InGoal Radio Episode 263 with Alex Cavalinni

Intro

From island to island in Canada, that's what we're doing today. David Hutchison, Daren Millard, and in between slightly favoring Hutch is Kevin Woodley. It's InGoal Radio Podcast, PEI Vancouver Island. How are you, Hutch?

I'm fantastic. It's a beautiful day on the West Coast on the island, and it looks like it's a beautiful day on

the East Coast. We got some fog. We're just on the Northumberland Strait. You know what I realized this week? I discovered that a great white shark just right behind my cottage last summer on those shark tracking epis

Oh, yeah. Apps.

Discovered that. I'm not very comfortable with that.

Woody will not be swimming by you.

Woody Woody is my my therapist when it comes to sharks.

It's okay. Just make sure you're in a cage. Oh, say, can you surf there? This is a there's no surfing up there.

You can on the North side of the island, on the Atlantic Side, more during the winter when when the waves get up. But but not you shouldn't even boogie board. You can do anything on the waves on the on the straight side where the bridge goes across. Okay. Okay.

I think I have seen some, like, East Coast maritime surfing, but, like, I'm thinking that in the winter, she might be a bit chilly.

Yeah. It it they they do all those great dry suits and, they're out there, but the waves are good. And, I actually have a a pamphlet from, some winter surfing, beaches on PEI that I will not bore you with right now. It's InGoal Radio Podcast, brought to you by the Hockey Shop Source for Sports Langley, the hockeyshop.com. We have some great stuff, coming your way.

The NHL Sense Arena feature interview is Alex Cavallini from the USA Women's National Team, two time Olympian, multiple world championship participant. The Stop It Goaltending U app parent segment We'll go back to Bill Ranford, and the Hockey Shop Gear Segment deals with the Bauer Connect two skate along with Pete Fry's summer tour that's underway.

There is a lot. Like, people, like, on my radio hits each week, they're like, oh, everybody's going on vacation. It's downtime. And I'm like, things are just heating up in the goalie world. Maybe this is why goalies got ahead of everybody else because we're just getting going.

Pete Fry has already hit Ottawa. He's already hit Toronto. His goalie mindset power live will be in Calgary on July 13 and then wraps up here in Vancouver on July 20. And, of course, for our listeners, we have a virtual. You can attend it virtually.

Don't have to be in person. The downside is if you're there in person, you get on the ice with him and you run through all the mindset and faith pre face off routines and all the different elements that go into the building, a consistent hype level, a consistent focus, making sure that you're ready to go on every drop of the puck, which will make you a more consistent goaltender. So they go through it in the classroom. So even if you can't join us, you'll learn all those key elements from Pete Fry. And if you are able to join us in person in Vancouver, there are still a few seats available.

You'll get to go on the ice and run through it all. Last summer, we had Dylan Ferguson leading us through it. So he's in the KHL now, but, like, those are the clients that Pete Fry works with right up to the National Hockey League. And oftentimes, they stop by to join and take part in these goalie mindset power live seminars.

There's a little for everyone in those seminars, and you may not utilize it all, but one or two just pillars are unbelievable to your goaltending, foundation.

Yeah. And I think it's worth pointing out that we've had young goaltenders, and I'm talking sort of eight, nine years old at, Pete's seminars. We've had a number of beer leaguers join in as well. And one thing Pete does, moms and dads, if you, sign up your son or daughter as a student at one of the live seminars, and if there's if there's a space in the room, Pete will welcome you in as well to be part of it. You don't need to go buy a separate, one for yourself.

Great chance for you to learn what he's doing with your children, how you can support them, and so on. So fantastic deal. And everybody at the live seminars gets a free year of InGoal Magazine.

That's a gift that keeps on giving. So you attend a seminar. You can tag along. You can be informed as long as you're a young goaltender. You don't have to go sit in the bad coffee shop downstairs.

I shouldn't say that. Probably has good coffee, but you can actually be involved. And you get to have the InGoal subscription. That's amazing.

And you can sit down and learn from your from InGoal and learn along with your kids all year long, which we think is a great way to go as parents.

I was gonna say, like, the gift that keeps on giving has been giving a lot of late. Over at InGoal Magazine, we've had a ton of content over the past couple of weeks. In addition to continuing our ProReads every week every week, there's a great one with Alex Lyon of the Detroit Red Wings that's up. We had Bill Ranford of Los Angeles Kings sharing his left shoulder dominant back of net system with us in an on ice demonstration fifteen minute video there. An hour long q and a from Tendy Fest six with The Hockey Shop and Bill Ranford, where he was answering all kinds of questions he mentioned will tie into the parent segment this week.

Connor Hellebuyck wins his second Vezina Trophy. We've got a list of all the articles that we have over the years with Connor, including ProReads, but also including some great off ice training, with Adam Francillia, the trainer who has worked with Hellebuyck since before the first Vezina trophy and now has more than a dozen NHL working with him, including Stuart Skinner, including Thatcher Demko. So he's got a video series on that'll sort of help you with train the muscles to avoid counter rotation. That's teased in the Connor Hellebuyck article. We have the Bobrovsky ballet, his Finnish trainer weighing in on the warm up that we captured on video earlier this year.

All the edge work he does, all the crease work he does, some of the keys to it, and you can watch more than ten minutes of video. And then last but certainly not least, a pro gear. With the launch of the CCM XF Pro stick now public, we can share some of the stick taping sessions we had last summer. What and we started with Devon Levi and a pretty cool way of taping your knob. I'd never seen it before.

According to our audience, many of you have, but a lot of people, this was new, and it's got over 2,000,000 views on our social media channel since we launched a teaser of Devon Levi taping his stick. So there is a ton a ton of content up at InGoal Magazine over the last couple of weeks, and it's gonna keep coming.

I had never seen that, approached by Levi.

I have this vague memory of learning it before, but one person who had seen it before was Eddie Lack, who mentioned on social that, he had watched the video and he had actually learned that technique from his goalie partner in Vancouver, Roberto Luongo.

So I'm I'm a little disappointed that Roberto never showed us. Although back then, when Lou was here, we had just started and we weren't doing this kind of stuff, or I'm sure he would have been one of the first to say, oh, yeah. This is how I do it. So I thought it was it's been it's amazing. You never know what content's gonna take off.

You spend all this time curating content, lessons and tips and all these things. And Devon Levi shows what for a lot of people is a new way to take this take. And like I said, like almost 900,000 on Instagram views over 1,200,000 views on TikTok already. Like we are well over 2,000,000 views on just those two formats. So yeah, Devon Levi, you've gone viral.

Good job with the stick taping.

So simple and it just looks cool. I I can't wait to do it, to to try that out.

I'm doing it tonight. I got my first skate in three months and I'm definitely taping the stick that way.

Okay. So let's get into your approach. Haven't skated in a while. What's what's your mindset? What are your expectations going into what is a high level scrimmage or or pickup skate?

It is survive. Make sure the hips are open. I'll use James Wendland's five damn things on my hips, which I also did when I was in Honolulu for surfing and it made a huge difference. I will definitely use James Wendland's techniques to sort of get my body ready to play. I will probably, this afternoon, throw on a little Sense Arena because I haven't seen a puck in three months, and I'm a little behind on the Sense Arena work just to sort of at least get that sensation and sort of get my head on pucks and try and track.

And then I'm just gonna make sure that, I go out and have fun. I'm gonna stay deep and make it so that my life is simple and my paths are short to pucks. And I'm gonna try and be patient and have a lot of fun and try not to get killed.

Those are great skates because you never see a shot outside of 10 feet. You you don't have to worry about anything from distance in in those kind of twirls.

I I kinda hope that I see a few from outside of 10 feet because it's gonna be a lot of close the eyes and hoping. I'm gonna be if they're all inside 10 feet, Daren, I'm gonna be playing a a little bit of goal and a whole lot of hit me.

That just breakaways and two on ones and and everybody's working to get a good good shot selection.

Great song

and fun stuff. I know it. Yeah. I know it. It'll be awesome.

Gear

Let's get over to our Gear Segment brought to you by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports Langley, TheHockeyShop.com. And this is a highly anticipated, review and look at the Bauer Konekt skate, the Konekt 2, the ski boot skate.

The ski boot now in all black. And we've seen this. Andrei Vasilevskiy, I believe, was one of the first to wear it. And so it's it's now live. It's at retail.

And Cam's gonna fill us in on all the details. I wanna plug this one element, though, right away upfront. Available in intermediate sizes. It was definitely one of the questions as the original connect became more and more popular and got more and more accepted and we saw more and more NHL's wear it. And we started to hear all the feedback about sort of less less pain, less tension, less aches in the ankles, the knees, and the hips from these NHL's.

More people wanted to be in it, but it was only available in senior sizing. So, that's one of the highlights of the new Konekt 2 is they brought it down to intermediate sizing. For the rest of the details, let's go to

the expert over at the Hockey Shop. Here's Cam. Welcome back to The Hockey Shop Source for Sports where Cam can't stop playing with buckles or annoying the living. Cam, you know that oh, they're not sharpened.

No. They're not. I could've. But it's the new Konekt 2 and it's all black.

You cut me off. I was about to say they're not sharpened but boy are they sharp.

It's a good looking skate. Yeah. We are back with some fancy

lace Streamlined. Yes. Considerably streamlined from the original.

And fancy look. I mean, we you've sitting there doing this because it just looks so

Well, I was. You've been playing with the buckles because you're like a golden retriever. Squirrel?

Yeah. We'll go with that.

Okay. So what's new? What's changed on the Konekt 2?

Well, let's start with what I was playing with. The buckles? Yes. They've So changed around a little bit. Since Konekt one, one of the, I would guess you'd call it minor issues that came up was every now and then, that bottom buckle would catch and flip up mid play.

So with these guys here, it actually snaps down. You have to push that little push button. It even says push on it. You look really closely.

Who is it?

And the unlocks. Hold on, Cam.

I kept bifocal contacts. I'm an old man.

He has to work on that eyesight. Has to work on that eyesight. That's okay. It

does say push.

Look at that. Yeah. Look at that.

Wow. Even us old guys can read that.

So while we had it upside down too, we saw that they're now using their Pulse TI steel on the skate as well. Before, it was just a stainless steel that they had for the Konekt. Now it's their Pulse TI stuff so that's their

Pulse TI goalie it says, Cam. See, can read that.

Yes. Yes. Because there is a Pulse TI player So as that's their titanium coated steel.

So it's like, I mean, it's your highest price point skate for Bauer. So it makes sense you've got your highest price point steel included. That's an upgrade. Correct. Okay.

So buckle breakage was an issue.

Yes. So what it was is those buckles on the bottom, they weren't stamped properly. They've changed the way that they actually mount this buckle. Again, you know, hey, heaven forbid something does happen. These are replaceable and very easy to take in and out.

But so far so good. Much better, durability than we've seen in the past.

Okay. I mean, it it feels sleeker, more Lighter? Lighter. How much lighter?

So when we're talking about a size eight skate, we're coming in at nine hundred grams. For reference point, a Bauer Pro Skate is 825 in a size eight.

How much this so this is lighter than the original? This is lighter than Which makes sense. Again, it was it was a bit of a we called it a ski boot because that's what it's designed after and it it was bulky. This one actually looks more like a goalie skate but with still the ski boot features.

I mean, I think we're just used to that as a goalie skate now. Think that's more so what it is.

What else has changed?

Okay. So now let's talk about the fitment. We've been able to or Bauer has been able to kinda create a bit of a wider fit protocol with this skate. So we have a couple more tools in the bank now that we can actually, you know, for those wider feet that first tried on the Konekt One, it has a little bit of a problem with the overall fit for sure. It just was too tight on the sides and whatnot now.

We saw Conor InGram actually remove the buckle over the top of

the To kind create again, was there were certain things you couldn't like do to try and get there for sure. But with this now, I had a couple of tools in the box. Now again, it's still it's a fit for most, not all. 100%. There's still gonna be, you know, some folk out there that just won't fit the skate.

Your feet are too fat.

Well, you know, it could be that.

He won't say it, I will.

No. It could be a I want to miss too as well. Like, for example, like, with my own personal problems with skates. So, you know, again

Cam has hoofs.

There we go. We'll call it that. That said, you're still bringing that same, grille mid liner, super thermo moldable along with their ultra long actual liners for their skate themselves. Again, all of this translate into ability to get almost that custom fit from molding to your foot all in store.

So you still go through the same process? You got to wear gloves, heat it up?

Then you'll get piping hot. That's a problem for me but

Okay. So it really is a custom molded fit. Is there anything different in the liner? Has it changed at all?

No. But but but but we have some fancy new colors and whatnot that we'd love to show off to you. Let's see if we can get some of those to just appear out of nowhere. Oh my goodness. We have a red liner.

We have a green liner. We have a silver liner that he dropped. Silver liner, silver liner. There we go.

I would have got it. I I second time around.

There's even a sport gold liner. It's just not here yet. Yeah. So if you want to go bold, why not? You can change those liners out easily. Some guys even run two, you know, have a break between your periods, swap it out, you got a fresh skate.

That we saw that increasingly in the National Hockey League. There is one last call out on this.

Go for

Will you tell me what it's called?

Oh, the flex inhibitor.

The flex inhibitor. So that's

just a little hole that's in behind. We can show that one off afterwards. You can't see it here, but on the inside, we mount a little bit of a a helmet screw and then the backing, and that will stop the flex at about five, ten degrees, I think it is. So

we've talked about the hinge profile on this, the original Konekt. I feel like we we almost assume that a lot of people know what the original Konekt was about but that sort of the ability to have like a built in hinge to give you forward flex. Some goalies Two degrees of pitch. At the National Hockey League level, like there's already a degree of flex in this just courtesy of having a boot and a liner separated and they felt like that extra forward flex was too much. Increasingly at the National Hockey League level, what they did was they pinned it in the back with a screw, so now they've just basically called that out and let people know because not everybody wants the full 22 degrees of forward But you can get a lot of the benefits that we heard from ton of goalies, like ton of goalies at the National Hockey League level whether it's Semyon Varlamov, Devin Cooley talking about knee, ankle, and hip pain dissipating when they switched over to this game.

Remember folks, this is our NHL connection to every single change room in the NHL.

Oh, bite me Cam. But so so there was so that's sorta not all of them had the full forward flex. I just felt that the nature of the boot itself decreased some of the that locked in feel that was causing tension in the rest of it. So that's a big call out. And lastly, but certainly not least

The intermediate sizing?

It's no longer just for adults. They've got intermediate sizing. Was Yeah.

In a size four.

This was a big request after the original Konekt launch. Now the younger goalies with smaller feet can get into it as well.

So size four to six. Keep in mind, remember no half sizing with these boots. It's always in full sizing And again, that's because due to the way the sizing process is and how we mold the skate and whatnot, I can definitely accommodate for that extra half size.

So Bauer Konekt 2.

Yeah. If you have any questions, give us a call here at (604) 589-8299 or 1-800-567-7790

or check us out at thehockeyshop.com.

Can I email you, Cam?

Can email the shop.

I thought we're gonna get his private email. I thought you people were special, but evidently Cam doesn't think so.

Oh, every single one of you that watches this video is special to me.

The all black skate with the K 2 goes right down to the part that touches the ice touch.

I know. It's like blacked out from the top of the line steel in there now, that Pulse TI steel has sort of got that black sheen on the outside, the black holder, the black skate. It's the look I love you when you see it on a vehicle on the road. Just love those blacked out cars. So now we got blacked out boots.

I think it just looks fantastic. But I also kind of think it's cool that you've got those new liners you can put into if you want that little touch of color on the side as well. So four different colors you can add if you want your own little touch. Love that skate. I think it's beautiful.

It's you could have home and away. You could have like you could go blacked out or silver for you you could mix and match here because we talked Cam talked about that. Right? Like, a lot of different a lot of goalies at the highest level will have multiple sets of liners just so they can slip in a dry one. Right?

So it's like we see goalies dry their gloves in between periods if you wanted to, especially because the Konekt is so easy to pop in and out of. And because you don't have to worry about the tension being different every time like you do when you're tying your skate laces. Oh, I gotta get it just right. You know, you have your buckle settings. You click it in.

It's the same every time. It's really easy to swap out a dry liner. Whether you're a young kid who's at a tournament for the weekend and you know how it is, you don't have time to dry your equipment between games. That's that's one reason to buy a second liner in the National Hockey League. We've got guys that have multiple sets of liners even between, you know, within a game.

So, there's lots to like about this game. Cam's gonna kill me for sharing this, but that black holder that is, you know, love it or leave it. Some people love the look of black down. I think Daren's more of a white holder guy, but that black holder on the Bauer Konekt two is available separately if you wanted to create your own all black lookout without buying the complete skate. I apologize.

Sorry, man. I'm not sure you wanna. You have I'm not sure you wanted to be changing over a whole bunch of people to black holders, but you can buy that separately now.

Now can you put a white holder on the K2?

You could. Guess you probably could.

Yeah. But, I mean, they're on there with rivets. So just like it, you know, like, I was gonna say any skate, any skate except the true one piece, you absolutely could swap that out. And I gotta say the one thing I will say is we've got a whole bunch of new reviews coming from the Hockey Shop. Me and Hutch spent a bunch of time there last week.

The Konekt 2, which is launched, you can go in, you can try it, you can check it out online, you can buy it right now, have been able to for a couple of weeks, was just one of many new pieces of equipment that's come in since we last checked in with Cam. We're gonna have the new CCM AXIS XF stick. We talked about Devon Levi taping it. That's out. Very popular.

Stuart Skinner, Thatcher Demko raving to me about how much they like that stick. That's available. CCM AXIS XF pants we went through. One of the more comfortable and out of the box ready to play pants that I've had on in a while. We've got other new products.

Second price points from True, from Bauer, from CCM. We're gonna do a full overview of the AXIS XF line. There's a ton of stuff coming, and there's a ton of stuff right now at The Hockey Shop and the hockeyshop.com. So make sure you check them out whether it's in person out in Langley at their new 30,000 square foot space or online at the hockeyshop.com.

If the Langley operation is 30,000 square feet, how many squarefeetis.com?

Oh, infinite. It's infinite. Although Infinite. Yeah. Because it well, actually, it's more because they've grown so much that I believe there is a secondary storage space they have for

Oh, an off-site storage space?

Where they have to bring stuff in and rotate it through even though they've expanded so much and they have so much floor space. If you've ever seen the sorta, you know, how the sausage is made behind the scenes, it's not chaotic. It's just busy. It's very well organized, but they are just constantly grabbing items, packaging them, and shipping them on an endless basis. Between that and the team sales, which I don't think we ever talk about here, but, like, associations, beer league, my beer league team sweaters are from there, custom jerseys, custom bat like, they do everything in that space.

I think I wanna be the warehouse manager for the Hockey Shop.

I think you'd be really tired by the end of the day, Daren. It's it's

I feel like it's a big job.

Seriously, it's impressive to I mean, not not just the warehouse, but but even when we're doing these film sessions, you'll see people come out of the back room on an almost steady basis with order sheets in their hands, pulling gear right off the shelves, not just out of the warehouse. And I can I'm always just imagining if I've seen that many people come to grab gear for online orders while we're filming there, how much is happening in the backroom, how much is happening all day long. The.com is a lot of square feet, Daren.

Daren Daren just wants to play with the gear. I don't know that, like, he wants to be the manager. That's exactly right. He just wants to pull it out of the boxes and play with it. Unlike me though, Daren, if you were the actual warehouse manager, you'd have to put it back.

I've got Cam to follow me around and put it back on the shelves. You wouldn't have that.

I wouldn't be very productive, but I get a couple of buddies over there and taking shots in the big warehouse would be be amazing.

I got I got another email this week from a long time InGoal reader, John Coleman, who is coming up from Connecticut to British Columbia and he's gonna be making a pilgrimage to the Hockey Shop to see Cam and just check out all that gear. So we've had, friends from Australia come up and we've now got friends from, the East Coast Of The United States. It's, it's a destination in Vancouver. Should probably have Cam on the front of all the Vancouver tourist brochures now.

Yes. I agree. And then we could do a skit with Woody drawing a mustache on him.

Yeah. Because I don't think because because we saw during November that he can't grow one, so I definitely gotta draw it.

Ouch.

Our NHL Sense Arena feature interview coming up with Alex Cavallini. But right now, the Stop It Goaltending U app parent segment, is going to go back to Bill. The TendyFest q and a with Bill Ranford. But first, a message from Stop It Goaltending U, the app.

Well, the first message is when you buy Stop It Goaltending U, the app, you get an automatic subscription to InGoal Magazine. So the best of both worlds. You get everything we bring you at InGoal combined with the world's most comprehensive app for goalies, goalie parents, and goalie coaches. And I've walked you through how there's daily content that comes up, small format, nice and easy, small digestible chunks. You can just filter through it.

One minute primers Monday through Friday, just real quick videos. Or you can do the deep dive on the every week, they have a new twenty minute full video. But you can also go back through the archives. Like, every month, they launch a goalie playbook, and this walks you through some of the specifics of how certain goalies at various levels play certain situations. So for example, from Aerin Frankel to Anthony Stolarz, now with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Alex Lyon, who we just had on the podcast, Jeremy Swayman, they've all been profiled in the goalie playbook.

And so you click on it, and then they break through different elements. There's one on how Jeremy Swayman approaches breakaway. So if you wanna get a glimpse at how the best in the business approach their game, there's nothing better than a subscription to Stop It Goaltending U app, which comes with a subscription to InGoal Magazine, InGoal Magazine, because nowhere can you get those types of breakdowns. They walk through their game. And then in a lot of cases, we've already had them on ProReads, so they explain it in first person.

So what a great tool for sort of getting to study the position through the eyes of how others approach it. Stop It Goaltending U the app and now bringing you a free subscription to InGoal Magazine and InGoal Magazine at the same time. Combine those two things. Spend a couple minutes a day. Go down the rabbit hole and spend an hour a day.

Either way, you're gonna be a better goaltender for it no matter what level you play at.

I'm just not sure there's enough time in the world for a combination of surfing over at InGoal Magazine as InGoal Magazine or at Stop It Goaltending U, the app. Like, there's that's a lot of information there.

Well, that's what I like about you can pick and choose. Like, you know, just spend a week going through the one minute primers or dig into some of the longer format stuff. Whether you wanna just grab little tidbits or you wanna go all in, we've got we got a couple minutes for you or we got a couple hours or we got a couple days.

Parent Playbook

Hutch, jumping off the Bill Ranford q and a at Tendy Fest.

Yeah. Bill brought us a a little tip last week, when we were talking about goalies who are maybe frustrated with teammates. It was a specific question from the Q and A about, what do I do when my teammate scores on me? I loved Bill had so many good tips for parents as part of that full hour Q and A that InGoal members can watch over at InGoal Magazine. He had so many good tips that I thought we'd we'd go to the well again and pull another one out this week.

And this week I would like to talk about being a goalie parent and dealing with negative talk about your child. One parent at the Q and A was asking specifically about this situation, what do I do? And as as goalie parents, we know that, you know, that could be out and out chirping of a goaltender sadly on the ice, even in minor hockey from the stands. Sometimes it's that quiet chitter chatter that happens in the stands that you as a parent know is happening, about your child and that could be uncomfortable. I I can't say that in minor hockey we had to endure this too much with our kid, but we certainly saw it happen.

And, and now that he's playing it at a higher level, he sure gets it from the crowd a lot. But maybe we can save that for another segment when we talk about supporting our kid dealing with, the chirps that are coming from the stands. But first, before I get into my little bit guys, let's just listen to what Bill had to say. So here here's a funny story. My only all star game I played at was with Chicago and Ed Belfour was supposed was was the big superstar there at the time and I got voted in ahead of him and was my wife and I were walking on the bus and there's some reporter behind us kind of chirping a little bit and stuff and she accidentally stepped back on his foot with her high heels.

So here here's a funny story. My only all star game I played at was with Chicago and Ed Belfour was supposed was was the big superstar there at the time and I got voted in ahead of him and was my wife and I were walking on the bus and there's some reporter behind us kind of chirping a little bit and stuff and she accidentally stepped back on his foot with her high heels.

That was her way of dealing with it. But I think the goalie parent is probably one of the toughest because everybody hears it, Goal gets scored. Oh, everybody's groaning. Just sit in your own area. Find a nice quiet spot, cheer your son on, don't listen to the noise.

I think that's the best way because you're going to hear it. It's the toughest thing. Parents ask me that all the time. I said, just try and find a quiet spot because it's going to happen. It's amazing to me to think that a parent or in this case, a spouse would have to deal with this even at the National Hockey League level.

It's amazing to me to think that a parent or in this case, a spouse would have to deal with this even at the National Hockey League level.

But then when you think about it, guys, it kind of makes sense because when you hop on social media, you listen to talk radio, even a broadcast of a game, we live in an environment where people really like to pick these young athletes apart. And many of them really are are so young. I mean, you could play in the National Hockey League at 18 and have somebody picking your game apart. As much as somebody might say, well, he's getting well paid. He should put up with it.

It's hard for for any person to deal with it at any age. And I find as my son gets closer in age to to these kids that are playing pro now, I find it increasingly uncomfortable, watching things like the draft to see how we're picking these young men apart. And I find that that attitude filters down to minor hockey, sadly, even if it's not intentional as people start picking kids apart. So first off, I wanted to give Woody some credit here today, guys, because from day one of InGoal, he has wanted everything we do to be positive. So he writes articles to talk about goalies and coaches and what it is that they do well.

He's not talking about what they're not doing well. He specifically created ProReads in response to all the negativity on the Internet. He wanted goalies to be able to sit down and talk about what they were doing well so we can learn in a positive light. And as you know, I'm always talking about catching kids being good and how much that will help. So to all parents, goalies, others out there, I do want to say, please be better.

As we know, we need more kids playing goal and more parents to be okay with their kids playing goal. But more importantly, we're talking about kids. And out and out chirping might be rarer, but even that chatter in the crowd, it's not right. And in my mind, if you wouldn't say it to somebody's face, you shouldn't say it at all. Let's also be honest that it happens to players too.

I know it's magnified a little bit as a goalie parent when you hear some of that chatter, but but players deal with it too. You you hear in the stands people wondering why such and such a forward is on the ice so much. We hear people talking about why is that defenseman out there on the penalty kill? Even when ice time should be equal a minor hockey. And so players are dealing with people questioning things all the time just as we are as goalies.

So I I just don't want people walking away from this thinking that if you're a goalie parent, you deal with things that others don't because it's just difficult being a sport parent in general. And maybe it's magnified a bit for goalies, but it's it's difficult for athletes in all sports and parents in all sports. So what's my advice to goalie parents about this issue? I think in general, Bill has it right. It's probably why you can walk into any rink anytime and you see those people standing in the corner at ice level.

And I'm always pretty safe walking up saying, oh, would you happen to be the goalie parent? It's a nice way for us to find each other in that little corner club there, as we're away from the other fans doing our best to support our kid as well. And whether it's in the corner with your kid or somewhere else, you want to be there for your child. Maybe in another session, I can talk about why it is that I moved away from standing in the corner, but that but that's a bit of a different issue. But let's not be part of the problem.

One thing I would like to ask everybody is that when other parents talk to you about your child and maybe it's couched in a positive way, hey, your little Johnny should be the one playing today or anything else that comes across as complimenting your child, but it's kind of veiled criticism of their goalie partner. Don't participate or feed in that at all. It it feels good because you want your kid to be seen in a positive light, but but we can't be out there helping other people criticize other goalies if we don't want them doing that to our child as well. We gotta help that environment be better for everybody, including the players. So let's not be part of that chitter chatter about forwards and defensemen out there as well, even if we feel like having an excuse to, to blame somebody else for how our child's game is going.

So as Bill suggested, maybe it's best just to walk away and be on your own so that you don't have to deal with some of that chatter. But where you can, everybody, please, let's do our best to make sport a better place for everybody. Let's support each other. Let's make the environment better for all kids and all families because we know the whole point is we want them out there having fun, enjoying our great game.

Oh, man. I thought we're gonna talk about throwing hands. Well

And stick to Woody right away.

It's it's pretty great. It's pretty tempting, but I don't wanna be on one of those viral Instagram videos throwing hands in the crowd, Woody.

Plus, I'm super soft so I get my ass kicked.

It's tempting.

Well, if they're coming up to you and giving you the compliment by tearing somebody else down, you know that if your kid has a rough game, they're gonna do the exact same thing to somebody else. So Yeah. Don't buy into it.

Yeah. It's great advice, Hutch.

And don't be that person either. The other part is I I do believe that it happens to players, skaters, more than goaltenders. It's it's magnified with goaltenders, but because there's more defensemen and skaters out there, that chatter tends to happen a lot more. So you're right not to just focus it on the the person in the crease.

Yeah. It's it's definitely look, it's tough as a goalie parent because you see the puck go in the net and and you feel bad and you assume everybody's pointing at your child. But, yeah, as you say, it happens to all kids and I think even more now, as we've said before, as things are magnified on broadcast because there's a camera on every player and there's fancy stats being taken on every player, people get picked apart all the time. I really like it when we're watching the draft and people talk about what it is that kids do well. So let's let's really focus on the things that kids are doing well and the rest of the stuff will take care of itself.

Right. Woody has always been positive. Even if there's something that's gone a little bit sideways with that particular athlete or that team, there has been the overwhelming emphasis to make sure that that the object or subject is portrayed in a positive attitude, which which goes totally against Woody's actions on the ice. It's it's incredible. The he's such a example of do as I say, not as I as I do.

The ultimate example

of that. Never negative. Never.

Yeah. It's I don't know who this positive person you're talking about is, but he might be real. I don't know how he's related to me. I you know what I mean? I I I think you're right.

Like, ProReads was about all these people on the Internet saying, oh, you should do this. You should have done that. And until you know what the goalie's thought process was, you can't say what was right, what was wrong, or what where that breakdown occurred. And ironically, not to point out the other players, but, like, maybe he's in this position because somebody else is supposed to be in that position, and this is how the system works.

Team system.

Yeah. Yeah, it started with basically just us wanting to give them the opportunity to explain it, and it quickly turned into, wow, you can learn a ton about how goalies read the game by watching this stuff. So, it's worked out really well, I think, for us, and it's worked out. The goalies seem to really love it, and hopefully well, so far, all the feedback says our audience does too.

And thanks to Bill Ranford. That on ice presentation at TendyFest, I've watched it three times. It's it's it's fabulous, and the gift of his interaction with parents and the goaltenders in the q and a was awesome.

He's been a great person for InGoal from pretty much from day one. Remember we had one of those, we had a virtual sort of Gear Segment where people could drop in and just chat with Woody about anything and who just showed up without us even realizing he was coming, but Bill Ranford. It was, it's fun to see who shows up as part of the InGoal community.

And one of the coolest offices or man caves that I've ever seen.

Oh, yeah. The coolest.

Which is fantastic. Go back and listen. Yeah. We should post a picture of that, someday, with all his jerseys and masks, out there. Let's get into the NHL Sense Arena feature interview.

Woody, this week, you chat with Alex Cavallini, a two time Olympian from the US Women's National Program.

Yeah. Six world championships, five gold medals from the world championships. Not playing right now with the with the national women's team, a new mom. We we talked about that, about that process, and about how that perspective changes. We caught up with her at the USA Hockey National Goaltending Symposium.

So a lot of the conversations were about, you know, kids getting into goal and how we sort of get more kids playing goal in The United States. And so as a new mom, she had some perspective there. Just a fantastic conversation from somebody who had a really remarkable career with USA Hockey and from college and, you know, maybe from a technical side, didn't have a lot of instruction early on. So there's tons of lessons in here from our conversation with Alex Cavallini. I really enjoyed it.

And for those that maybe don't recognize the Alex Cavallini, Alex Rigsby before she got married. So Alex Rigsby Cavallini, that might resonate for people few more people that remember watching her as Alex Rigsby at so many of these international tournaments.

Now a message from NHL Sense Arena, with the opportunity to grow your game off the ice, especially during this off season.

I was thinking listening to Kevin and Alex speaking about finding ways to have more people enjoy goaltending and I thought, how could we get Sense Arena in the hands of more young kids so that they could see how cool it is to be a goalie? Might be a really good avenue for Sense Arena helping our our our game grow. But right now, it's summertime and pretty much all kids are finished school now. We've had a little bit of time to rest, relax, have a little bit of fun. And I think people are thinking about next season now.

We've got less than two months to go probably before you're back to work on the ice, trying to make that team that you want to be a part of this year or trying to have the best season you've ever had. And NHL Sense Arena is an invaluable tool at this time in the summer. It's a little tougher to find some ice unless you're headed off to a great goalie camp or something like that, but you can train at home fifteen, twenty minutes a day and become a better goalie as a result. I think it's a tool that so many goaltenders are employing today right up to the National Hockey League that you really want to get your hands on it if you want to have the best summer you can possibly have. By all means, go to a goalie school this summer, but it's pretty hard to do that for two straight months.

But you can get on the ice with some of these guys. One of the great things about NHL Sense Arena, like a goalie school, is you have your training handed to you. You can open up the training plans that are available there from great coaches like Brian Daccord or even Bill Ranford has a training plan in NHL Sense Arena. Brian's son Joey has his warm up you can go in and do there. You've got off ice coaches like Maria Mountain in there with programs.

There's so many teachings available in NHL Sense Arena. There's so many tools in there that it can get a little confusing, I think. What do I do next? You can just listen to one of these great coaches. It's like you've signed up for your own goalie school every day of the summer.

So head over to sensearena.com or visit Sense Arena on the Meta Quest store and give it a try this summer, and you can have your best season ever coming this fall.

Feature Interview - Alex Cavallinni

It is the NHL Sense Arena feature interview on InGoal Radio, the podcast, Alex Cavallini with Kevin Woodley.

Really excited to welcome to the InGoal Radio Podcast, Alex Cavallini. Used to be Rigsby, and then I saw Rigsby Cavallini. Now we're full Cavallini.

We are full Cavallini. Basically, just Rigsby Cavallini would need to reference something from my past year, but did the full change, got married, and just went all in.

I just had to do that because my wife still kept her name. So it's just I don't take it personally at all, but, you know, just I gotta bring it up every once in a while.

Yep. Totally.

Catch us up on where yeah. We're we're here at the USA Hockey National Goaltending Symposium Expo. You've been at the presentations as well over at sort of the more the symposium side of things. Been a little while since we saw you on the international stage. You're a new mom now.

Just catch up the audience who I mean, everybody recognizes the name. We know what you've done both internationally and in women's hockey, but just catch us up a little bit right now and then we'll dig back into the career.

Perfect. Yeah. So I'm in Saint Louis, Missouri. Got a 1.5 year old and just been living the mom life. Working as an ambassador with the St Louis Blues and doing some stuff with the Chicago Blackhawks as well.

So it's been really fun to stay involved, but, you know, also be able to stay home and spend time with my daughter and and raise her. But here this weekend in Minnesota, had a mom's mom's weekend out and flew up here. And yesterday, on Friday, I was able to catch some presentations yesterday, and it's just I'm still having to remind myself that I am in a room full of goalies, and so that's been pretty remarkable to see all these people come together and share their different insights and beliefs and ways that they think that they can help improve goaltending and from anywhere from, you know, trying to get more goalies involved to, you know, different techniques on the ice. So it's been really fun to be a part of and just to get to talk goalie all weekend.

And just out of coincidence, you happen to be in town as the PWHL Minnesota team rolls back with a Walter Cup. I saw that you gotta catch up with Nicole and Maddie last. How exciting has that been for you to see the growth of that this year in a unified league?

Oh my gosh. It couldn't have worked out better. I feel like that was just, you know, a bonus to the weekend, and it was so much welcome party or celebration, I should say, last night where they were at the Excel Center, and I got to watch them, you know, talk about their season and how proud they are and the fan base, and that was what was truly remarkable to see was how many people showed up and how excited they were to meet these players and these role models that these young girls and boys get to look up to, and, you know, just seeing how much pride they're taking in in this role that they have, where they're stopping and talking to all the fans and signing autographs and taking pictures and just being present with the fans is is so incredible. And for them to come out this year as the Walter Cup champions was really, really fun. And it was so much fun catching up with my former teammates and, you know, getting to hear kind of their insights from the season and how awesome it was and how excited they are for the next season already.

Okay. And, of course, you would have played them on national teams. The state where we're at right now, you may it's funny. You mentioned seeing the impact that they have and the crowds that they get here. Mean, it was phenomenal.

But you've had that impact. I mean, I'm watching here at this expo as as goalies come up and talk to you and wanna talk to you and ask you about your career. Where like, where are we now? Like, as we as we sort of walk through the progression, like, are we at a great spot? Are we continuing to build?

Like, this step that they took this year, so it's not just at the Olympics, it's not just at world championships. Where do you see the signs of biggest growth, and where do you see it going?

I think we've hit a huge growth. I mean, I text Kendall Coyne Schofield, and I say congratulations. And the first thing she says is it wouldn't we wouldn't be here without everyone before us and the work it took to get to this point. So she is a person who is forefront of this charge of creating this league, and she's has such a good grasp on understanding that it was so many people behind the scenes that to get here and so many different players. And I think it's just been so incredible to see that success of this season where they're breaking attendance records and, you know, for these players to be able to play, you know, all these games in the season and then to go and play at the national level as well, I think it's just can continue continue to elevate the game.

I'm so excited for the future of women's hockey because these players are able to play all these extra games, have this incredible training programs and coaching, and it's just gonna keep elevating. And I am so excited for women's hockey.

And I think you see that by watching the world championships this year. I mean, it was such fast paced, intense games and physical games as well. And so I'm so excited for the future of women's hockey because these players are able to play all these extra games, have this incredible training programs and coaching, and it's just gonna keep elevating. And I am so excited for women's hockey.

I've had both of them on the podcast before as well as some of the other players from the PWHL. They all talked about the same thing. Just the support that they're not doing it at odd hours and have practicing at odd hours. I mean, Minnesota practices here at Tria shares the space with the Minnesota Wild. Like, the support staff, whether it's training off the ice or having a goalie coach, like, all of these things are positives.

Is it tough at all for you having just sort of, you know, moved away from the game to see it? Like, is there a little bit of, any temptation to get back in there? Or

Oh, yeah. Like

Is it hard

think about it I think it's crossed my mind probably once a day since becoming a mom. I mean, I

have to be the part of the day today that makes it cross

your You're great. It's you know, I we knew we were ready to start a family. I went into the last Olympics knowing that it could be the last time I ever put on a USA jersey just because we my husband and I were ready for that next next step and wanted to start a family. And, you know, I was fortunate to get pregnant, and throughout my pregnancy, I had the clear communication with USA Hockey that I had the full intention of trying to come back and make this team, and I trained so hard through my pregnancy. I wasn't able to be on the ice like a player would just because, you know, as a position of goaltending, it's just too risky with shots and stuff.

And so I was so proud of myself. I was able to come back and try out for the 2023 world championships, and I was three months postpartum. Wow. Felt amazing. Felt great.

So proud of how I competed. And unfortunately, my name didn't make the roster, and so that was kind of the end of the road for me. So, you know, I still wanted to continue. I threw my name in the the PWHL draft and didn't get selected, which was totally fine just because, you know, I'm at that position where it's hard to move with a family. I have a husband who has his job in St Louis and

So you were trying to you had very clear focus on one or

Yep. So yeah. And then we started to be open to other things, but it just didn't work out. And, you know, I think a lot about, did I make the right decision of not trying to pursue it more? But I wouldn't change anything with where I'm at.

Yes, it's so hard to see, you know, that nice shiny product on TV where, you know, they're breaking these attendance records and having 24,000 fans watching them and all this stuff, and you see how excited they are. But at the end of the day, I'm so happy with where I'm at as a mom and being able to raise a beautiful baby girl, and it's so much fun. But, you know, I also it's one of those things where the players who are coming out of college are never gonna experience the grind that we went through as an older generation of players, where, you know, you bring up the the training where we had to make our own schedules. Like, every week, I was like, okay, when am I working out? When can I get ice?

And you're emailing the rink people, and you're coordinating with your goalie coach, and trying to find, you know, practices to go on, and it was a grind. And I say it in the best way that I'm so happy that these girls who graduate from college are never gonna have to experience that, that they get to graduate, and they wanna continue to play, and they're capable of playing, that they get to keep playing. So it's just so cool to see.

And cool to be as as Kendall Coyne Schofield said to you, to be a part of the people that created this. They've got the sport to this point. So when you look back at your career, so many world championships, Olympics, like, what are the moments that jump out the most to you?

It's always those team moments. It's like the lock the things in the locker room and the winning the big games, you know, you miss that so much. And I was talking to Lee Stackline last night, and it's like, man, like, to be 24 again and being on the national team and, you know, to be a young one, and it's just, like, it's crazy how fast it goes. But there were so many incredible memories. It was a grind.

Like, we went through a lot of stuff, but to be able to do it with your teammates and to know that, you know, you're gonna put this effort in and do this grind, but then you get to be rewarded with making a world championship team and winning a gold medal and winning an Olympic gold medal. Like, it's all worth it. And to do it alongside your best friends who become your sisters and family away, like, you know, you miss so much when you're on that that path, but you get to have these memories that I would have never experienced if I wasn't able to have that, you know, that path of being able to travel all over the world alongside these women.

Okay. So growing up in Wisconsin, where where did this all start for you? Like, where did the passion for goaltending start?

It started when I was five years old. We did the whole rotational goalie equipment thing, and I wore the gear for the first time, and I was like, this is it, and I wanna do this again. And my parents were like, absolutely not. Like, they were mortified just like the typical parent who is, and I think, you know, just even being here this weekend, I think it's just something that we need to educate parents on more. Like, my parents loved being goalie parents, but, like, you know, you talk to other people, oh, you don't want your kid playing goalie, and there's this whole, like, stereotype around the position that I think that just needs to be broken, and I think there needs to be more information provided to these parents.

And, you know, I was so fortunate growing up that I had an organization who provided goalie equipment. So my parents didn't have the burden of paying for, you know, my equipment until I think I got my first set of pads that my parents purchased when I was in eighth grade. So I was so fortunate, you know, to have that support. But I think just educating parents, like, my parents will say, like, they loved it. They loved watching me play.

They wouldn't trade it at all. My two brothers were were forwards. So it was just, you know, they loved that experience. And so it started when I was five with the equipment, and then I was a full time goalie. Then I was rotating, so, like, week on as a player, week on as a goalie, and I think that was so important for my development as a hockey player as well.

In what sense?

In just the sense that I became more aware of the game. You become a skater. You have to understand different situations and, you know, how to play on a power play, how to play on a penalty, how to break out. You know, it just gives you more knowledge of the game, and so I think that's so important for young goalies to not jump into the position too soon, even if that is something that you wanna do. I think that's amazing that you're choosing goalie, but I also think that before you go in fully as a goalie, you need to make sure that you have a good sense of the game and be able to be a good skater as well.

In just the sense that I became more aware of the game. You become a skater. You have to understand different situations and, you know, how to play on a power play, how to play on a penalty, how to break out. You know, it just gives you more knowledge of the game, and so I think that's so important for young goalies to not jump into the position too soon, even if that is something that you wanna do. I think that's amazing that you're choosing goalie, but I also think that before you go in fully as a goalie, you need to make sure that you have a good sense of the game and be able to be a good skater as well.

And so, yeah, by the time I was 10, my now father-in-law, I showed up with player gear to a practice, to a skills practice, and he he asked me it was my first year on a triple a boys team. And he asked me, he's like, alright. What what position are you here to play for on this team? And I was like, well, goalie, he's like, alright. I never wanna see your player gear again here.

I'm like, alright. Noted. So that was the start of me being a full time goalie.

So it's funny. We we we heard a presentation from College Hockey Inc. On the on the first day about on the women's side, playing boys versus playing just and the options have increased for girls to stay. Like, walk us through your history of playing on boys teams. Was there points where you had to make decisions on that?

Is it different now, maybe a few years later for are there more options you think when you when you like, is your daughter gonna grow up with more options to just play against other women, or would you still recommend playing against boys?

I think it's situational, but 100%, there are so many more options now. I mean, just a prime example for when I was learning to play hockey, there was the only other girl in the organization was Brianna Decker, who ended up being, you know, an incredible player on the US Women's National Team. And so Brie and I grew up playing with each other. We played part time girls for a few season as we were playing AAA boys hockey. And then we played, yeah, AAA boys hockey together.

And so I was so fortunate to have her as a friend since I was nine years old. And so it was us against the boys, and I think the options now to play on these different girls teams is incredible. And I think, like, a prime example is that I'm an ambassador with the St Louis Blues, and one of the programs that they run is their learn to play program. And so after they do learn to skate, they can sign up for this learn to play program where they can get equipment, head to toe gear, get their ice time, and then they come out to these sessions. And when I first started doing it with them, there was eight girls on the ice.

And the last session we had was 38 girls, all learning to play hockey. Like, it's just a testament to programs like the St Louis Blues who are wanting to grow the sport of hockey no matter if you're a boy or a girl, and they're behind it. And so it's so cool to see all these little girls getting to learn to play a sport with other little girls. Like, it's so cool to see. And so I'm so excited to get my daughter in the sport if she wants to.

Of I'm, of

course, not gonna be like that crazy parent. I mean, like, my kid has to play hockey. But I think there I think there's probably a good chance that she's going to. My husband played as well. But again, as long as she's playing a sport, we're good.

But I just am so excited for her and her future that, you know, she gets to go to the rink with other little girls. But you asked the question about playing boys versus girls. I think as a goaltender, with me being able to play boys, I played boys AAA hockey until I went to college, and I think that is what propelled my career. I think that is the reason why I was successful. I always was having to prove to the boys that, you know, I deserved to be there.

I couldn't take a night off. I, you know, had to work my butt off to get where I got, and that path to me was the best path. But again, it's situational as well. Like, you know, you have to make sure that you're safe, you're not gonna get injured, And so I think as a a player, if you do have the option to play boys hockey, and, like, you feel like that's your best, then go for it. If you can compete with the boys, I would do that.

And, you know, not to say that there's not competitive girls team in any way, but if you're in an area where you're like, you know, my girls team isn't as strong and I can play boys, then try it if you can. Like and I think I mentioned my father-in-law too. I think what was so special about having that relationship growing up is that he always viewed me as a hockey player, and he'll be the first to say that he coached Brianna Decker, coached Kendall Coyne Schofield, and he said, I looked at them as hockey players. I never looked at them, you know, I never looked at the gender. I just looked at them as great hockey players, and I wanted to coach them.

So I think that's super special.

I love that. Try hockey. Mhmm. You're out there. Are you try goalie?

We're gonna have are you are you gonna be leading the chart? We talk I mean, I will say one of the numbers that shocked me coming to this this week, I was so impressed with how many goalie coaches they've developed through the bronze program that that there's that much access out there. But I was a little surprised at how few goalies there are compared to registered players. So so do we need you to lead the charge in Saint Louis to make sure that we need some Try goalie events out there?

Oh, my wheels were turning with that. I know Steve has done a a program before with Steve Thompson, who's heading this goalie symposium here in in Minnesota. And I know he's done a program with the Boston Bruins. I believe it was a a try goalie thing, and it looks super successful. And I'm like, okay, I need to I need to get this involved here in Saint Louis.

So hopefully, we can chat it over and and get something in the works because I think it would be really cool to see, you know, St. Louis develop some great goalies. And, I mean, they have Jordan Binnington there, who goalies love to look up to, and Brian Elliott, who is through there. It's been really cool. I'm I'm friends with Brian, and it's been cool when I talk to people and like, oh, Brian Elliott.

Without them even knowing I have any sort of relationship with him, you know, saying, oh, I I started playing back when Brian Elliott was here because of him. And so that's always really cool to see, especially with having, you know, the St Louis Blues in in the city.

Okay. So I gotta pull on that thread a little bit because I feel like one of the things that from this weekend that I've kinda learned and like, I feel like we have a marketing problem as goalies. As you said, like, the stigma of parents being worried about it, and I understand the cost and things, but, like, we're the cool ones, aren't we? Like, the Brian Elliott's, Carey Price used to move the needle so much in Montreal and across Canada. But, you know, like, kids should wanna be doing what we're doing.

No? Like, what are we missing here that we're not getting more kids to play goalie naturally?

I just think that the the yeah. There's just such a stigma around it. I think that there's always the, oh, goalies are so weird and, you know, I always get the, oh, you're a normal goalie. And I'm like, yeah. And then I know a lot of normal goalies.

you can't win without a good goalie. And so I think and it's such a fun position to play, and I think if you can kind of get people more excited and interested in the position and kind of understand it more, I think that would be really helpful because it is a complicated position

Yeah. There's a few oddballs and people have their quirks and but that's what makes them special and that that's what makes them good. And and I think it's more celebrating that. And I think it's you can't win without a good goalie. And so I think and it's such a fun position to play, and I think if you can kind of get people more excited and interested in the position and kind of understand it more, I think that would be really helpful because it is a complicated position, and my husband will be the first to say it.

I mean, he played hockey at the University of Wisconsin, and after his career was done, I named him my personal shooter. Like, he was hired on, and so he was working, and he was still shooting on me at goalie lessons. He's like, man, like, I never realized how complicated the position is. And he's like, I wish I would have known more about this when I was playing. He's like, I think I would have scored a few more goals in my college career.

I mean, he didn't have a ton. So I think, you know, to have that kind of perspective and having more of an understanding for the position, I think more people would get involved.

Maybe that's how we get more goalies is by letting the shooters understand that they could benefit by doing things with the goalies and maybe having more practices that aren't so harmful to goalies will also be helpful for the shooters.

Yeah. Like, that's something that I love chatting with my teammates. Someone comes right to mind is Brianna Decker again, where she and I would have great conversations. Same with Kendall Coyne Schofield. You know, they would ask me questions.

Hillary Knight, hey. What are you seeing on this? Like, what how can I be better here? And so I think that's always so important is having that relationship with your players and goalies being like, oh, the goalies don't know anything. It's a different position.

It's like, no, goalies see a lot. Goalies know and understand the game, and if you don't, you're not gonna get it to a high level. Like, if you're just focused on your own position, you're not gonna understand the patterns and, you know, different things that are involved in the game that are gonna help you be the best goalie you can be.

It's like, no, goalies see a lot. Goalies know and understand the game, and if you don't, you're not gonna get it to a high level. Like, if you're just focused on your own position, you're not gonna understand the patterns and, you know, different things that are involved in the game that are gonna help you be the best goalie you can be.

Patterns. Mitch Korn is my favorite favorite line. You know, goalie is a game of patterns, not shot.

Mhmm.

Learning to read them. For you, like, that was the strength of your game. I I you know, to me, that would be. I don't know if you'd agree.

Yeah.

Where did that come from? How did you develop it?

Yeah. The first time I started hearing that was actually with my goalie coach, Larry Clemons, and he was work he's friends with Mike Valley. And so, you know, started hearing that when I was out of college, and then it was a complete, like, mind, like, switch, like and it helped me so much with my game, understanding where it was like, okay, like, this shooter's coming down here. They're gonna do this or that. Most likely, this is it.

And so it simplified my game a lot and also made me more excited to be a student of the game. And I think that's something that came on later in my career, like I said, after college, but, like, really honing in on the whole idea of being a student in the game came later. And that's the thing that I think has been the hardest for me of being done is that with hockey at this point, is that I'm like, I had more to give. Like, I know that

You're I still figuring a lot of that out.

I was figuring it out. I, you know, I feel like as a mom, especially, you have this different, like, mom superpower too. So like, I think that would have totally benefited

superpowers. Moms have superpower,

So I think, yeah, just being the student of the game really elevated my game as well.

Now, did you like, you come to that realization a little later then. I didn't realize that. Mhmm. Did you just were you just using experience, like, recognizing things in practice or from all the games you played? Or did you watch more hockey?

Were you studying things? Or did it just sorta you were starting to approach what you saw on the ice with a different mindset?

Yeah. So, like, I feel like I always was able to have really great reads.

Okay.

And I was very quick. And just through my young career, like, when I was youth, and then going into college, same thing. I feel like I was just so competitive, and that was really what gave me my edge. And I was really good at reading the shots and reading the plays, but then coming into being able to really understand the patterns that, like, really elevated my game. And so then I started watching a lot more hockey, I would say, in my post grad career.

I didn't watch a ton of hockey when I was younger, and I really regret that. And so even right now, like, I watch so much hockey, but and it's so fun looking at it in a different perspective too, because I did hone in a lot as a goalie, just watching the goalie's movements and, you know, taking the shots and stuff. And now I watch the game with, like, a totally different perspective, and I'm watching the overall plays that are developing and the threats that are happening. And so it was definitely, like, a switch that occurred, and it was a great one to have.

You mentioned Larry. Was that your like, when did when did you go from just playing to that coaching? When you start to add some of the technical elements to your game, and who who was were some of the sorta mentors along with Larry along the way that helped you sorta develop the technical side?

Yeah. I mean, honestly, like, the thing that was so great about working with Larry was that he just let you play. So it really wasn't super technical, but we but he would do it in a it was technical, but he would he was never over technical. Like, he knew that I was a goalie that needed to just play as well. So we would do a bunch of, you know, skill development and movements and things like that, but he wouldn't really correct me until there was an issue.

So he just let me play, and then he would also challenge me in ways of the way we talked about things, and I think that was so beneficial as well.

Can you give me an example that can recall? Sorry, putting you on the spot there, but

So for instance, he I would say that we really honed in. He was the first person to introduce RVH for

me. Okay.

So I feel like that was the first time that I was really like, okay, there's patterns involved, where we would hone in and figure out, alright, so when the player is in this area, between this and this mark, this is when you're capable of being in your RVH. When there's these threats here and here, RVH is gonna be more beneficial or just holding your post on your feet. So things like that were adding so

technique, but situationally.

Situationally. Yes. So and I think that just being able to, like, talk things through. So, like, instead of just going especially as, like, an older goalie at that point, instead of just going boom boom boom boom boom through reps, as much as I love that, we would be able to like, alright, let's just take a little break, and we'd just be chatting, and I'd ask questions, and then we'd move on. And so I think, yeah, just finding those different situational pieces was really beneficial.

And moving when you when you start getting into the national team program, moving on there, different voices, different impacts, different people offering you this can be a tough thing for goalies at all ages, especially as they move up. New voices, new techniques, new ideas. How do you stay true, especially as a goalie who played on such a read react basis? How do you stay true to who you are? How do you find your foundation while still being open to new ideas?

Are there any examples along the way where that worked or didn't work?

Yeah. I mean, we had a lot of different goalie coaches throughout my time with the national team. And I guess not a lot of main ones. We would have, you know, coaches come in for camps.

Camps. Yep. Which is can can you can you change things in a camp or is it you just introduce ideas?

Yes and no. I think that was really great when you can talk to coaches and kind of fine tune things or, you know, find a new tool and be open to it. I think that was so important. And then there was some times where I didn't agree with what the coach was wanting me to do, and I think that, you know, it was hard at times. It's, you know, I don't play a style of, you know, playing a two pad stack, and I was being told to do a two pad stack, and it didn't go well.

So I try to stay true to to my game and hone it in in different ways, and, you know, it didn't always work out for me.

I mean, how do you manage like, any advice for young boys that might get put in that situation where there's something that you're being asked to do and you wanna be a good student, but it's not working. Like Yeah. You know, because navigating that's not easy.

No. It's not. And I think yeah. It's just, you know, being able to have trust in a goalie coach, I think, is so important and, you know, a 100% try things. And I think that was what was so great when Steve Thompson came along within the national team program is we would talk through things, and we had that trust of, if you don't do this and it does not work for you, that is okay.

It is not my way or the highway. Right. So when you work with a goalie coach who it's my way or the highway, that's a hard thing to to navigate. And I think as a young goalie, I think you, you know, you need to be true to who you are, but I think you also do need to be open to trying new things. But I also think as a goalie coach, you need to have that respect for your goalies and be able to, you know, even if they're not picking up on something and understanding something, maybe reword it in different ways.

I'm a person who loves to ask questions, and if you can't answer the questions for me, it's not gonna I'm not gonna be able to grasp it. I'm not gonna understand what you want me to do, And if you can't explain to me how this is gonna help my game, I'm probably not gonna grasp that.

So because I said so isn't enough. You need an explanation of why it's gonna work

for you. Yep. Exactly.

Yeah. Last one. Talked about coaching. We're at a goalie coaching symposium. Like, where do you would you ever come back in that capacity?

Would you look at that? Is that something that interests you at all? You're as you start getting involved, as your daughter gets into it, What do you think?

Yeah. You know, I've been I've been pulled to try to be a goalie coach in Saint Louis and work with different youth organizations. And at this time, in my life with a young daughter, I'm just not at that point, but I'm sure when she starts if she starts playing hockey or if she's playing soccer, whatever it may be, I'm sure that, you know, I'll jump into coaching if if needed and and help her, but

Like, do you wanna stay involved with the game or like, not everybody does. Right?

Yeah. I I stay I wanna stay involved, and I think that's why this position with, you know, the Blues as an ambassador in the Blackhawks right now has been so great is because I get to be involved, but it's not at a a strenuous capacity. So

It's not all encompassing. It's not taking you away from more important things right

now.

Yes. Exactly. And, you know, I get I I I think it would be really cool to to work with goalies and especially on elite level, you know, when you have been at that elite level, you love just talking at a high level with goalies.

Share experiences.

And share the experiences. And, you know, it's so fun when you get to fine tune something, and then you see it click and it works out. It's awesome. It's the best.

Advice on handling big situations too. I mean, you've been in them all. Right? Like, you've how do you handle a nervous moment or a or a stage that you've never been on before?

You have to trust yourself. You have to believe in yourself. You have to embrace embrace it all. You know? You've put in the preparation.

You've put in the work. You have to now just let yourself play, and I think that's the best is, like, when those high pressured situations come up, I love them, you know, and I think just yeah. I would get nervous. Like, I'd get the butterflies in my stomach before the games, but that's when I knew I was ready. That's when it was like, okay, I'm dialed in.

You've put in the work. You have to now just let yourself play, and I think that's the best is, like, when those high pressured situations come up, I love them, you know, and I think just yeah. I would get nervous. Like, I'd get the butterflies in my stomach before the games, but that's when I knew I was ready. That's when it was like, okay, I'm dialed in.

I know what I need to do, and have some fun out there at the same time. Because, you know, especially as I got older in my career knowing that I'm coming on the end, and like I said, I knew I wanted to start a family. And so, especially at the end, just find that finding that joy again. Thinking back to how you were in youth hockey and how much fun you had, that's like, that's what I would try to find. And find the joy in hockey.

It's just a game. You and I would just think about how much fun I was having with, like, my best friends on the ice. And so I think when you find that joy, those big pressured situations don't feel as big pressured.

Great advice. Great interview. Thank you so much for your time, Alex. Really enjoyed this. Really appreciate it.

Of course. Thanks for having me on.

Outro

I love the conversation about getting more people to play goal.

Yeah. It's an important one, you know, and it's, you know, it's funny because I still find myself doing some of the stereotypical joking around, you know, why it's so tough to have a kid as a goalie, and I shouldn't. We none of us should. Like, the reality is it's a great position, and we need to get more kids playing it because it is a challenge. We have goalie shortages in a lot of nations right now, including The United States.

It was a big part of the conversation at the USA National Goaltending Symposium, but you'd be naive to think it's just there. You know, we we talk a lot about there is a tendency, I think, sometimes to focus too much on the negatives. And as as Hutch said in the parent segment, it's not like goalies are the only one who face those types of criticisms. We just tend, I think, to hear about it more. So it's important to maybe shift the way we talk about goaltending, and that includes myself.

Goaltending needs a little more good PR. And if it can't get it from guys like us who are fully invested in the goalie union, then something's wrong. So I'm trying to shift my attitude. Hutch is doing a great job of keeping me on the right track with his parent segments. And especially in The United States right now, they're doing a lot of great things, with quick change gear, try goalie seminars, a lot of opportunities to make sure the kids haven't made the choice not to play goal at far too young an age, which also makes sure you don't miss out on the best athletes for the position.

Best athlete. That's a conversation that, has been going on for decade and a half now, and I think it's really paved some some solid inroads to to try and get the the best player on the team, the best athlete on the team to play goal. And we've seen examples of it throughout. So just a recap, busy time over at InGoal Magazine.

A ton of stuff. A ton.

Yeah. It's been a been a crazy few weeks, but there's so much stuff for people to get into. Whether it's the stick taping video and I think we got another one coming down the pipe fairly soon. Whether it's those videos with Bill Ranford, the skating with Bob and yeah, so many things up our sleeve and summer's a great time to collect more of that stuff. It's really exciting to see how many people are enjoying the content now.

I'm wondering what Woody was wearing a long sleeve shirt today. He's got all that stuff stocked up there.

Right. And then he's gotta roll up his sleeves and get to work.

Woody, have a great skate tonight.

I will. Well, don't hear from me. Know what happened. It's like the shark it's like jumping in the water with the sharks. If you don't hear from me tomorrow, you know where I died.

So tell me what would make a good skate tonight.

Wow. That's a really you're actually gonna make me focus on this the right way rather than

I'll give you the same advice I gave my kid when he went and played his first junior a game. Just keep it under 10.

I I don't know that I'm going to tonight, but you know what? If I just feel like I'm moving well and and nothing hurts at the end of it, Daren, and I'm seeing pucks and I make the odd save, it's a good at the end of the day, after three months off or more little more than three months off and and rehabbing an injury, just to be out there is gonna be a pure joy. I'm just so happy to be back on the ice and playing goal.

Great attitude, Woody.

Yeah. I'm excited for you, buddy. Yep.

Have fun, pal. For Kevin Woodley, David Hutchison, and our entire production crew of Terrible Life, thanks for listening to InGoal Radio Podcast.