InGoal Radio Episode 326 with Joey Ali

Intro

We got a lot lined up today on InGoal Radio, the podcast presented by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports Langley, thehockeyshop.com, our regular segments, but we're also gonna deal with a few debuts that we've seen as we say hello, Daren Millard. Connecting with Kevin Woodley. What's up, buddy?

Hello, Daren Millard. We're we're good over here, buddy. We are good. It's, how you how you feeling? Like, we both had back to backs this weekend.

Not not playing, covering. And this schedule just a couple weeks in already feels like a grind. I'm off to Seattle as soon as we stop this. Like, it is the season is there isn't there's no eat dipping your toes this year. It is full bore.

You had a game in which a play was ruled no goal because of a traditional offside. I had a game in which there was two goals called back. As a net minder, if those goals are called back, do they even exist? Does the play even exist? Are you able to just to flush it?

Or is it, oh, I got beat there, but I got a break. How do you approach it? Or how do you think most guys approach it?

Well, I I never get I I never get to think about how I approach it because they tend not to call them back in beer league or any of those things, or my Monday skates. Yeah. I I think you just have to that's a really good question.

Because I've seen guys.

I gotta ask guys now. Now I gotta go ask guys. How do they flush a goal that gets called back?

I've seen plays in which the puck goes in the net, the team makes a goalie change, and then the goal is taken back. And I'm like, well, that should shouldn't be on that guy. He should go back in.

It didn't even count. Yeah.

And but they stayed with the goalie change. And the game that that that I worked on the weekend, there was a a puck that went off an official and straight in, and of course, that's not gonna count. And then there was a play that was offside. The player put himself offside, and then he had his own goal called back, Nikita Kucherov, of all people. And and he was taken back.

It's like, well, I didn't even didn't even think about the goalie's performance.

I think you do the same thing you would do if you give up a goal. You if you if your process is to analyze it and then move on, you do it the same way. And I also doesn't it doesn't it sort of matter if you knew it was offside? Like, you let up

Yeah.

Or anything like that? Or if you, like, you knew automatically or, like, the the goal that goes in off the referee that you knew wasn't your fault and you knew wouldn't count? Like

Like, Pickard let in a goal by Kiefer Sherwood, Sherwood, that that was called back on an offside because Tyler Myers was ahead of the play. There was no way he was letting up on that.

I know. And then Sherwood beat him again from slightly closer range on a breakaway after dancing the defense. So I you know, to me, it's you know what? Whether it exists or not may depend on how I write that story. And in my game story last night, the goal that was called back exists for two reasons.

Because one, Draisaitl scored right after the disallowed goal to make it two one and we had a hockey game. And then two, Sherwood scores again. So it got referenced, which my apologies to Calvin Pickard for including in my story a goal that never actually happened. It's kinda like the rule of journalism. We don't go to the airport to talk about the planes that landed.

So why did I why did I include that in my story? I apologize. It should have been deleted. But unfortunately, there were some good references to tie to it.

A wild little, journey for us to start. We also had some, interesting arrivals in the National Hockey League. A few debuts to to touch on.

InGoal Radio Bomb, Carl Lindbom with the debut after appearing on the show last summer. So make sure you go check out that episode, the game you covered, Daren, for Vegas. And we just talked about the disallowed goal. Sounds like he was the only one in the building that was aware it wouldn't count right away.

So again He was, like, chilling out. Like, it hit the ref. It's okay. Right away. Like, chill out.

By the way, a seventh round draft choice makes the National Hockey League, and he is Dustin Wolf two point o. I know Steve says that he's already anointed that title, but he is wonderful to watch six foot and and was brilliant and earned Vegas a single point in that game.

Six footers, Yeah. Jack Jet Greaves. Are we starting to see a return on the six footers?

Greaves is the guy that that Valakati has already anointed. Dustin Wolf two point o.

Well, we need to see more of them. That's for sure. Good for him. Like I said, make sure you go check out the interview we had with him. I thought it was fascinating.

An older brother who was drafted, I believe you said by the rangers.

By the rangers.

So not surprised that he would be aware of the rules. And let's be honest, not all goalies are. Like, there are times where things go in, and we had one earlier this year where I didn't know the rule. Charlie Lindgren goes to cover a puck and the stick's already underneath it. Stick pries the puck loose.

If that gets pushed into the net, it's not a goal, but you can dislodge the goalie, move the goalie's equipment to create a scramble, if it ends up in the net a few seconds later, it counts.

You know what I yell in that situation? Car. Car. Car.

Yeah. That works for me too. So yeah. Great. I mean and we've had some debuts.

Right? Like, we're seeing injuries around the league. Colton Ellis, like stick taps to him after overcoming a lot of injuries with the Saint Louis Blues, really finding his game over the last couple of years. He had a really great post game interview with with the TNT crew and Henrik Lundqvist, and what a cool moment that was for him, but also talked about the work that he'd done on his game with the blues, and with their in their minor leagues and and and with their coach Dan Stewart, who's also been on the show before, friend of the program, as we say. And credit credited that work was sort of setting him up for the way he played in his first NHL game.

Like, just great moments. Brandon Bussi as well. Right? So gotta be ready for those opportunities. It seems as this we started with the condensed schedule.

It's gonna lead to more of them, more injuries, more opportunities, and more great stories for guys like Brandon Bussi, Colton Ellis, and Carl Lindbom. Good for them for taking advantage and having great outings in the first. I know Carl didn't get the win, but it sounds like he played great. Got a stick tap from Vassi.

Did when they crossed over after the second period and the shots were at 25 to eight in favor of Tampa Bay, Vassi had had some time to think about what he was going to do. As they passed each other going to their respective benches, Vasi leaned out and gave them a little bit of a tap and tell me that's not cool. Your National Hockey League debut, you're facing a future hall of famer in Vasilevskiy, and he's the one giving you props going great job.

That's That's goalie union at its best. Right? Like, that's the goalie union at its best. So good for Vassy. And like I said, good for Carl.

And, you know, this is we're only a couple weeks into this season. We're gonna have a lot of debuts to talk about as it moves along.

Got our Gear Segment coming up brought to you by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports Langley, thehockeyshop.com.

Gear continues to pour in new gear at The Hockey Shop. Some of them some of this stuff this week, we got one that we just missed in the summer, didn't get to as with all the new gear arriving, but there's more coming every day. We've talked about the special sticks from CCM, from Warrior. There's one coming from Bauer. We've got a gear launch coming from Brian's, and you know the best place to get both the equipment itself with a massive inventory of everything new, but also information about the newest equipment from a staff that doesn't just know the game, but plays the game and will figure out how your game fits with the equipment that they sell you.

That's what you get at The Hockey Shop Source for Sports. You get a level of expertise that is unmatched when it comes to playing the position and equipment that will help you do it better. Make sure you check them out today at The Hockey Shop Source for Sports in Langley or thehockeyshop.com.

Gear

There's equipment that keeps you protected. There's a different angle where it's just keeps you safer, and that's what we'll deal with today with the Bauer Pro and the Pro Plus Neckguards in the Gear Segment brought to you by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports Langley, thehockeyshop.com.

Something something new this way knocks. I have no idea what that. Well, Cam composes himself. I'm gonna tell you that we are at The Hockey Shop Source for Sports. This is the new Bauer Pro Plus neck guard.

And despite the fact the season is underway, we have new stuff we haven't talked about. You have so much here at the Hockey Shop Source for Sports, and it takes us a while to get through this. The beauty though is you've been able to test this. You've been using this yourself, and you are a big fan of Bauer's new neck protection. So walk me through the differences between the two and what it is that separates it because quite often we see it.

It's not a big piece of equipment. No. But instantly, I feel the stiffness, the rigidity around here.

It's not a big piece of equipment, but it's an important piece of equipment. Cannot gloss over. So

So don't gloss over. Let's sear

it.

Let's start out with one of the more important sides of it too because there are two different neck guards here. So the one that I'm holding here is the new Bauer Pro neck guard. This is a BNQ certified neck guard.

Which means it's got skate, cut, proof, mixed nylon Fancy words. In the neck. Kevlar.

Exactly. So as per any minor hockey by Hockey Canada Gotcha. Need to have a b and q certified neck guard. Now there are some different ways of kinda wearing it. This is making it simple as giving it an integrated overall neckpiece and still giving you that collarbone protection.

So fundamentally speaking, if I tilt this down, this and this are gonna be very, very similar. If I bring that back up again, once again, this is giving you that skate protection that you do need available in junior and in senior.

For the rest of us that don't need to worry about minor hockey certification, you said it's similar, but for sure, the thickness and the stiffness of this piece around the neck like, again, if you're just looking at it, it's kinda hard to sort of quantify this, but, like, it's different than anyone I've ever ever felt. Yeah. But that's not here. So my point.

Now what this neck guard features, and this is where the similarities still in both, Bauer does use their DTC foam. It's very similar to their

Defence cloud technology.

Soft to the touch.

Back. Becomes rigid upon hard impact. You also get their curve x composite. So that's that nice hard that you're hearing there. Great overall protection.

Kevin alluded to it. I'm currently wearing one of these guys right now. Testing it and using it for quite a number of games right now. Felt really comfortable, really safe. I like that little bit of a lower cut neckline.

I'm not as concerned with the skate cut protection. However, I actually do wear a B and Q certified turtleneck in terms of for my dry fit, so I still do have that skate protection.

Nobody cares.

Hey. No. But that's important because that means that you could wear this in minor hockey still as long as you combine the two. So, yeah, that is important.

Okay. Okay. But I really don't care what you're wearing. Although, will say Cam vouching for neck protection is important. If you've ever met any of the people on his team, don't fight.

So they probably shoot at his head throughout the warm up.

They never invited you out for a reason. Back to the neck guard. Prooflex. That OHL deck designates again between the two is the certified certified versus uncertified option. Again, if you're looking for a new neck guard this season, this would be a good place to stop and check out.

Give me a call. (604) 589-8299 or 1-800-567-7790 or thehockeyshop.com. Both you'll see up online.

Only thing I didn't ask you because I was too busy insulting you, and I do love you, Cam, so you know it's all in good fun. Sizing.

Senior and junior.

Perfect. Done. There you go. New Bauer pro plus, pro b and q, non b and q. But if you wear it like Cam, you can still b and q it.

You you wear a neck guard. Right?

Yes. I don't wear a dangler, Daren, but I'm not a complete moron. I'm not, like, I'm not crazy. I do have a neck guard.

How often do you change it?

Change it probably once every two years. Yeah. It all depends on whether it's washable. I'm now in the new Warrior one, which is yeah. It's it's exceptional.

Like, multiple multiple layers of foam. I've taken some real high hard ones off the collarbone area and not felt the thing. It's great. It's it's it's sort of like the new version of that old Maltese one that you can't get anymore. Right.

To me, it's the closest thing. We've talked about that on the show before. I adopted it a couple of months ago testing it, and let's just say that other testers aren't gonna get to use it because it is not coming out of my bag. You will have to you'll probably have to steal it if you wanna test that one. It is it is a great product.

I I I won't be going into your hockey bag to steal anything. I I've got the power, and the only time I really change it out is when the Velcro starts to get a little frayed, and it it sometimes will slip down. So but it's it's awesome protection. It's a go to, and I I untuck so I've got my straps up, and it actually helps helps keep it in place, which is something that I figured out over the years. Let's get over to the Vizual Edge ProReads this week.

What do you got happening?

ProReads this week is Eric Comrie, with a great look at a three on two, and I love what I love about this one, we had the replay. Like, this is really hard. The hardest part of ProReads sometimes is finding good clips, and the best clips have replays from behind the net. So you can really see the way they break it down. So it's a three on two through the neutral zone.

The camera is behind Eric on the replay, so you can really see it coming at him. You can see his depth and his decision, and he walks us through that, Walks us through the factors that you can consider in real time as it crosses the blue line in terms of the pass options. Walks us through what he's looking for from his defenseman and how the way they play this affects the way he plays it in terms of taking away the possibility of a middle net drive breakaway from the guy leading the charge down the ice. Now some cadre in this case off this three on two rush. So it's funny.

I I see a three on two in the neutral zone, and I'm thinking about all those things, Daren, handedness and all those elements. Would you have thought about, hey. The guy carrying the puck has enough speed. Maybe he could just actually split the d and have a breakaway. It wasn't even in my equation.

But Really?

Yeah. I mean, it's not even it wasn't a thought process off that one, but it's he he talked about the way his defenseman made sure that wasn't gonna happen. It's just it's just a great breakdown of a three on two and he how he turns it into a fairly routine save. And once again, Eric's been really good about this. He's being really open and honest about how they analyze their own play in Winnipeg, where they have one of the best tandems in the league with Hellebuyck and Connor himself and a great goalie coach from Wade Flaherty, and he gets into what they're looking for off a shot release from the goaltender to know that they're on top of their game.

And you can see it in the video. Puck is off the stick long before Eric starts to commit to his save execution. It's a great thing for young goalies to know whether you're going to the ice too early if you have access to your video. Are you dropping before that puck's off the blade? Obviously, there are blocking situations in tight around the net, but on clear shots like this one, which is around the top of the circles, that puck is well on its way before he starts to commit in any way, shape, or form.

So that's the rule they have. That's what they look at for video in Winnipeg, and it was great for Eric to sort of share that with us. Just another example of the types of insights you get over at ProReads, where we help you learn to read the game better as a goalie. And you know what helps to read the game better, Daren? Being able to see the game better.

And that's why it's brought to you by Vizual Edge. Vizual Edge is a cognitive and vision training tool used by some of the top names in the game. Goalie coaching greats like Mitch Korn asked his goalies to use it, both to assess where their vision is at and then to go about improving it. Jeff Glass in the Anaheim Ducks system, Justin Peters, goalie coach of the Ottawa senators. It helps their goalie see the puck better.

How about Jordan Binnington who uses it every day before heading to the rink? As Binnington said, it's a combination of recognition, reaction, and focus that activates my brain and eyes to feel ready for what's to come. A reminder, you can use the discount code InGoal, I n g o a l, all caps, to get 10% off Vizual Edge monthly and annual subscriptions and InGoal members. So if you're a member of InGoal premium, go to the ProReads and you will get the code right there in the ProReads itself that will give you a 20% discount to Vizual Edge. Vizual Edge helps you see the puck and the game better, and InGoal ProReads helps you read it better.

A perfect combination.

And not everybody can be Jordan Binnington and has that time and availability in their schedule. But if you if you just did it periodically, I'm I'm sure it would give you a similar boost like a turbo shot.

Yeah. Like, I I think one of the things they talk about is like, all it takes is fifteen minutes a day, three or four times a week. But the reality is, like, if you really wanna get better, use it more. It's it's there for you. Like, that's all you that's the minimum you need to do, and you will notice an improvement.

So you don't need a huge commitment to see an improvement in your sports vision, but even make a bigger commitment, you can use it as a tool that will really drive performance increases. The game's never been faster. Right, Daren? So being able to locate pucks, we had Cam Talbot on the ProReads talk about that. Like, he feels like his ability to track pucks through screens and traffic and off deflections has improved considerably since he started using Vizual Edge later in his career a few years ago.

Awesome stuff. Tools, at your your fingertips to be able to improve your game. Stop It Goaltending U, the app, is another great, app that, you can lean into. All kinds of, influential articles or presentations, are available there. And Stop It Goaltending U, the app, partnering with InGoalmag to bring us the parent segment.

Yeah. We double dipped on the parent segment this week with Hutch away taking care of some family stuff. We went to Joey Ali, who I don't even know if we've mentioned this, is also our featured guest. I'm guessing by the time people have gotten here, they've seen that on the, you know, the headlines and the banners for the episode itself teasing it. But Joey Ali is the new goaltending coach of the PWHL Vancouver team. He also happens to be the parent of a 12 year old goalie as well as running his own goalie schools. Through Pro Formance here in the Lower Mainland, Joey Ali, is gonna talk to us about how to balance being a parent with being a goalie coach, like finding the balance of team those two worlds and how to make sure that you're not on the wrong side of it on the parenting side.

So great quick segment from Joey Ali here before we get to him as the featured guest.

Parent Playbook

Joey Ali in the parent segment brought to you by Stop It Goaltending U, the app.

Well, we're double dipping our featured guest this week. I figured what better way to fill in the shoes with Hutch off this week for the goalie parent segment than somebody who is balancing it at the professional level as a goalie coach and still managing his young son who is who has started in the last couple of years playing the position. Joey Ali, that is not an easy thing to balance. Hutch has talked about it before. How do you do it when this is your living and also something you're now doing with your son?

Well, Woody, thanks you guys for having me back on for the segment. Yeah. Definitely a balancing act. You know, I like most like, you know, no. Whether it's my kid or anybody's kid, we always take the same approach.

But on the same note, just like everybody's kid, they don't listen to their parents. So that's always something where we're having a challenge. And for me, when I'm going through that, I have to be mindful of knowing, number one, I love my kid. I love my kid. So I have to be mindful of the fact that I love watching him play.

I love him playing hockey. So am I fostering that environment for him to wanna continue to play for a long time? And if the answer is no, then I'm doing something wrong. So it's really like, you know, reminding myself of that. Like, you know, how much I love him, how much I love watching him play, and will he wanna play this game for a long time?

And if again, you don't have to be mindful of that. So, conscious of how I'm going about it is always an ongoing an ongoing battle for sure.

Any advice on how to make sure you're fostering a fun environment? Because that's ultimately what makes kids wanna keep playing the game. Maybe even it's just like car rides home. Do you have an approach to car rides home as a dad slash goalie coach?

Absolutely. I feel like I have to know when to be coach and when to be dad. And coach is just at the rink. At the rink, little bit after the rink when we're on the ride home, but then dropping it. Like we've had a conversation, we get home, and now he's, you know, he's a 12 year old.

He wants to do his thing. He wants to hang out. And I want him to enjoy the game. So I think one piece of advice is just balancing how much of the game you're talking about in-depth and with the emotion that usually goes into having those conversations with your kids. Limiting those to when the when it's the time as opposed to dragging them out and bringing it up in other situations where maybe hockey is not even the topic of that moment.

So really just being like, hey, at the rink, I think that's a great spot for us as parents to, you know, talk about that topic because it's so relevant. And then, you know, on the ice, of course, it's relevant. And then a little bit after if there's a if there's a need to. And really and with that, also being aware that we're, you know, giving the positive reinforcement along with the negative stuff. Because it for me, personally, I do get you know, we get caught in that trap of, like, hey.

Here's what you could've done. Here's what you could've done. But also being mindful of, like, Mike, think about the good things he's done. Tell him one of those at least. You know?

So that's something where it's it's for parents, I would really recommend finding your spots within the time of the game and then also being sure to you know, with the criticisms, being sure we're giving them what something that they did well to, making it a little easier and and not prolonging those conversations.

The boundaries. Sounds like boundaries for when to have those conversations. And and if you establish them sticking with them, is that key?

Yeah, absolutely. I think that helps with the whole, you know, the parent and child relationship, knowing that they can trust that when we're not there, the relation everything's dropped. So no matter what emotions was that about the game or how we played, positive, negative, we're into now back to you being a kid. Is your homework done? You might have played a great game.

You rocked it out. Now we're at home. Hockey's done. Is your homework done? Okay.

It's not doesn't mean you get a free pass because you played beer hockey. Or on the flip side, you know, you you had a bad day, and now there's something good positive. You're going to birthday party. Well, let's not dampen that moment. You're going to a birthday party.

Have a good time, kid. Enjoy your time with your friends. Hockey's done. It's over. So, you know, so again, those moments are really important.

Like, you said it best, the boundaries. Having those boundaries and being able to parent and coach within them, allowing them to not carry over those feelings over to the next moment of their life. And they might be having a sleepover or might have some fun stuff going on and it gets dampered. Or on this flip side, them not doing what they're supposed to do as little kids, maybe chore wise, and being like, oh, you got a freebie. No.

You that's on your list to do.

Love it. Love it. Joy, this is fantastic advice. I can't thank you enough for, joining us, obviously, for the feature interview, which will come up shortly here on this episode of the InGoal Radio Podcast for joining us for the for the parent segment as well. Thank you, Joey.

Thank you, Woody.

That's a great conversation because we have so many parents who also help out their minor hockey teams and being able to be on the ice with your child is is a great bonding experience, but also those those lines can get a little muddy, been you're working in specific position to position.

I I just like the I mean, at the end of the day, every decision he makes, like we didn't get into a ton of nitty gritty examples, we got into a little bit of it, but to me, the fact that every decision is sort of made with one guiding thought, and that's making sure that his kid is enjoying the game so he'll keep playing it, which is probably how we should approach a lot of this stuff. Right? So is what he's doing gonna allow him to continue enjoying it? So great from Joey. We've got tons more great stuff coming from Joey in our feature interview.

But first, that was brought to you by Stop It Goaltending U, the app. And we've talked a lot about all the different things that Stop It Goaltending U. One of the things that I don't know that we've talked enough about is their daily primers. Quick one minute hits, five days a week that will help you get better. And this week's sort of focuses on doing our best.

Monday, reframing I have with I want. Tuesday, the five minute rule, just get started and the rest will flow. Wednesday, perceived outcome influences, dedication and motivation. Thursday's about no excuses, and Friday talks about finding our why and why it's important. You get these types of videos every week from Brian Daccord, obviously, the founder of Stop It Goal Tending and the twenty five plus years of experience he brings with him into the app itself.

Now the goaltending director with the Detroit Red Wings. He's been a goalie coach with the Boston Bruins. He's been a director, with Arizona, a scout with the Toronto Maple Leafs, of course, father to Joey Daccord of the Seattle Kraken. He knows what it takes to build and raise a goaltender, and you get all that advice in the Stop It Goal Tending U app each week. And, of course, with a subscription to the Stop It Goal Tending U app, you also get a membership to InGoal Premium, combining the best of both worlds.

I lean on those daily primers all the time. It's just fascinating information and a little tidbits there to inspire you and get you going if you're in one of those funks, the goaltender. And when you're going good, it's just a way to improve your game. A little bit of news coming out. Toronto Maple Leaf's general manager, Brad, on Joseph Woll's status.

He's been skating the last few weeks, trying to get back into game shape, and he might get some conditioning games with the Toronto marlies. Won't be eligible to play or won't be able to play ready to play when he's eligible on November 1, but on his way back, Joseph Woll with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

And that's all you want. Right? You just hope he's in a good place. Whatever's happened, none of our business. You just hope for good things for good people.

And as we've established here on the InGoal Radio Podcast and in ProReads, Joseph Woll is an excellent person. And every time we get to deal with him, that shines through first and foremost as a as well as a hell of a goaltender. So the National Hockey League is better with him in it, and we hope he's coming back to it with everything else settled and feeling good.

Excited about the Lower Mainland getting a PWHL franchise in Vancouver, and Joey Ali is the goalie coach with that franchise and is our Sense Arena feature interview this week.

Yeah. Sense I mean, talk about how to work with kids. One of the things that I've sort of started to experience this myself, man, like, minor hockey ice time is tough to come by. Like, one practice a week, a couple of games, splitting games. It's not it's not a lot of touches.

It made me realize just how valuable NHL Sense Arena is, especially with the new game flow program that they have in there. I love that they're always improving it, and this game flow one is a really mass improvement. Not getting enough games? Even if you're splitting games and it's only once a week and you wanna get a few more reps, game flow will let you sort of basically head into a headset and play continuous action games like you would in a game. Work on your on your focus, work on your concentration, not just work on your skills, managing traffic, reading releases, all the different elements that go into being a good goaltender, but being able to focus for longer, more extended periods of time, being able to sort of hold the the visual skills and the mental skills required to succeed in a game like environment.

It's all worked into the new game flow application by NHL Sense Arena. It's a great tool for young goalies. It's a great tool for older goalies. It's a great tool for all goalies, and that's part of why NHL Sense Arena is a great tool for all of us. It's it's always developing.

They're always adding new things, and I love this new application.

Feature Interview - Joey Ali

Looking forward to getting to know him a little bit more off the parent segment. It's our NHL Sense Arena feature interview. Joe Ali here on InGoal Radio, the podcast.

Really excited to welcome to the InGoal Radio Podcast. First time guest, although we've known him for a long time at InGoal Magazine. He's actually his school is a partner, part of the partnership program with us at InGoal Mag and InGoal Premium. Joey Ali, now the goalie coach, PWHL Vancouver. You can't tell us.

There's a name. It's gonna be Vancouver something. I don't even know if you know, but we don't need to know. Let's start with congratulations on the new gig.

Yo. Thanks, Woody. I really appreciate it, and thanks for having me on. And, yeah, we definitely know each other for years. So, yeah, the thanks for the congrats.

Definitely excited about the opportunity here in my hometown where I grew up and in our inaugural season. So a pretty awesome opportunity and experience for sure.

And a couple of exceptional goaltenders who we featured on the podcast before coming in to start their first season here in Vancouver, Emerance Maschmeyer and Kristen Campbell, Soupy. You've got some experience with them that we can talk about, but I wanna get let's let's let the audience know a little bit about your background leading up to this. We're all gonna get to know you on a broader scale as PWHL Vancouver goalie coach, but, you've been working in the BCHL for the past this is, I believe, season nine in Langley, starting in Coquitlam as well. You done some work at SFU. Just walk us through there's a playing career here.

Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely.

The hockey DB on the playing career is a little thin, buddy. So Yeah. Walk us that's usually how we become coaches. Yeah. Totally.

Us through the history.

Yeah. Well, getting from the coaching side, just start with the coaching side. Things are the playing side.

Well, let me hear about the playing side first.

Well, so I grew up in East Vancouver playing at Killarney Minor Hockey. Played there. Started around nine years old. Started there, you know, had just fell in love with the game. Obviously, it started in the back alley playing street hockey.

That's where it all started.

Were you goalie back in the alley?

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. You know, the youngest of four boys, so got thrown in the net. So that was pretty automatic.

That's a pretty common origin story.

Yeah. Of older brothers. Hey. Get in there. Let's fire some balls at you.

Right? That's how it started. So that really started the passion to get into hockey. Our family was typically a soccer family. So come and my family everybody except for myself is born in Fiji.

So coming from that part of the world, you know, soccer is a huge part of it, and my family was intricately involved in soccer.

So your all your older siblings were born in Fiji, you're the first one born in in in Vancouver in Canada? Oh, okay. I didn't realize that. Yeah.

Yeah. Cool.

Very cool. So, you know, they've through soccer, I love soccer, but I fell in love with hockey. And Kirk McLean being, you know, my first guy. Like, I was like, oh my gosh. And then Grant Fuhr too.

Grant Fuhr is one of my guys too. But, obviously, growing up in Vancouver, I enjoyed watching Kirk McLean, the gear, his helmet, and stuff. So needless to say, you know, I got my first opportunity to go play hockey, and I wanted to go in net right away. Right away. My brother was not totally excited.

He's like, you gotta be a player first, which is probably good advice because I got to work on some skating and whatnot and then fell into the goaltending. But like you said, nothing too glamorous about the playing career other than

Well, hey. I I wanna know who the Fernie Ghost Riders are because there was a stint with the Fernie Ghost Riders and then Northland College and, yeah, a university as well. So it was a short career, but there was you you played at a level.

Yeah. Totally. I guess, like, know, when I was 15, I made the BC Winter Games, which was awesome. I worked my way into the BC best ever program, which is now the high performance program in BC. And, you know, continue to work my way through the program and play my first junior team was the Grand View Steelers, and it was Aldo.

He's still there now. He's the owner now. My second year, we went to the finals, kind of a Cinderella kind of story. We ended up losing in the finals to Abbotsford, but we gave we took it to game seven, so that was fun. And then my second year, I went to the Fernie Ghost Riders, the American Western Hockey League, which is a junior a team.

That was a very unique experience. It was I love Fernie because the memories there are I'll never forget. The people of were just are just amazing. But I remember going to camp. There was 18 goalies I had to beat out.

In November, I got my first start, and it kind of started rolling from there. And then my second year, we went to the finals. We got a national berth in the USHL, and we won a bronze, which was phenomenal. And that's where I got my d three scolley to Northland. But again, not being too well versed in hockey.

You know, I was like, man, got a scolley. Like, I didn't even do any research where I'm going, what I'm doing. And again, I Where's Northland? Yeah. Where's Northland?

It's Wisconsin. But I didn't even know all I knew is I was getting two sets of gear. I was gonna get a new dorm. I was pumped. I was like, wow.

This is amazing. Didn't look at the rankings. Didn't look at anything. And I think that kinda speaks to my experience in the hockey world that time, you know, family not being quite accustomed to it. But, hey, I'm getting schooling.

So I was jacked. After my first semester there, a lot of buddies were playing at Marion University, and they were a top 10 team. We ended up playing them, got out shot a ton, but lost three one. And I got recruited the next season by them. They're like, you gotta come play for us.

That's the upside to get no shot. You can put on a show.

Yeah. Totally. So put on a show, got enough shots, I guess. Went to Marion, had a good time there, took business, and marketing was my business was my major, marketing was my minor. And then after that, at that time, it was a unique climate and time of the politics and things that were going on.

There was, like, the nine eleven stuff that had gone on. So going being Canadian, going to The States was one thing. Our money wasn't great, so that was a bit of a challenge.

Oh, living that one right now. My friend with a daughter going to school in The States and a and a Canadian dollar worth about 65 cents.

Yeah. They knew it all too well. You know all too well, Woody. And then obviously I guess not obviously, but me being Muslim as well, like my last name Ali. So that was at that time was a very unique time to go through things.

They're they're doing a lot of random checks and stuff, but nothing that was, you know, just part of life. So so that was a unique experience. And due to the some things like, you know, money being what it was, it was things were hard.

Well, everything was like a buck 50 back then for Canadian dollar, everything in US.

And my parents, they're phenomenal. Like, they've they've supported me, my whole family from day one. So I think I I was old enough to kinda know, like, you know, it was just I I felt I needed to do what I needed to do. So I came back, got paid for a while, got paid playing hockey for a little while, couple seasons. And then coming back, I think it was 25, and, I got into, like, the workforce.

You know, I like, working and just getting into everyday life, and it didn't feel quite right. It was like I was lost, if I was being quite honest with you, losing that aspect of hockey a little bit. It's, you know, the purpose. And I think I've I've come to learn that's pretty a normal thing.

Yeah. I was gonna say, I've got like, I'm I'm sure everyone listening is nodding along. Me too. Right? Like, we've we've all sort of been there.

So with that, I got into coaching. You know, I say I like, I started, my first my own goalie school in 2008 called Pro League Goalie Training. Hope that's okay to plug away.

Absolutely. Plug away, my friend.

And that's more of that was where I started doing stuff on my own. You know, started on my own, and worked my way up to a couple years later. The goalie school that I grew up training at was ProFormance goalie schools. Right. And the late Sean Murray, you know, he was, a goalie coach and a mentor growing up and helped me a lot.

He him and Rob at the time, they're like, hey. You know, you and Jordan Jordan Sigalet.

Gonna say Jordan Sigalet, goalie director of the Calgary Flames. Correct. Heard of him. Had him on the show.

Yeah. He's and he's a great human being as well and a funny guy. And so we we we knew each other growing up. Jordan and I, we trained at performance. We would be in the summers.

We'd see each other. We played junior hockey. We were BC best ever. So we knew each other real well. He he's just way more of a rock star than I was.

And so we we we got together and created, you know, the Fraser Valley ProFormance Goalie School. He moved on to his professional career, and I'm continuing to grow the company. And through the through the companies, you know, I I feel like we've done a really nice job, provincial wide and even Western Canada with creating goaltenders and having creating a goalie culture and understanding things. And, you know, teaming up guys with companies like yours, like InGoal Magazine, just, you know, they're they're valuable, relationships, and they're into the right relationships. And I feel, through the businesses, we've created a nice kind of thing going on.

Yeah. You've built a nice thing out here for sure.

And thank you. And through those and so that was, like, in 2010. And now, you know, then I got into BCHL. I got offered to work with BCHL, which is amazing. One of my mentors, Barry Wolfe, he actually asked me if it was Langley Chiefs then at first.

That was my first team. And then Jordan had then moved on to go do the, WHL, the Silvertips. So I took over the Coquitlam Express and won a championship there. And then in 2014, got involved in Canadian blind hockey, which is another aspect of that's more of a volunteer thing. It's just to give back, I feel.

That's an important thing to do, and it was a huge challenge.

Okay. We wanna get into that. I wanted to ask you about especially, like, I mean, there I mean, it's it feels like a tasteless joke, but there are a lot of people that when they see me play goal, assume that I'm part of that program. Sorry. I had to it was probably

a really tasteless joke on my part. You remind no. That's it's we were actually I'll share one quick one with you. We We were in Western Canadians this weekend, and one of the directors, she's from Manitoba, she was playing. And she's like, I'm like we were going around the room and I was like, your name, where you where you play in a funny fact.

And her funny fact, she's like, I love blind jokes. I wanna hear them all because I love saying them. And we were just like,

It's tailor made for goalies. Right?

Right. It's a straight sense of humor, yeah, it is tailor made for goalies. Like, anytime you say that, how does a blind person stop a puck? Well, let me get into it.

I get the odd one that hits me too. Right? You start with Kirk McLean. Yeah. About as old school as we can get.

And just to give the people a little bit of a taste of this, like, when you're you're at Northland and Marion, we're, like, early two thousand. Yeah. So, yeah, I mean, that's when I started learning goaltending and or about goaltending, coming to it late. And that was an era where things like proper save recovery were becoming commonly taught at young ages, but still not executed at the NHL. So, like, that's a major transition in the position itself as you are going to college and then transitioning into coaching.

So the evolution from a guy who grew up watching kick saves, curious how you played. And then as you transition into coaching, and we've talked before we went on the air here about all of the biomechanics and how deeply you're into those things, like, what are some of the biggest changes you've seen over all these years? I guess we're not doing we're not doing it Kirk style anymore.

Yeah. You're right. We're the the skate save is out. The two pad jammer looks great, but not as utilized as often. The game changed in a lot of ways.

From my me playing even to the time when I was getting to college, like, learning the proper mechanics of a recovery, like head, hands, rotate, getting our alignment, setting the table before we move, those were things that were, like, new. Those were, you know

And you're in

college learning. Right. And I was like, man, like, I I remember doing a session. I was like, how don't I know this? And it just seems so it made so much sense.

And there were and I again, like like, not to jump in, but I was having those conversations when I learned from Ian Clark in 03/04 and starting to work and write about goaltending for the first time. I was seeing the same thing,

but at the NHL level.

There were NHL guys that were, like, didn't get up off the right off the proper leg. Like like, these things that made so much sense were things they had never learned. Yeah. It's crazy to think about now.

It's absolutely. And even, like, the hands where we were like, like, you alluded to, we had a conversation before, but the hands, like, shoulders back, everything locked up and hands, like, that's totally changed. And growing up, it was always about be ready. Be ready. And what did that mean?

You know, what did it mean be ready? Like, was it physically ready, mentally ready, bold? Did it mean we have to have tension? Did we have to be locked in? Was it constantly in the zone, which is hard on the body?

It's hard mentally. It's kicks in sooner. We're then you going into our biomechanics, like playing out of a three stance system, learning like, hey. We have a tall stance for mobility. We have a shot ready stance that allows us to do both.

Then we have a lower stance more in the slot and learning how our posture drives our body function. And so, you know, again, going back to what you're saying here, it was a learning. It was learning. It was almost like I was closed minded at like, as an athlete, I look back. I'm like, I could have been a way better athlete if I was if I was willing to be open minded.

And I'll be honest, Woody, I learned that a lot from, working with visually impaired athletes. Like, just I've learned, like, their work ethic, their approach. Man, you know, I it made me reflect on myself. And I was like, man, if if I was if I could have had this approach, maybe, you know, maybe not to say what, but, you know, you never know. It could get further ahead.

So as a coach and now the next the second kick at the can, I guess, for me is, like, you know, being able to help athletes kind of get to that place and understanding that for me, I have to create that environment first for them to understand that it was a safe spot for us to get better? Like, we can make mistakes. We can we can be ugly first and then be better later because learning is not a straight line. It's peaks and valleys. And sometimes you have to be ugly before you get to the place that we need to be.

So understanding that was like, you know, it made a lot of sense, but it also, as a coach, I had to relationship's such a big thing. So creating relationship and trust matters in order to allow for another athlete to let themselves be free and let them be in an environment where they can feel awkward or be ugly. I say air quotes ugly because I don't mean that in any other way other than maybe feeling awkward and weird going through.

Come watch me play Goal. We'll define ugly.

That's amazing, bud. Yeah. So, like, that's that's kinda where I've come around to getting, like, in order as a coach to get athletes to be there and and and amazing coaches and, you know, high level coaches get it. Relationships matter a ton. We need to build trust.

We need to build a safe environment so that people can be vulnerable. But if we aren't building relationships, it's very difficult to allow a goalie to feel safe and go and try new things and just kinda tinker with things. I I give this analogy. In order for, you know, when I'm working with the goalie or any athlete, I need to build up their bank account, and I'll just use this analogy. By that, I mean, I need to invest in them a ton, a ton, a ton.

So when it's time for me to make a withdrawal, by that, I mean, asking them to make an adjustment. I've deposited so much into their bank account where when I take that withdrawal, they're like, yeah. But if I don't build up that relationship with them and I and and the and the bank account being the relationship. If I don't care and don't put my best foot forward and show them that their interest matters and that's why I'm there with them, then it's gonna be harder to get the response and then to be open minded. So it gives back to relationship.

Building that relationship, making sure that, you know, they know I'm on their side. I'm on the in their corner. I'm in their team. You can have conversations that aren't gonna go anywhere, and we can get better. That has really helped allow and now circling back to the technical and making those changes were the pros.

Now when I'm dealing with the higher end Goalies and ProGoalies, there is that amazing relationship where they're like, I got it. Like, yeah, you're right. As opposed to maybe when you're not having those relationship, you know, who are you? Like, what are you telling me?

Right. So, I mean, I know with with Kristen through Hockey Canada Yeah. There's there there is a relationship there. Was any at all with with Emirates coming in, or is this a new relationship? And I guess without giving away specifics or asking you to like, in more general terms, for other whether it's somebody aspiring to get to where you are on a coaching side or a parent that's volunteering to help out their kid's team.

Like, how do you start? Like, where do you start building that relationship? I I know there's probably not like, you probably don't have a checklist or a manual here, but what are some of the ways you can start building it? Do is it understanding them and their game? Is that understanding them as people?

Is it as a combination?

It's a combination, Woody. I would say, like, it starts really just by like, when I'm dealing with kids, I'm like, how will you play Fortnite? Ask them a simple question like that. And, usually, it'll lead into, oh, I play Roblox or whatever. Only I only know this because I have kids.

So it makes it a little easier to have these conversations. And and now we're talking about something they love and enjoy that's outside of hockey. And now we're stepping on the ice or we're on the ice, and now we're still talking about something they love, which is hockey. But we we started by being, like, talking about something that they're enjoying too. And that's that relationship part.

It might just be how was school? Like, how's school? How's school going? Staying out of trouble, you know, joking around with them, having some fun, and then, you know, then getting into the hockey stuff. But I building that relationship, it's just I think it's for me, it's just being myself.

I've I've had some really amazing mentors, you know, that are in the NHL that have even helped me to to where I am today. They've helped me, and they've been huge parts of it. And they've always said just be yourself. And I now I know what that means. I I totally get what that means because you have to trust yourself and know that you're you're doing what you're you're doing what you feel is right and you're passionate about it, but there's no there's no there's no road map exactly.

But when you're being a human being, just be who you are. And if we're being good human beings, the relationships come. And I think that's something I I'm I'm just it's I'm a social guy. So it kinda comes so it's not too hard to kind of, you know, have fun and talk about stuff.

You and I, we could be here for we gotta gotta watch the clock because we like to talk. We could be here for a while.

But I'm curious, like, you say be yourself. Did you find at times where you're trying to be some like, we've heard this, like, from goalies. Right? Like, trying to be the super intense Henrik Lundqvist guy on game day when that's not who you are as a person. Were there times in your career earlier where you were maybe trying to be something you're not that you had to learn?

Absolutely. I I never like, I've never been around pro guys, right, early on. I never knew what it you you just have this thought in your head. But then also the people that are around you at that time and the way they're doing it, not to say that it was right, but, you know, sometimes, some people have, like, more of a how do I say it? A little more not arrogance, maybe not the right word, but maybe not as approachable because they're are professional, and they expect a certain way.

And you you look and like, oh, that's how I have to be. And an example, after we won the BCHL with the Coquitlam Express in 2014, I instead of being who like, that fun, awesome, half like, you know, let's get after it. I became hard and firm because, oh, we won a championship. I it should be this. It was a total it was the furthest thing from the truth.

You don't have to be the hard guy to demand work ethic.

No. Absolutely not. I can I can be firm? I can I'm detail oriented. I make sure that we get to what we need.

But, you know, there's ways of motivating people to get there. And that experience really sticks out. It was like, man, like, you know, we just won a championship, and I'd all I needed to do is just continue to roll. But in my mind, I had a different perception and also, I think partially not being around other other high end coaches. And I think this what really turned it, Woody, was two things.

One, the Hockey Canada program being accepted in that and then being part of a bigger network of guys and and females, to be like, wow. Like, this is great. Because it

You have peers that you can talk to.

Right. Because for a long time, goaltending coaching was like mine, mine, mine, not sharing, not sharing. You guys came out

and did a whole new be on an island.

Totally. And with when InGoal came out, it opened, it kinda changed that. But it also changed, like because they were sharing now. Right? You guys were sharing information from other guys.

And then for me, it was like, wow. Like, what an refreshing look outlook. And the other program was the NHL CA. Like, Lindsey and Hannah, like, they have been phenomenal.

NHL CA is a coaches association. Yes. Yeah. Which I know you've been involved in.

Yeah. Since 2020. And they I can't like, there's so much appreciation that goes to those programs because it they gave me the exposure to be around these amazing NHL goalie coaches that to this day, I am so thankful for them. And I know I can pick up like, I can pick up my cell and text them, and they'll give me the information I need. And they've been super supportive.

And through those programs, getting to, like, hear it and see it. And one of the goalie coaches you know what? No name dropping. Just gonna talk.

I was gonna ask you if you can give us some examples, but I didn't wanna put you two on the spot. So whoever you're comfortable sharing

with, like Like, honestly, there's Curtis Sanford's great. Jean's been great. France, Marco with the Canucks, he's been great. Jordan Sigalet's been great. These are and at the NHL in at the Toronto this year, NHL CA this year, I had two conversations that made the whole trip worth it.

And one was one was one was because I like, you know, I'm a social guy. And when you're in those in those environments, there's a social side, but like you, there's a professional side to us. When it's go time, it's like the alter ego, but it's hard to show that when you're in a social setting because you're not trying to be like, I need a job. I want a job. No one's trying to be that guy.

Yep. I'm just we're just trying to be ourselves. Yeah. And I was given some great advice by Curtis on having conversations and how to, you know, get those conversations to where they need to go so then you can start to showcase yourself. And I am so thankful to him, because he he it was just a it was a phenomenal conversation. And then also with France, he had a great conversation with me as well about being yourself and, like, look who you are.

And, like, it was really good stuff, and he's been supportive. And Jordan's always been supportive of Siggy throughout the road, whether it's like, hey. How how's the scouting report need to be done or this? And and Marco with the video stuff and his access to allowing me to just, you know, be around and ask stuff. Like, these these guys are the total opposite of when if I'm going back to 2014, what I thought a professional was.

And being around them, you're like, man, these guys are phenomenal human beings.

Isn't it funny how it's like the guys at the top are are always like, as much as and and it has shifted the idea of sharing and being open, but most of the guys at the top are more than happy to help you out. You just have to figure out a way to ask.

Yeah. And and the NHL CA has it provide Lindsay and Hannah, like, they're doing such good work. The opportunities they're providing for, like, myself, other female coaches, other BIPOC coaches, it's it's amazing. And I'm very, very thankful. And, through that through those programs, you know, you're able to get that knowledge, get that experience, and then, you know, go to, like, go to that NHL all star when I was selected to that.

That was amazing, you know, like, being in that arena and just taking it in and being like, this is this is it. This is you know, it it's not like I I know where I wanna go. It was just it's like you could taste it. And it was like and it really you know, it's motivating. And, and I'm just thankful for that for those opportunities because, again, it showed me that it is about being yourself and that and it essentially is.

And if you're yourself, it's it's gonna be fine because you're comfortable in your own skin, and it was just that exposure that really, really, really helped.

Okay. So Yes. We're into first PWHL Vancouver season.

Yes. What's coming up? Super excited.

What's the process been like? Like, is this we've talked to I mean, we've had we've had MASH. We've had we've had Soupy, Soupy. We've had her on the both the website and on the on the podcast. The process here, not so much their games in particular, but just getting started.

Like, I've seen the league grow and how much it's meant to these athletes and how much it's meant to the sport and how important it is, But now it's like another step, like a new team within a league that's still growing. Like, there's gotta be a ton going on for you right now.

Yeah. Absolutely. You know, we're we are I was on the Coliseum yesterday for the first time after oh, man. I'm gonna say what he's gotta be decades. Like, long, long time.

The Pacific Coliseum, quick story, was the first NHL game I saw was the Canucks versus Chicago.

I was gonna ask you. It's probably yeah. You're probably as thick into the era and and how old you are, so you would have seen games there.

Myself right there.

Yeah. Yeah.

Being in that arena yesterday, it was it it was like a a full circle thing. You know? Like, I was You watched

that as a kid. Yeah.

I was here at nine watching the Canucks, and and it was surreal. It is surreal, Woody. I'm not gonna lie. It's surreal. And, like, that's where I'm gonna be working.

And I don't take it for granted. I am, like, thankful for this opportunity. There's nothing I take for granted about it. And being in in the city, in Vancouver, the hype is real. You know, the the female athletes, I work with female athletes, the youth, Fraser Valley Rush, U18, Langley Minor Girls, like, do all that stuff and been doing it for a long time.

So you're gonna see firsthand how excited they are about this.

Absolutely. Absolutely. And and three years ago, before the PW ever came here, we started our first only goalie only goalie camp, and we only started with three. Then last the year before, by the year after that, it went to, like, nine, and then the last years have been sold out.

Female only.

Female only. Yeah. And and it was before even the PW, but, like, it was in my realm. But now that we have that, like, coincidentally, that started. It's been phenomenal.

And seeing the hype with the with with all the female athletes, the girls, you know, I have two girls. You know? And they're As do I. Yeah. And, you know, they're pumped.

The the doll Barbie doll came out. We have both. You know, my wife my wife's like leave it in the box. So it's real. I know the players are pumped.

The coaches are pumped. You know, Kara brings great energy with the team she's built. We're just extremely excited. With that in mind, I'm also ready to get after it.

Yeah. Like, there's been a you know, it's it's this hype, and it's like, I wanna get to it because it's almost more anxious on holding pattern than it is when you're in it.

K. So is the game the same in terms of and I mean from a tactical standpoint. Tactical, technical, in terms of managing. Like, I'm guessing you've had like, is the game the same as what you would coach at the BCHL, or do you is the game different in terms of how things are attacked, in terms of how you're gonna teach? Like, what what carries over?

What's a little bit different? And I don't mean from a a male female standpoint, but just at different levels, different leagues, the style of play, the way teams attack, how they create offense, and then how we solve that as goaltenders. I mean, it differs from the AHL to the NHL. So how does the PWHL fit in, and what kind of things have you had to study and learn to sorta apply to coaching with these with these two?

I feel, with the with the female side of things, plays happen in tighter. So, like, it's like, the slots, you know, plays are coming in tighter. The the shots are, like, the good scoring chances are, in the red zone, a lot of them. But I feel like too with the female game, there's a lot of behind the net and swarming the net. They do a good job of putting pucks like those bad angle shots at the feet, which is not not uncommon.

It's still a very common thing.

Plays and low slot line. Like, that's how offense is. I think it's I think low slot line in the NHL has gone up something like 41% over the last five years. Like, that's that's that's high score.

Right. And so I find with the females, the the speed's there, everything's there. It's like, I don't go coming from the BCHL to to the PWHL and then doing stuff with the SFU, I and I don't find it's a it's A huge difference? Yeah. I feel like, you know, it's

it's teaching are the same thing.

Yes.

What how has that adjusted? So rather than making it and that was my fault for p w making it PWHL specific, but just how has that evolved over? Say, even the last five years, we talked before we went on air about some biomechanics, about stance things. Like, how has your coaching evolved, through the different influences, and and and what are some of the biggest changes you see in the game, whether it's working with boys, girls, youth hockey, right up to now professional?

I feel, yeah. That's a great question, Woody. And I feel like a lot of lately what's worth me, it's a lot of the, posture because posture drives body function. So really helping goalies understand, like, we we talked about earlier about that hard stance, always being ready. And now it's like teaching them, you know, being in a taller stance, understanding that's for mobility, that's to to move, have to be able to arrive early, like we call it quick to position Yeah.

And being set stable balance so you're there able to to be ready to buy yourself time to get to the next moment. And then you have your shot ready, which is, you know, when that's a hockey IQ. That's when you as a goaltender, as an athlete, know a shooter's about to shoot. And now we're gonna get our stick on the ice and not lock in, but just be in a new, posture that allows you to move or save. Right.

And then it's getting into that low stance. And, again, that's that three stance system. Low stance.

In execution and

Yeah. And, like, being in that, and understanding when to use it. So kinda to answer your question, I find the that's something where on eyes have been a huge one. You know, your visual leads, your scanning, you know, tracking in and off your body, which allows you to get set for that next moment to have that pace in your game. So to be a we teach those things, but a challenge is, you know, with young athletes, it's they they take what they take as as opposed to, you know, maybe connect the dots and try to apply it in their game in those scenarios.

So sometimes, like, well, you do the work, but and you ask, like, here's why we do it. Here's how we do it.

Trying to help them not just do it, but understand those parts.

Yes. And that's the part I find where we are always working to help athletes understand it, not just do it. Right. Understand it.

Not because I said so, but here's here's here's why it works.

Absolutely. And then obviously, do drills, progressive drills that will work through those scenarios so they get a taste of it. But what I find is when they're in those moments, it doesn't always apply. And we that's understandable. These are young athletes.

They're learning. Right. But are they studying the right things? Do they watch enough hockey? I know I'm I'm kinda leading the witness a little bit here, Joey.

You're you're spot on, Woody. And that's where exactly I was gonna go. And I find if we get more athletes watching hockey games, they'll start

to The highlights.

No. Just watch the games. Like, enjoy a period. Like, not you don't have to watch a whole game, but let's take a period if you the Canucks are playing your favorite team's playing. Watch your period and just watch the goalie.

And I'm sure I I mean, me growing up, we didn't have goalie instruction as much until later on. So we watched. You know, we mimicked Kirk McLean, Grant Fuhr. We what they did, we tried to do. You studied.

You emulated. Yes. And I feel like a little more of that would be helpful to today's athletes in that they will see what they're learning, see how it's applied, and in the scenarios, which will then, like you said, it'll help them kind of, you know, gets the juices flowing mentally where they can tinker with it and be like, ah, this is studying it. This is what I get.

This is what I'm

doing. Yes. And and, again, in in gameplay, we want any athlete to play freely and fearlessly. No question. But in practice, we need to have the brain working because that's when we make those adjustments and we tinker and we learn.

In a game, I am not gonna tell my goalie, this is what you need to do. No. I trust you. You play. You get in flow state.

You do you. Of course, we'll have conversations, but I don't want an athlete to feel where they can't find a creative solution. They can sprawl out to make a say, I wanna see that. I would rather them put themselves out and get scored on than to just turn and still watch it go in. Right.

The bench as well.

The willingness to break structure and find creative solutions is a big part of the game.

Absolutely. And so going back to it, I, in practice, we the brain needs to be on. We need to make those adjustments. We need to kinda tinker and figure out. In a game, though, I am not gonna ask you to do that.

I want you to play in flow state. I want you to get to it. I'm gonna trust you. This is what you saw. After the game, we can have discussion what you saw and you know, at that time.

But, you know, game days, game time, it's your day. It's time for my athlete. You're as you as you you're my goalie. Go out and have fun. Play fearless.

You know, be creative, and bring the crowd to their feet. Do what you do.

So you're just you're setting me up for my favorite line. If you think out there, you're dead. Right? We're you're old you're old enough to have watched Top Gun the original. We talked about posture.

One of the things we talked about a little patterns. You know? Mitch Korn talks about goalie is not a game of shots. It's a game of patterns, and and being able to sort of recognize those and watching hockey helps you do it. The other thing I wanted to get to before we we we get out, I'm gonna make you show me some drills at some point here, because I'm really hoping we're featuring PWHL goalies in our pro drills at InGoal this year, because now that we have teams close, I'm gonna get to see them a lot more. Press. The idea of a press.

We're talking about multi stance systems.

Right.

One of the challenges of multi stance systems over the years has been when the movement from one stance to another, especially in situations you go from high all the way into that save ready, is the abruptness of it and how it can get you locked in or be targeted. Like, know, hey. If you go high to low and it's this distinct motion that widens you out, teams will start to look for it. So you had mentioned walk me through what a press is and how you're using it and teaching goalie to sort of as a way to adjust stance in different situations and not lock themselves in totally?

So the Good question. I'm sorry.

Put you

on the spot.

That's And I hope you're okay talking

about it. Totally good. I'm totally thank you for that question, Woody. I'm the press is exactly what you said to comp out the lock, and today's players are taught to use deception so much, whether it's a push, a pull to change the angle. And as a goalie's coach, like, I I when I'm pre scouting, I'll be like, hey.

If we lock a goalie in, we'll get them widened out. Now that puts them vulnerable to go east or west. Or if they lock out, you can also go up. So what we're kind of been tinkering with over the few years is what's I call the press. And the press is pretty much to help combat a goalie from locking in.

And because as we know, once you lock in, get wide, as a goaltender, you're only left with a downward motion or a slide because you you're locked. Like, you've lost mobility. Yeah. You're committed.

Unless you're Dustin Wolf on a breakaway, which is just sick stuff.

Yeah. He's amazing.

The rest of us can't

do that. He can be in the splits and he's still gonna move.

Grab an axe.

Yeah. This is unreal. So the press is so when, let's say, a a right a right, a right hand is coming in and they start the puck off off their body, but then they're gonna pull it into their feet to change the angle to release. Well, if you can visualize, a player has the puck out wide and that goalie locks in because the shot's gonna come, but now that player changed the angle because they pulled it to their feet. That box control has completely changed.

Meaning that that goalie that's locked into that one position, when that puck comes into their feet, there's a new angle to the net that they're not occupying anymore. They're still stuck in the old angle. And so the press and that's one reason. And, also, the, when you're locked in, you can't move. So the press is allow allowing our goalies to when they see deception, and this is a hockey IQ play.

This is based on the goalie's ability to read a shot's gonna come and there's deception, or they're gonna push or pull. And that's when, let's say, sticking with that scenario, right handed shot is coming at you and they pull it into their feet and I'm a goalie, my left leg, I would allow it to just scrape along the top of the ice so that my chin belly button is gonna be square on that puck when it releases, essentially putting me in the middle of the shot lane and still having a box control because I haven't locked in.

So you're you're widening out slightly, but it's more of a like, almost like a little subtle shuffle shift as opposed to a Lock. You know,

Yes. Lock. Totally. And so that would be your right leg. If there's the left player pulling it, then it would be your right leg doing the press.

Right. And if you're reading, like, someone coming in for a one t, both legs would start to press out, allowing for that downward flow. The beautiful thing about it that I find is if that player holds the puck, because you're pressing and you haven't widened out, you've just allowed that edge to kinda get yourself more of that shot ready, that back leg can follow you. It's still loaded. Right?

It's still loads. You can you can shuffle. You can put go into a t push. You can hold your edges. You're not committed.

And so, I found that's been really popular amongst the goalies I've shared about, whether it's goalies going to, like, an NHL camp, whether it's been the PWHL goalie, whether it's been dub goalies or my university goalies, they get the concept. And so that has been a really unique one to work with because I'm finding it it does keep our goalies more mobile. It doesn't allow them to lock in. It's allowing to have some flow to the game, and it's a downward flow, which then leads into, let's say, that player put pulls it to their feet and you have that press. Now that when that shot comes, you have that chin over top.

You're that downward flow over top, that head trajectory. You make the save, and because you're leaning in, head trajectory essentially means leaning in over top. Now you're you have that flow to go right to your rebound as opposed to reaching when you're locked in and that player changed the angle. Now you're reaching on that save. You're not over top of your save.

Now when you're recovering to your rebound, now there's more mechanics required, which which costs more time, which will put you slightly behind the play. And this is a game of seconds or milliseconds as we know. It's like

a it's almost like a like a a far more subtle but situation specific less of, like, like, lateral release.

Yeah. I mean, in a way. In a way.

Like, a little bit of sort of, like, just an ever so subtle you're you're allowing yourself to transition a little lower, a little wider without committing to that locked in stance in any way, shape, or form.

Right. And there is and then the and and in a sense, yes. And then when there

I probably oversimplified it. I didn't mean to

No. That's all good, man. And then the the triggers is knowing that the we're not getting wide. Like, once you feel you're getting widened out, that back leg needs to now follow in, and that'll keep you square. So we're talking like a six foot guy moving it out, let's say, at the top of the circles or a female player at the top of the circle, pulling it from their wingspan out wide, pulling it to their feet, that press will allow them just to see, set stable and balanced while staying square on the release.

Is that angle is being changed by shooters who are increasingly looking to change

it? And it's all about that. Right? It's because the goalies are so good now. We have to get them moving.

We have to get the locked in. We have to get head switches, get traffic in front of them, create all these these obstacles. So as a goalie coach, when I'm seeing and I saw that, I was like, man, this I like the idea of the press. Like, it can be good. And then I'm finding that it it it creates flow, like but not like a east to west or lateral flow.

It just creates that flow

A balanced flow.

Yeah. A balanced flow of a downward flow when you're and, again, this is one, though, that you have to work through because of the hockey IQ play. It's not just something you do. So in practice, this will be when your brain is on, out flying it. And then in games, through repetition, I hope that it starts to present itself.

But, again, it's repetitiously going over it through practice while the brain is on.

Okay. So now, like, you know, automatically, I'm in I'm loving this conversation, and now I feel like I'm gonna have to hold you to showing. Like, this needs to be an article. We need to get out there, film some stuff with you and the PWHL crew.

Love

to, Woody. Follow this up. So because there's a lot of people right now that are making notes, and they're like, I need to learn this. I need to teach this. So, Joey, we're gonna leave it at that.

Just because time, you and I could probably go on for another hour, but this just means we have time for a part two as this your first season in the PWHL gets going. So back to the start, congratulations. Thank you very much for this time. I can't wait to do more of this with you in the coming years.

Woody, thank you. I really appreciate you and Hutch and InGoal Magazine. So thank you for this. And, yeah, I look forward to more with you, my friend.

Outro

So you guys go back a little bit?

Yeah. We've been I mean, obviously, he's he's he's part of our partnership program in his schools, but I've I've I mean, I've met Joey years ago through pro performance. You know, he mentioned in the interview, Jordan Sigalet, who's the director of goaltending with the Calgary flames, was his partner in the early going, somebody I've known back since his playing days before he went over to coaching. So it's been great in the past couple of years to build a closer relationship with Joey, watch the work that he does, working with Hockey Canada. And this I'm just excited for him to get this opportunity.

I know he's ready for it. You know I'm excited to have the PWHL here in Vancouver and down the road in Seattle. And I think Joey's gonna be a great part of of this new franchise here in Vancouver as well. They've got some great goaltenders. Funny.

Interesting. We mentioned I wanted to give a quick, you know, shout out. We talked about having Emerance Maschmeyer and Kristen Campbell. You know, I'm not sure it's official or if it's a tryout. I don't have all that, and so I don't wanna mess that up.

But Kimberly Newell, if you remember her as a guest on the InGoal Radio Podcast from the area here, played for China at the Olympics, and hasn't actually played much hockey since because there haven't been leagues, she's gonna be a part of the organization or at least trying out to be a number three goalie starting out. And, like, what a fantastic story. Hasn't played for years, but I've seen her on the ice since, and she looks fantastic. So, a lot of really exciting storylines, good people, great goaltenders already involved with PWHL Vancouver, and I can't wait to to get out there and sort of watch them going through their reps and try and learn from them.

What are you hearing about a name? I know you couldn't pry it out of Joey.

I I, know, I waited till he went to the bathroom. I tried to look at his laptop. You know, I was doing every all the sleuthing I could, but, you know, Joey kept it well hidden. So I I don't know. There's a little part of me that would be like, okay.

Because I do believe they are gonna introduce the name before the season, still wear just the Vancouver jerseys for the first year, not have the logo on there. There's a part of me that's, you know, like, the kid at Christmas wants to rip everything open. Give me the logo. Give me the jersey. Give me everything.

But I I think colors are sharp. The sets are have you seen some of the sets? Like, you see Maschmeyer CCM all out set for this. Got a little pot graphic. I like that.

That looks good. Can't wait to see what suit he comes up with. And, actually, we'll have all for Kimberly Newell, what the Bryan said she wore at the Olympics with the dragon on it. Okay. Like, one of the greatest all time.

So the three of them might have the best gear in forget the PWHL, like, depending on what the other two come up with, this could be the best gear in hockey.

So you weren't able to get anything off the gear as far as hints for the for the name?

Well, I'm pretty sure they're not calling them the the Felix the Cats. Like, it sort of had a pod fan graphic. Know, Daren, now you got me thinking even deeper. I yeah. Here I am trying to get a good

eggs in there.

No. Maybe there was. I don't know. I don't I just don't know. You're killing me now.

I just don't know. Thanks for this today. Fun catching up with you as always and as well as the listeners. Let us know some feedback. We got some some great notes in the last couple of weeks, including one that walked us through an unbelievable journey from Woody's warm up stick all the way through the dangler.

And obviously, great listeners who are so passionate about the position, but stay in touch with us. Drop us a line. The short one, the long one, doesn't matter. We'd love hearing from everybody.

And Woody had a good chuckle at the Woody's good at Woody understands self deprecation. So I had a good that was a great that was a great one. I loved it. Thanks. Keep them coming.

Talk to everybody next week on InGoal Radio Podcast presented by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports Langley, thehockeyshop.com.