription to start anytime, including Christmas morning, and we have gift certificates that can be downloaded with images of their favorite goalie to make sure you have something to put in their stocking or under the tree with this gift.
And if you love listening to our feature interviews on the InGoal Radio Podcast you can now subscribe to our premium podcast channel to listen to archived interviews on their own. There are more than 200 there already with news interviews added each week. You can even gift a gift subscription to our premium podcast channel. With the ads and chit chat from each week’s show removed, you can focus on the main feature of each show as you binge listen to the best goalies and coaches in the world talk about — and share advice on playing — this great position.
Order your gift subscriptions now:
NEW GOALIE GEAR (AND ACCESSORIES)
FROM THE HOCKEY SHOP
Nothing is better under the tree than new equipment.
Whether it’s a big-ticket item like pads and gloves, a hard-to-wrap (and harder-to-hide) stick, or smaller accessories to stuff the stocking, who better to turn to for great ideas — and even better savings — than our weekly InGoal Radio Podcast equipment expert Cam Matwiv from The Hockey Shop, who recently shared his top goalie gifts for 2022:
NEW REALITY FOR GOALIE TRAINING
If you’ve been listening to the InGoal Radio Podcast, you’ve heard a lot of our guests sing the praises of Sense Arena, the new virtual reality goalie training tool that has quickly been adopted all the way up to the NHL.
In keeping with the spirit of Christmas, Sense Arena re-opened their Black Friday special to ensure anyone who missed out at the time can still get the world’s best off-ice goalie training tool under the tree, including a FREE Meta Quest 2 headset, and save over $500!
This offer is regularly valued at almost $1,500 and includes:
– Family Annual subscription for Sense Arena for Hockey – 4 user accounts (actual price $828)
– Non-Haptic Stick Mount for Players ($49) or Sleeves for Goalies ($99)
– FREE Meta Quest 2 ($399 USD/ $499 CAD)
If you use the code IGM50 at checkout, you get it all for USA $849 USD/ CANADA $949 CAD + shipping and taxes. Just head to their store to get your order in today.
For more on Sense Arena, check out our review or listen to Eric Comrie in our webinar where he talked about how he uses Sense Arena.
GIFT OF MENTAL STRENGTH
InGoal Members are already familiar with Pete Fry, the Goalie Mindset Guy, who works with goaltenders from minor hockey right up to pro.
Many of those goalies, including former NHLer and current AHL goalie coach Jeff Glass, have attended Fry’s summer seminars, including one in Vancouver that InGoal co-hosted. Now anyone can access those same invaluable tips by downloading the entire one-day seminar, which features countless tips to help goalies manage their mindset and game:
NUTRITION AND TRAINING OPTIONS FROM INGOAL’S EXPERT
Jamie Phillip’s nutrition columns and recipes have been a popular addition for InGoal Premium Members over the past year, but did you know you can also work privately with the former pro and current NCAA (Michigan Tech) goalie coach? Whether it’s one-on-one nutrition coaching including an app for your phone with meal tracking, or off-ice training options for aspiring pros and even beer leaguers, Jamie has options for the goalie in your life at Phillips Sports Performance.
WIDER BUTTERFLY FLARE
Seriously, what goalie doesn’t want a wider butterfly? Our good friend Maria Mountain actually has a Butterfly Challenge 3.0 App to help you add two to four inches to your butterfly flare – and it’s free!
Maria has other paid programs, which are both limited admission and not currently open (but you can get on the waitlist), as well as her three-level Strategic Mobility Program that you can purchase, download and access instantly.
We’d argue (based on personal experience using it) the mobility program makes an ideal last-minute gift but Maria, who has an international client list of high-end and professional goalies, will be the first to tell you to start with the latest iteration of her free 14-day butterfly challenge. You can’t go wrong with either.
INSPIRING READS FOR ALL AGES
Longtime friend of InGoal, former NHL Goalie Coach and Director of Goaltending and now goalie coach at Boston University, Brian Daccord, has released How to Be A Goalie Parent, a book that is perfect of goalie parents
but also for anyone who just wants to learn more about the position. Daccord is back with a second book this year called How to be a Goalie: A Guide for Goalies of All Levels, and it too is the perfect holiday season read for anyone involved in the position.
Daccord isn’t the only InGoal Magazine and podcast regular with a new book that would double as the perfect Christmas gift.
Corey Hirsch shares some deeply personal and important lessons on mental health in his new book, The Save of My Life: My Journey Out of the Dark, a riveting look behind the mask of an NHL goalie that offers understanding and hope to anyone living with mental illness.
Another InGoal friend and former NHL goalie coach Eli Wilson can be found here in many places from our webinar with Carey Price to teaching tips and more. If you want to learn even more a great place to start is his book, “Hockey Goaltending,” which has something for goaltenders of all ages and abilities.
Shannon Szabados and Sami Jo Small have inspired goalies of all ages with their careers on Canada’s National Team, and continue to do so with their new books.
Szabados joined the InGoal Radio Podcast to talk about her incredible career, life as a new mom, and “Every Bunny Loves to Play,” the children’s book she wrote, illustrated and published. It’s gotten great reviews from parents and former teammates as a fun and easy read with universal underlying messages about adversity, persistence and encouragement for kids.
Small also joined us on the podcast to talk about her book, “The Role I Played,” a memoir about her career that is loaded with great stories and important messages about the ups and downs of elite athletics, that can both inspire and help goalies of all ages.
And with so many of us stuck at home wanting to work on our fitness, you might consider Devan McConnell’s, “Intent: A Practical Approach to Applied Sport Science for Athletic Development.” While the book is not goalie-specific we’re sure you’ll learn a tonne you can apply from the newly appointed High Performance Director for the Arizona Coyotes, who shared this video series on an NHL off-ice warm up for goaltenders when he was working with the New Jersey Devils.
VINTAGE GOALIE
Whether you’re an old-school stopper or a modern technician, every goalie will appreciate the stylish offering from our friend Matt at Vintage Goalie. From hats to hoodies to t-shirts to stickers, including his famous two-pad stack union original, there are options for goalies of every vintage, but if the goalie on your list is old enough to have worn brown-leather pads, there’s not a bad option in their inventory.
CUSTOM MASKS FOR LESS
Getting a custom-painted goalie mask is on the Christmas wish list of a lot of goalies every year, but that takes time to organize and the reality is not everyone needs or can afford high-end custom paint. The good news is there are reasonably priced alternatives.
Custom Cages is a Vancouver-based company that has quietly built up a strong reputation for delivering great custom goalie mask designs for less. You can choose from their assortment of stock vinyl decal kits for as low as $35, or create your own custom look by adding a team logo or other graphics to a range of template base options for just $65.
Check out their website for the full range of stock designs, which include 119 different options, or get to work designing your own, like this one for Canucks goalie coach Ian Clark:
ART OF GOALTENDING
The most stylish position in sports doesn’t have to be limited to what we wear thanks to artists who produce compelling prints featuring goaltenders of the past, present, and maybe even the goalie on your current Christmas gift list. Bone Jack Designs not only offers a variety of goalie-focused art and products online, but he also does commission pieces on request, and while it may be too late for this year, consider this a head start on future goalie gifts.
Sebastien Chabauty is another popular artist with a passion for puck-stopping themes, and his work includes some autographed pieces from goaltending greats like Martin Brodeur.
While British Columbia based artist Jerry Markham is both an incredible wildlife artist and a passionate painter of vintage NHL goaltenders. From wall art to yes, even phone cases, we suggest you give him a visit.
YOUTH LESSONS FROM A LEGEND
Stephane Waite has already won the Stanley Cup twice as the goaltending coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, worked with goalies for over 35 years, and earned the praise of — and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey with —Montreal Canadiens No. 1 Carey Price.
It should go without saying, then, that most goalies would jump at the chance to work with Waite. Thanks to his six-part video instruction, they can. Designed specifically for goalies between the ages of 6 to 13, this 6-part video is a great tool for young goalies, parents and even goalie coaches. And best of all, it’s available in an instant download at a reasonable price, making it easy to put a world-class NHL goalie coach under the tree on short notice.
The videos, which feature almost 80 minutes of instruction, are available to download for just $21 for the entire set with the links below BUT InGoal Premium members will get an additional 20 percent discount (use the links here – Premium Members are automatically shown the discounted link):
BETTER HANDS FOR LESS
If Sense Arena VR training is a little too high end, we’ve got a less expensive training tool to help the goalie on your Christmas list improve their glove work. The SKLZ Lightning Bolt Pro is a baseball pitching machine that first came to our attention while talking with Jake Allen of the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL pause earlier this summer. It weighs 2.5 pounds, shoots foam “baseballs” that are closer in size to a golf ball at speeds that can equate up to 100 miles an hour, with some unpredictability, from ground level, rising like a puck. It’s quickly become a favorite among parents and goalies right up to the pro level, including Boston Bruins prospect Jeremy Swayman, because of its portability and a relatively reasonable price point.
You can read our review of the SKLZ Lightning Bolt Pro, or just buy it here:
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