InGoal Radio Episode 334 Kendra Woodland of the PWHL Ottawa Charge

Intro

And the time of year that the international tournament set take a share of the spotlight from the National Hockey League in junior hockey. It's InGoal Radio, the podcast sponsored by the Hockey Shop Source for Sports Langley, the hockeyshop.com. Daren Millard along with Kevin Woodley here. David Hutchison will be by in just a little bit with the Stop It Goaltending U, the app parent segment. We have the Vizual Edge ProReads, Talbot talking about the triangle.

This is a young goaltender who dominated in the Canadian university scene, graduated from the University of New Brunswick, and did not land on with the PWHL team. So basically spent the last year grinding away on her own to try and make a team this season and has. She's with PWHL Ottawa, currently sitting as their third goaltender, but clearly, they see someone who could contribute at the PWHL level in the near future. Talking to their goalie coach, friend of the program, Pierre Groulx, really likes a lot about her game. And so just a really great story of perseverance.

A great example of perseverance, some great lessons about sort of how to maintain your game when you don't have access to regular skates and regular practices. And to do that for an entire season, an entire year, and then make a PWHL team out of camp, is really, really impressive, speaks to her character, speaks to her skill level, and I can't wait. This is sort of a get to know you type of interview, like much like we had last week with Drew Commesso, and I think our audience is gonna love, both the story of Kendra Woodland and some of the takeaways that she shares, lessons along the way for her to get to this point.

And how you piecemeal a season when you're not on a club, and, lots of players end up going through that. The athletes, who find themselves just in that that quandary for a little bit, and you have to make it up as you go along. So some advice there.

Yeah. It's it's it's like I said, it's one of those ones that it's not a super long interview, just a chance for us to get to know her on a practice day ahead of a game. So there wasn't a big window for a long sit down, but it's one of those ones where there are a ton of takeaways in it and leaves you wanting more. I I think we're gonna be talking to Kendra for years to come and look forward to those conversations because clearly a student of the game has had a lot of success at Canadian that's the other sort of side to this. We we hear often about, you know, goalies coming out of the NCAA, and, boy, there's some young goalies taking the PWHL by storm right now.

But this is a great example of you know, again, we we tend to forget Canadian University Sports, U Sports, has got some real high level hockey as well, and Kendra's another great example of that as she catches on. I think first goalie to come out of U Sport and make a PWHL roster.

Between Christmas and New Year's, a great time to dig into some under twenties, World Junior Hockey Championship action, as well as the Spengler Cup and our good buddy James Reimer playing for Team Canada.

Yeah. I knew this was coming. I I believe that James still wants to play, but in the in the NHL, but it just has to be the right opportunity. I know for a fact that there were some opportunities last summer, but they didn't fit with where his family was at. So we've heard from other goalies that have gone over to the Spengler and what a great family environment it is.

I would assume I believe he has his family, April and the kids, over there with him right now. And let's see if there are opportunities for the remainder of the season that come up for Reimer out of this that sort of fit with where the family is at. And if not, I'll be curious to see. I wouldn't I wouldn't be surprised. I don't know this for a fact, but I wouldn't be surprised if something doesn't come up out of the Spengler if he just hangs them up.

And that would be I mean, listen. If it's a family decision and and what everybody best for everyone, then great. He's had a remarkable career for a guy that I don't think a lot of people expected to be in the National Hockey League for as long as he was. But also a big part of me would be sad, not just because we've gotten to know him so well over the years, because he posted some really good numbers with the Buffalo Sabres last year. Like, his his adjusted save percentage was tops among unrestricted free agents this summer except for Jake like, Jake Allen was the only guy, and he never made it to market anyway.

So of the guys that made it to the market, James Reimer actually had the best numbers. So if he can have a good showing at the Spengler, maybe another opportunity opens up because to me, the National Hockey League is a better place to top goaltending when James Reimer is in it.

And with all apologies to the World Junior Championship and the Spengler Cup tournament in Davos, Switzerland. The most coveted conversation will be something that happens off the ice during this holiday season. That will be the announcement of the rosters for the Olympic Winter Games in Milan Cortina. That's coming up January 1, though I think Team Canada is going to go on New Year's Eve. And where are we on some of these decisions for the nations?

And we'll start with with Team Canada with their goaltenders from the four nations either being unavailable right now or not performing.

Well, I'm assuming by unavailable, we're talking about Adin Hill. Mhmm. So the fact he's missed so much time with injury would lead me to believe he's probably not on this list. Samuel Montembeault in the American Hockey League now, after a really difficult season. Like, his his adjusted save percentage is dead last at a 66 goalies, you know, to face at least 200 chances in the NHL this year.

And this is the one that's gonna be interesting because next on that list, second last, is Jordan Binnington, who I think everybody assumes after winning the four nations last year will be back. And so if Bennington is back, if that assumption is correct, and I genuinely don't know, I think everybody believed that after his performance at four nations last year, he would have to fall off a cliff to not be back and not be the starter. But, you know, second last in the National Hockey League is pretty close to falling off a cliff performance wise. So curious to see which way that goes. I mean, let's be honest, Daren.

Is there any better Jordan Binnington than Jordan Binnington with a chip on his shoulder? Like, traditionally, that's when he's at his best, and he will definitely have one if he is selected. Beyond that, I'm assuming it's gotta be Logan Thompson. And statistically, Mackenzie Blackwood in the last couple weeks has passed him on a, you know, adjusted save percentage standpoint. This is this is the irony for all the consternation about the Canadian crease.

Those two currently occupy fourth and sixth in the National Hockey League, again, amongst goalies to face at least 200 chances this year in terms of adjusted save percentage. So both by the numbers would be great options, and there's other guys with a Canadian passport. Tristan Jarry is 12. You know, when I looked down that down that list, Jake Allen, we talked about him and what he would bring as a guy who who's won a cup in a support role. He's top 20 in adjusted save percentage.

Like, right there above you know, right next to UC Saros and Thatcher Demko. One guy who's headed to the Olympics and another guy who was trying to make a strong case for it. Not far behind him is Jet Greaves, Darcy Kuemper. So it's interesting. Like, what did I just list?

Six Canadians? There are six or seven Canadians in the top 20 of National Hockey League adjusted save percentage right now for so for all the constant alternation around the Canadian crease, they've got options.

We expect the Americans to run back their trio from the Four Nations face off. No surprises there.

No. I mean, when Connor Hellebuyck leads that list, now that he's back and and healthy after missing some time with the surgery and back at an almost record pace. And firmly in the top 10 in in his adjusted numbers, that that's kind of a no brainer. Jake Oettinger's had a nice bounce back season this year. His numbers are well above expected top 15.

And Jeremy Swayman, after a bit of a slow start, has worked his way up above expected as well. So I I'm with you on that one, Daren. That seems to make a ton of sense.

Focus on the Four Nations rosters and the teams that were there in Montreal and Boston and looking ahead to Milan and Cortina, Sweden and Finland were the other two teams that that took part, the the nations that challenged Canada, the American or in the Team USA. Where is Sweden right now?

We don't know. And I think we have to start this conversation, because we're having it on the day it was announced that Linus Ullmark is leaving the Ottawa senators for personal reasons. So I think that just throws a giant question mark over everything. And as much as the focus will be on the Olympics and Ottawa senators, ours is strictly on Linus Ullmark. So no idea what's going on, and all we wanna say is that whatever it is, we hope it resolves itself in a way that's positive for the health, whether it's mental or physical of Omar, his family, whatever's involved in it.

Nothing but good things, good wishes that we are sending his way. Whether he's a part of the Olympics or not because of this, we don't know. But we just hope the best for the person, not the goaltender. That's where our focus is today with Linus Ullmark. And where that leaves the Swedes, it's interesting, Daren.

You know, I I think do you just go with the the Minnesota tandem? Like, is it is it Jesper Wallstedt and Filip Gustafson? And then beyond that, if it's not Ullmark, do you do you just take Jacob Markstrom because of how well established he is over time?

Or was not part of the Four Nations, but that was

Because of injury.

Injury. Yeah.

Right. And they brought Sam Harrison instead. And when I look at the numbers, like, Markstrom's raw numbers are not flattering. Like, his save percentage is way down this year. It's been a tough environment in New Jersey on the goaltenders.

As expected, he's eight seventy seven. He's a little bit below that. So sort of mid pack in the NHL in the in the sort of low forties out of out of those 66 goalies that have seen at least 200 chances. So, you know, not great. Not as terrible as the raw numbers suggest.

Anton Forsberg is right there, similar numbers on adjusted save percentage. So I'm I'm genuinely curious to see which way, they go. The Swedes, they're you know, there's options. Ersson, does do they do they bring him back? Honestly, you know, given given the uncertainty around Ullmark, I'm I'm really not sure, and I'm kinda curious.

I mean, you got Arvid Soderblom in Chicago's had a bit of a tough season statistically. Jonas Johansson with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dennis Hildeby, but, you know, hasn't been on the the the big stage for very long. I mentioned Anton Forsberg, Samuel Ersson. Like, all of a sudden, it's a list that despite how good Gustafson and have been, you know, has some question marks on it. I I my assumption would be that Filip Gustafson is probably the starter for this team when when the puck drops for real over there.

Just a sick tap to, Anton, Forsberg and his new kit. He's got the silver pads and gloves right now, and they pop with that LA King black outfit. Like, it it is outstanding. So good on him there. Team Finland, also some question marks.

Yeah. And I gotta assume that it's Juuse Saros again. And we we sort of went through this exercise at the end of last season. A lot of his perceived struggles in Nashville were not. Like, he was really good out of the gate.

Should have been a Vezina candidate through the first third of last season before everything just became too much. The environment became too difficult for any goaltender last year. It's not a great environment again this year. His expected save percentage is well below league average, and yet he's outperforming it at a top, you know, top 20 level in the National Hockey League. You know?

I know Scott Wedgewood was added to Canada's list as an option. Not sure if we mentioned him earlier, but we should've. He's got a he's got an adjusted save percentage right there with Spencer Knight and UC Saros and and slightly ahead of Jake Allen and Thatcher Demko. So, you know, he's Saros has been good again this season. I got to assume that he is the leading contender.

After that, I mean, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has contributed a couple of wins on Buffalo's eight game win streak despite Alex Lyon getting most of the starts. UPL has been really good in a couple of his to help keep that win streak going. Kevin Lankinen hasn't had the season in Vancouver that he had last year to earn that spot, and yet he's such a good guy. You know he'd fit in well with UC Saros, and he's so like, he hasn't given up a shootout goal all year. Think he's 14 for 14 this year.

It's one of the best shootout numbers historically in the National Hockey League. Do you take him just in case for that alone? Uh-oh. And then your your other options Woah. Woah.

Is there no shootout?

Are you suggesting that they would put him into a a shootout situation despite not playing the game?

I'm not suggesting it would actually happen, but I'm suggesting it would be really fun. Like, imagine if you had it like the like, a relief pitcher. The dude hasn't given up a shootout goal all year. Like, he's 14 for 14. He's got some of the best numbers in the history of the NHL in shootouts.

Like, if you got into a game in a shootout, and I don't even know what the rules are, Daren. Like, does a gold medal game potentially go to a shootout? Do playoff games go to a shootout in the Olympics? I can't remember whether they've changed or not. So at the end of the day, I would I would expect him to be on it.

The other options are Justus Annunen and Merilainen. So, those are your five options at least from the National Hockey League. I think there's there's a you know, UPL and Saros are there, and I think that Lankinen's done enough over the years, including win a world championship for Finland that he's there. Whether they would consider him to be a shootout specialist or not, I I I can't tell you. All I know is he's damn near unbeatable when he is in the net for a shootout.

I wouldn't mind seeing it too.

We both just wanna see it. That's all.

Preliminary round and, leading up to the the gold medal game. I know there are shootouts. We've been and lived through those.

I don't know about the gold medal game. Haven't checked whether the the rules have changed on that. I would hope not, but you also have schedules to keep up to date with. And the men's final for Olympic hockey is the last event of the Olympics before the closing ceremonies. Gotta get the guys to the openings or the closing ceremonies.

Yeah. I covered 2010, and, obviously, the Golden Goal and Crosby and was there for Associated Press covering that. And I don't even remember, like, it's going into overtime whether that whether they just kept playing in overtime or if if that was a possibility. So, listen, those are the four nations, but let's not forget. Like, we were just sorta there's a couple teams there where we weren't sure who the number three would be.

There are some other countries that have like, how about Czechia right now? Lukas Dostal, David Rittich is on a tear for the New York Islanders. He's been really good in a relief role for them behind Ilya Sorokin who's been the best goal in the National Hockey League this season. Karel Vejmelka, Dan Vladar, in his first chance to be a number one in Philadelphia, is posting some really good numbers, both raw and adjusted. So, some great options there.

And if you want sleepers right now, from a country that doesn't get a ton maybe of of consideration, you know, on the international stage, but they have one of the best players of the world up front in Leon Draisaitl. And Philipp Grubauer of the Seattle Kraken is quietly well, I kinda called this last year. Like, when he came back from the American Hockey League after being demoted, he was really good down the stretch, and he's right back to that guy right now. Top 10 in the National Hockey League in adjusted save percentage. So between Draisaitl and Grubauer, could the Germans be a team that upset somebody over there?

Switzerland is also a team that's involved. Denmark is going to the Olympic winter winter games. Freddie Andersen. So there's there's goaltenders across the board, with an NHL pedigree, from some of these, lesser competitive teams.

Does Akira Schmid of the Vegas Golden Knights?

I think so.

He goes over for Sweden. I mean, he's the only guy in the NHL with a Switzerland, sorry, with a Swiss passport right now. He's played well.

Yeah. It really, really stepped up. So we'll we'll watch that with with great interest as we pay our friends a visit at the Hockey Shop Source for Sports Langley, the hockeyshop.com. Things happening over there with all kinds of inventory being moved out over the holidays as things never really do slow down, but this is a bit of a a zany time.

Yeah. It is. And you know what? It's a great time to get a great deal. I know our American friends aren't always familiar.

We've talked about it a few times. Boxing Day has become boxing week, and it spills into the New Year in terms of sales. Boxing Day is the day after Christmas, December 26. It's kind of our Canadian version of Black Friday. Everything used to go on sale when I was a kid.

I used to go line up for CDs at A and B Sound, in Surrey, which interestingly enough became the hockey shop for a long time. Like, that was the same building. I remember being a teenager and getting dropped off and lining up in, like, the wee hours of the morning because the CDs went on sale on December 26. So they've got great sales on right into the New Year. Their boxing week sale has some of the biggest discounts all season.

We know there's new gear coming out. We've got the new Warrior Alpha Surge launching through the customizer on January 1 before the full retail launch in the spring. They have to create room at the Hockey Shop Source for Sports for all the new stuff that's gonna start trickling in, and they do that by putting the old stuff on sale. So make sure you check it out at the hockeyshop.com. There is, like, there's too much to list in terms of discounts.

Some as much as 50% off on previous lines as they try and create that room both on the floor and in the warehouse. So make sure you check out the Hockey Shop Source for Sports in Langley or the hockeyshop.com to find out, you know, maybe there's something on your Christmas list that didn't show up under the tree. Santa Santa didn't take care of you. The Hockey Shop Source for Sports will check them out in their boxing week and into the New Year sale.

Gear

What is on the docket for you and Cam this week?

We talk about the True youth line. So we've talked a lot about the different lines that True has brought to the, senior, adult, you know, teenage goalie component, but we never really dug into the youth line. So there's some new options there. And without further ado, I'm just gonna let Cam explain it to you. You know what we do at the end

[crosstalk] of the year, Cam? Remember things we forgot? That's right. And that's what we're doing here.

That's right.

We're gonna go over the true catalyst. Is this youth junior? Always get confused. I'm not that bright.

Junior.

And it's holiday season. Junior. Then we're all being pulled in different places. Okay. So catalyst junior line designed by Le Fave.

This has been on the shelf for a little while, but we've got some price point improvements from this line, some new options.

The original junior line.

So we apologize that we missed this earlier. We're catching up right now. This would be a great idea. Too late to get it under the tree for Christmas, but, you know, maybe we're halfway through a season. The young goalie in your life has decided to do it full time.

Transition from youth to junior.

Looking to maybe get them into something that gets them into next season depending on growth. But like now is a good time to think about that. And Cam has a whole bunch as we see different colorways, different options in stock right now. So Cam, walk me through what the Catalyst Junior line is real quick.

Alright.

What's up? Oh, by the way, welcome back at the Hockey Shop Source for Sports. I'm Kevin. He's Cam. We do

we do gear. That's that's that's what we do. That's what we do. Goal gear. Okay.

Catalyst Junior pad. Alright. First of all, starting with the pad itself. Nice. It's lightweight design.

It is very soft.

Flexible. Flexible. You don't want little goalies that don't have muscles yet to have to fight against their pad.

Too much rigidity. Right. K. So moving into the back, we also wanna keep things super simple for those goalies as well. So literally two straps.

Knee strap, large calf strap. Great dive wrap. And that's very fundamental to the end. So you can definitely see the fade influence on the style of the actual leg channel itself back to those really open super wide leg channels.

Yeah. Hey. But I mean, honestly, like, there's NHL guys that want leg channels that open. That's just the reality.

What they

I love the simplicity of it.

The thing that you will get very easily out of this pad, very easy rotation.

Could You still do this too. You still go Absolutely.

Yeah. Like and you know what I noticed? Maybe maybe you're gonna get there, Cam, but I'm gonna jump ahead of you.

Yeah. Here it comes.

A little pillow in there for what? Stability when they're down in that butterfly. I really don't want them down there all the time, but when they get there, it's nice to have a nice stable

That's correct, Kevin. Well done. Thank you, buddy. There you go. See, not a whole lot gets past you in goaltending and in real life.

Well that. When I'm on the ice, a lot gets past me, but here in the Hockey Shop Source for Sports, I try and be on my game.

So that's why you wanna talk about maybe a steep boot next.

Okay. I was noticing that.

So Very steep angle. So this will kick the pad up on your young goalie a little bit too as well. So you will notice that, and that's it is a little bit of a true characteristic of the way in terms of a pad sits on the leg. However, what that does actually aid in, so when your goalie does go down, instead of having that boot super flat and kissing that puck rebound right back up to the shooter, it's helping create that angle naturally to the corners, less of a chance of a straight rebound back to the shooter.

Okay. And then there's different philosophies on that. I like that. What about from a fit perspective in terms of your young goalie? Like, is the fit chart on the website if I'm buying this online?

Is it gonna be the same? How does that work? They need to call you?

So, yes, that'd be ideal. As usual, (604) 589-8299 or 1-800-567-7790.

Nicely snuck in there, Cam.

Nice. But so, yes, in terms of for even how that sits, you can see how even whenever I sit on the toe, how it does create that little bit of a gap transit for that overall fit. So, yeah, that will adjust the fitment a little bit versus some of the other pads that are on the wall. That's it.

And there is no bootstraps. It's not like

you can pull it down. No. Right. Okay. So that's an issue.

So the pad

itself will ride, like I said, higher. A little higher.

Yes. Okay.

Upper toe attachment.

Pro pro laces?

Yes. Super simple. Nice and easy to be able to do up onto the skate. Great that attachment point. If you wanna switch it to laces, very easy enough.

Just pull that elastic out, switch it over to laces. Dodged. Look with the pad in terms of having those knee rolls, but they're just a stitch line that is not an actual functional knee roll. And again, aesthetics. Style of

pen. Blocker.

Blocker first,

Well, we're going blocker first. I'm gonna yeah.

Okay. Nice. Lightweight blocker. I can't even get my hand in, so they have redesign their hand size a little bit more geared towards that junior hand in mind. Would it be

embarrassing if I fit my hand in there now? I'm then.

Uh-oh. Somebody got little hands. Yikes.

Okay. It's tight at least. Okay. Strong blocker board though. Nice Not and in there real good.

[crosstalk] Don't break the wrist. Yes. Try not to. So still get that good deflection point out of it, but nice lightweight package. So again, good overall fitting blocker.

Coming to exciting thing.

I noticed we got white on white, but they have different whites. Yes. This is unique. It just stand out a

little bit. Know? Does stand out a little Let's show off the graphic. Great.

I like the graphic. Okay.

K. Glove wise, finish off the series. So five ninety style closure, offset tee to help aid with that closure as well. Glove is very, very snappy off the shelf. You know I would say minimal amount of break in required for a glove like this as well.

Do you want to see

if that fits you too? Well I didn't exactly come off that oh no okay all right This is a win for me. I don't fit into this and a good job of sizing it down to proper size hands.

So a little bit tighter. Yeah. You can't get your hand fully in there. So that that's good showing for it.

That is. That's good. Nice nice big pocket in there. Correct.

[crosstalk] So age groups, style, like like, not style, but skill level play. Yeah. You're anywhere from that, like yeah. Again, it really depends

on the sizes. I guess if you're getting early growth spurts.

Exactly. Exactly. So, I mean, a lot of it happens. You do see a lot of true in the NHL, so your young goalie is probably gonna want true because they see it in the NHL a lot. So this gives them that option to

have Just be forewarned. They're not wearing this actual pad.

No. That's correct. Just in case.

Yep. Just the rates. So if you wanna talk about it a little bit more, you can give me a call.

(604) 589-8299 or 1-800-567-7790.

Get that in there twice today. I did. Atta boy. Catalyst junior line from True. We missed it.

Don't you miss it.

They've got it here at the Hockey Shop Source for Sports with lots of different color options and the experts to make sure that your young goalie is fit properly in it. It could be the catalyst for their next step.

Love it when you guys get together. Also, I wanna say that that happened on the boxing week sale website and sorted through a bunch of different things, and there there's some incredible deals there whether you're looking for upper body or pants or skates, masks are also on sale. So a little bit of everything, including pads and gloves. Danglers? There's danglers.

Yeah.

Some extra danglers for yourself?

Yeah. I I have about five of them just floating around, and I use them until they completely crack. And every time one cracks, I say,

that's why I got it. That would've hurt.

That would've been good.

Absolutely. Absolutely. It's And

it looks good. Like, when one cracks and and the the player that hits you, it feels terrible. And it it's kind of a flex when you skate back over to the bench to to take it off.

Yeah. I I don't have a ton of I it might be interesting because I don't wear one, but trying to think if I have skates where guys would shoot hard enough. I mean, I'm not against national hockey leaguers like you. A couple of guys had a couple of skates that played, but I wonder if if they'd be breaking danglers. When they split back now they're just hanging out.

Want me to try it.

You're like,

See, that's your way of trying to get me to try it is to call it a flex to get one broken. That's that's what played by you from a psychological standpoint.

Totally. No. Psychological. I would I would stop short of that. That gets us into a dangerous area, and and it's a shallow end.

I I must say that. We've got our Vizual Edge ProReads this week. And explain this because there's you're connecting dots here by the triangle with Cam Talbot.

Okay. So Cam Talbot, who, by the way, is a user of Vizual Edge. If you look at all the all star game appearances that he's had later in his career, he credits a lot of it to starting to use visual edge as a training tool later on in his career. He's used it for a number of years now. Still uses it on a regular basis as do other goalies included Jordan Binnington on a game day to sort of ward up warm up his eyes and warm up his brain.

As they say over at Vizual Edge, if you want the puck to look like a beach ball, we've all had that night as goalies where the puck looks huge. You're ahead of every play. You feel calm, patient, and total control. Then there are the nights where you're feeling half a step late. You see it, but you don't really see it.

You're reaching. You're guessing. You're fighting it. That's not your technique. That's your eyes and brain not processing the play fast enough.

Vizual Edge fixes that. It measures how well your eyes track and process the game, then gives you a custom plan to train it. Three fifteen minute sessions a week. That's all it takes on your laptop or tablet, lying on the couch, in bed, wherever you can train using Vizual Edge. It's what NHL goal is used to make the game slow down when it matters most, and you can get a 10% discount using the code InGoal, I n g o a l, all caps.

Or if you want double the discount, there is a membership only code on every ProReads. Just log in as a premium member at InGoal, go to a ProReads, and get your double discount code to use on Vizual Edge. And that includes this week's ProRead, Cam Talbot breaking down breakaways and a little something called the triangle. Daren, do you know what the triangle is? Nope.

Okay. So this this one honestly was new to me as a as a terminology. We have to add it to the InGoal dictionary, but it was new to me when Jake Allen went on hockey night in Canada, I think, two years ago in the playoffs. Remember when he was doing suggest analysis? And he talked about players aiming under the pad, not just five hole, but specifically aiming underneath sort of just inside the heel of the pad, the the toe box or sort of the the the boot break and the heel of the stick on the leg you were loading to push.

shooters are starting to target what goalies have started to call the triangle. It's not just a matter of beating you to the ice with a five hole shot. It's specifically aimed sort of underneath the pad that you're loading to push and inside the heel of the stick.

So if I need to push to my left, I need to keep that right skating gauge. So if you're coming off an angle off the wing on a breakaway and you understand as a shooter that as a goalie, my mobility is hinging on maintaining that skate edge on the in this case, a right skate coming down the left wing and cutting across, you know that that makes it harder for me to get that pad to the ice. And so shooters are starting to target what goalies have started to call the triangle. It's not just a matter of beating you to the ice with a five hole shot. It's specifically aimed sort of underneath the pad that you're loading to push and inside the heel of the stick.

So, Talbot talks about looking for that tendency. There's some other cues to this breakaway. Actually, in this ProReads, we give you a freeze frame at one point of the breakaway and ask you based on what you're seeing, and breakaways are all about speed. But in a freeze frame, there's actually a tell as to whether this guy is shooting or passing that that or shooting or deeking that Cam shares with us. So we ask you to figure that out as we do every week, sort of get you to think through the play, and then Cam walks you through it.

So lots of details about how he manages breakaways, why in this instant that little cue provided him with enough knowledge to sort of know what was coming. And then last but not least, how do you defend the triangle as guys start to look for it more regularly? It may just be a matter of knowing that it's an option. We talked a little bit about inside edge high sharpening and how that allows cam to hold an edge deeper and wider without giving it up, and that might play an advantage in this one. So all those details all rolled in rolled into the latest ProReads presented by Vizual Edge at ingoalmag.com.

You mean I have to focus on something other than taking away the middle?

That's all I focus on too, Daren. It's probably why so many go in.

Just take away the middle. And if it hits me, I hope that it doesn't go in. Although, my guarantee.

My five hole is my five hole is is large enough without worrying about the triangle at the bottom. Like, that's the other thing you could just do. You could just be like me. The five hole is so darn big that nobody's aiming for that tiny gap called the triangle. They don't need to be that cute.

Just shoot it right between his legs. Don't worry about the spot under his pad.

It's funny. The guys are are shooting for that little triangle spot off the the leg that's pushing. And, traditionally, players have always aimed for the other leg that's going into a slide. And maybe goaltenders have solved that or the guys are just getting smart enough to find different areas, but but they they've expanded their attack zone.

Yeah. And I've watched it's funny because here in Vancouver, there's a young rookie center who won a call their cup with the Abbotsford Canucks last year named Max Sasson. And he has had a number of breakaways this year, and he scored five hole on almost all of them. And it's that quick release before the guys sort of get set, and a lot of them are under or aimed at the triangle.

Used to be you just kept your stick on the ice.

That's why I Like Again, like, the middle of the five hole Yeah. The stick kinda solves it. But the stick, you know, if you if you if you have it in the middle, then that gap on that that triangle gap on your push leg, that loaded push edge, that's where the hole exists, And guys don't need much of a hole.

Okay. I got a solution. Diving poke check.

Oh. Little Kochetkov Johnny Bauer special? Yeah. Might be that might hey. Listen.

There are different holes to that one, but none of them are just under the pad. When your pads when you're flying through the air like Superman and your pads off the ice, you don't have to worry about the triangle.

Parent Playbook

You don't get the puck. Get the skates. Hutch on assignment, but joins us for the Stop It Goaltending U, the app parent segment brought to us by our good friends, Stop It Goaltending.

Yeah. You wanna have 25 of NHL goalie coaching experience at your fingertips? Wanna tap into the goalie parenting expertise that helped Joey Daccord reach the NHL? That's what you get with a subscription to Stop It Goaltending U the app. All the knowledge from Brian Daccord who has been an NHL goalie coach, NHL goalie scout, and NHL goalie director at two stops, including now with the Detroit Red Wings, as well as all the insights and expertise from his staff at Stop It, which last year celebrated twenty five years as one of the world's top goalie schools and includes teachers who are coaching in the NCAA.

All delivered in easy to digest chunks, including five short daily primers each week, weekly style analysis and breakdown videos, and drills you can take onto the ice with your team and coach. All that plus, you get an InGoal premium subscription included. So check it out now at the App Store or Google Play and get the best of both worlds with a subscription to Stop It Goaltending U, the app, and included a subscription to InGoal premium magazine or InGoal Magazine Premium.

That works too. It's our parent segment, By, the cofounder of Merilainen. Here is David Hutch. Hutch.

Most of the long term successes we see in young goalies doesn't come from better drills or newer gear. It comes from routines, independence, mental skills, and a healthy parent child relationship.

This is our last episode before the New Year. And as we turn the calendar, there's always a lot of talk about resolutions, getting better, working harder, fixing weaknesses. You'll probably notice some themes here that I keep coming back to, and that's for good reason. Most of the long term successes we see in young goalies doesn't come from better drills or newer gear. It comes from routines, independence, mental skills, and a healthy parent child relationship.

So instead of New Year's resolutions for our goalies, I want this week to offer a few ideas for us as parents to reflect One, help build routines, then get out of the way. Routines create calm and a chaotic sport. Packing the gear the same way, a consistent warm up, a pregame reset. Early on, this might mean checklists on the wall or walking through the process together. But the goal isn't compliance.

It's ownership. If they forget something, resist the urge to fix it. That discomfort is often the fastest teacher. Two, say less on game day. Game day should feel familiar, not instructional.

Last minute reminders, mechanical tips, or emotional pep talks. Now they often add noise, not clarity. If something matters, it should already be part of the routine. A simple, have fun, or I love watching you play often lands better than another technical reminder. Three, let mistakes be theirs.

Tough goals, missed gears, hard nights. Our instinct is to protect from embarrassment, disappointment, consequences. But independence grows when kids learn they can recover, adapt, and move on without being rescued. The message I want them to internalize is, I can handle this. Again, going back to, I love watching you play.

You got this. Something positive to reinforce that you're there for them while letting them handle it. Four. Praise effort and preparation, not outcomes. Wins, shutouts, save percentage, they're noisy, they're unpredictable.

Preparation is controllable. Did they take care of their body? Did they stay engaged? Did they compete through adversity? When we consistently reinforce effort over results, we reduce anxiety and build resilience and a better goaltender.

Five, protect the relationship above all else. Your child's going to have many coaches over their career. They only get one parent. If hockey disappeared tomorrow, the relationship needs to still feel safe, supportive, and intact. That doesn't mean avoiding hard conversations.

Just means choosing the right time, the right tone, and remembering who you are first. Now, look, don't take any of these on as rules. I'm not suggesting you have to do any or all of them. Just see them as prompts for reflection. So here's the question I'll leave you with as we head into the new year.

What will your resolution be as a goalie parent, and how might it make the rest of the season feel healthier for everyone involved? Let us know. Parents at ingoalmag.com.

Remember when we first started this and you guys were gracious enough to allow me to take part? We had, like, a big long talk and then a feature interview.

Yes.

Slowly but surely, you you've added these different segments to to the podcast. The the parent segment has been one of those great segments that everybody can listen to, not just the goaltender.

Yeah. It was started as a I mean, it's a staple. Right? Like, it's one of the reasons people come to this segment because of all the great advice that Hutch brings about life as a goaltender parent. A life I haven't had to live, but he has.

And so it's heartfelt, it's sincere, and it's experience based. And like I said, it's become a can't miss segment here on the InGoal Radio Podcast. So thanks to Hutch for doing such a great job with it.

Slide over to our feature interview brought to us by NHL Sense Arena.

While NHL Sense Arena is constantly evolving, speaking of things that have been a part of InGoal Radio Podcast, maybe not since day one, but pretty close to it, Constantly changing, constantly evolving, constantly getting better. But they also like to have a little fun along the way, and they've done that with the upcoming Winter Classic in Miami, Florida. Are you tough enough to beat the heat? You can compete in the twenty twenty six NHL winter classic competition through NHL Sense Arena. It's officially started already, and it runs through January 4.

You can there are sticks that you can win, four months free of NHL Sense Arena, apparel, all kinds of opportunities to win prizes, have fun, compete against other goalies. So make sure you get involved in the NHL Sense Arena twenty twenty six Winter Classic competition. You can check out all all the information, at NHL Sense Arena or by logging into your headset. Like I said, it's it's been fun to watch how they've evolved the training side of it, and there's so many different ways you can train as a goaltender. But along the way, also not lost sight of the fact that goaltending hockey is supposed to be fun.

And so competitions like this make sure to add that that intensity, the competition element, but also have a little fun with it. And a great job of NHL Sense Arena combining the best of those two worlds as well.

Feature Interview - Kendra Woodland

Told you about Kendra Woodland earlier in the podcast. Let's check-in with the UNB product, part of the PWHL with Ottawa here on InGoal Radio, the podcast.

Really excited to welcome to the InGoal Radio Podcast. First time guest, Kendra Woodland, coming off the ice with the Ottawa Charge. After waiting a year and a half to get this opportunity, wanna get into that a little bit. Outstanding career at UNB, but this took some time. What was that process like?

It wasn't easy. It is what it was. Yeah. I think a year and a half of just perseverance, hard work, really trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel and trying to, you know, work as hard as you possibly can to hopefully get your foot in the door, whatever that might look like. And, yeah, I mean, it wasn't easy.

Like I said, some days were definitely harder than others, but, yeah, just focusing on the fact that I love hockey. I have such a passion for the game and just wanting to continue to play. And especially with this league, being where it is now and it's continued to grow immensely, I just wanted to be a part of it. So that's definitely what drove me.

So what like, how'd you stay sharp? Who were you skating with? I know Kamloops, BC, proud BC

Yeah.

Representing the goal union in BC. How do you like, that is not an easy task. Hard to find ice, hard to find game reps. How'd you do it?

Yeah. Definitely didn't really get many game reps. That was the biggest thing that I I thought I might be a little bit behind on, but just to get ice to get shots at the best caliber. I was practicing with the the Kamloops Storm junior a team, and then whenever I was needed, the the Kamloops Blazers in the in the WHL as well, here and there. And then just some on ice sessions with goalie coach of the Blazers, Dan DePalma.

He's helped me.

Oh, we like to hear some good Dan DePalma stories. That we're liking that.

Yeah. I don't think there's many bad ones, but yeah. No. He he's been a huge help in getting me here. I've known him since I was about 10 years old, you know, growing up in Kamloops.

So I've been lucky enough to work with him on and off, over the years. So, yeah, he he he helped. Those teams helped, just getting ice and and getting those reps in for sure.

Okay. I wanna ask you a little bit about the mental side of it. You wait that long. You do all that work. You get an invite to camp, and then you show up at camp.

How you find that balance between probably being, like, just really eager and yet this is a position where you can't chase? How how you know, what was got any mindset tips you can pass along to young goalies?

Yeah. I mean, I'd be I'd be wrong if I said I wasn't nervous. I came in. I was nervous. I thought, you know what?

This is this is it for me. If I don't make this team, this might be it. So

Nothing like adding pressure to an already pressure packed position.

Yeah. Exactly. I think I I work best under pressure, and it's just like you said. I think adding a little bit more wouldn't really do much harm. But, yeah, I think just just wanting to play so badly and wanting to be a part of this league and the growth of of women's sports and women's hockey.

And, yeah, like, it's it's been it's been a crazy grind. And, obviously, when you get here, you have all this pressure and you wanna do well, but at the end of the day, it's it's hockey. It's goaltending. We we love to do it, and it just it hasn't changed. Right?

We we do it because we love it and because we're good at it and, yeah, just really wanted to make the team and, worked out. So.

Okay. So you go from Dan and Kamloops to another good friend of the program, Pierre Groulx, PG. What was that what was that? I mean, it's a new voice, new ideas. How do you find that balance between what you know is your foundation in your game and probably trying new things, I'm guessing?

Yeah. I mean, Pierre reached out right when I signed to come to the tryout camp, and, you know, we've clicked ever since. It was a a really good, tell that this was a place that I wanted to play, especially, you know, having a a goalie coach that's as experienced as he is. And yeah. I mean, I I what I like about Pierre is that he doesn't try to change much.

He tries to to get better with you and doesn't try to change your game as much, but tries to to better your game as it is.

He he tries to to get better with you and doesn't try to change your game as much, but tries to to better your game as it is. And I really respect that and not trying to, you know, reinvent the wheel too much and trust that, you know, we all know what we're doing, just those fine tunes and and details that really matter. So he's been he's been amazing so far and really looking forward to the rest of the season with him.

We're usually looking for that one or 2% extra. Right? For those that don't know your game, how would you describe it? Now you talk about the foundations of your game and and and the tinkering around it. What is the thing that you go back to is your home base, so to speak?

I love to give my team a chance to win. I I love to be a money goalie. And, you know, like, talked about the pressure moments. We add a little bit more pressure than we we might already have, but I love the pressure of it. I love to to be able to give my team a chance to win.

And, you might not come up with the with the win ever sometimes, but to be able to give that opportunity is is something that I pride myself in.

What about from a technical foundation? Like, where like, do you have something you go back to to sorta, like like I said, the home base might not be the right word, but, like, hey. This is where it starts from for me.

Yeah. I think puck tracking. It simple as that. It's something that, you know, what you can control. And, I love to be able to control things.

working a lot with Dan and and a lot with with Pierre, head on puck and just kinda getting back to that foundation, really watching the puck, I think. You talk about you can't really stop a puck if you don't see it.

I know as every goalie does, but, you know, working a lot with Dan and and a lot with with Pierre, head on puck and just kinda getting back to that foundation, really watching the puck, I think. You talk about you can't really stop a puck if you don't see it. So, yeah, getting back to those roots to to make yourself comfortable and and everything else will fall into place.

Okay. So you talked about roots. I gotta know. Where did it start for you? Where did the I hear I hear there might have been an older brother that stopped pucks when you were younger.

How how did you become a goalie? How'd you fall in love with his position?

Yeah. I my oldest brother, Shane, he's a defenseman. He played junior hockey in BC as well. I started out wanting to be like him. I was I was actually a forward, so I was a player.

Couldn't score goals. I was really frustrated. But, yeah, my other brother, Riley, he's younger just two years younger than Shane, and he was a goalie all the way through. My dad was teaching him and stuff, and I said, ah, you know what? I'll try this.

I'll try and stop them instead of try and score them, and, it's worked out. And I've just like you said, I've just fallen in love with the position and learning something new every day, even, you know, fifteen years down the road. It's it's amazing. So, yeah, wouldn't trade it.

So brother was the inspiration. What do you love about it now? What is it that drives that desire to keep playing this position? Because it's not easy.

I you know what? It's the same thing as when I started. It hasn't changed. I love the the big booming saves off the pads, and, you you know, I I I must admit, I do like it when, you know, that you have that little red light behind your net that you're trying not to make go off and, the pressure of that and the fans yelling at you to try and throw you off. I think that's big.

But, yeah, I think I just love to make saves, and I just it's just so much fun. And it's exactly what I did when I was 10 and fell in love with it when I was 10, and it's the same now.

So Okay. So I gotta ask, what's the favorite save? Like, I think different goalies have different that, like, that moment where it's just like, oh, yeah. I like that one. Is it the backdoor?

They think they got an empty net and they slam it off the pad because you read it. What what what's your favorite?

I you know what? I'm a sucker for just a textbook save. I like I said, the booming pad save, the ones that make a statement doesn't have to be big and flashy and showy. It's just the ones that are that are sound and and will make a statement in the rank and say, oh, yeah. She's on.

I I love those saves for sure. They don't need to be super desperate and flashy. So

K. So brother got you into was your dad a coach too? Like, did he help coach you when you were younger?

Yeah. My dad actually worked with with John Stephenson when we lived in in Saint Albert, Alberta. So he had some big names in Shannon Szabados and Braden Holtby. So, you know, then I think it was probably around 2006, 2005 when he started kinda teaching my brother. And, yeah, they he just learned a lot from John and, taught it to us.

And at some point, he kinda ran out of things to teach us as the game started to develop. But, yeah, I owe a lot of my a lot of my foundation to my dad. He we would go public skating, pay $5 for two hours, and go half gear in the middle of the ice and just work on skating technique to make sure that our hands were doing the right thing on recoveries and and whatnot. So, really good memories with him, and, yeah, I owe a lot of my foundation to him.

Oh, we we love to hear that because so many times, you know, like, goalies want the perfect situation. They want a crease. They want multiple shooters. Public skate works. Skating matters.

this past year and a half, I think this summer in particular, I had probably eight ice times, and I didn't have a single puck on the ice. I worked a lot on my skating this summer

Yes. For sure. I mean, this past year and a half, I think this summer in particular, I had probably eight ice times, and I didn't have a single puck on the ice. I I worked a lot on my skating this summer, and, obviously, it's hard once the season starts for other guys and training back home. But, yeah, I think just skating matters.

Getting the technique and getting comfortable on your edges. Yeah. It helped me immensely.

So I was gonna say we went up there once this summer. Now I regret not having met you, but we went to meet Dan and Dylan, and I remember a lot of skating without pucks.

Yeah. Dylan, he he trains a lot. I've trained with him and Dan, quite a bit. And, yeah, he he's I admire him so much. I think looking at him skating with no pucks, I'm like, holy, you're crazy.

But now I know, you know, you see how much it makes a difference and, the accountability. I think that goes with the mental side of it and, the physical side as well. So I definitely admire that side of it.

Okay. Other inspirations going up? You mentioned Shannon. I understand there might have been a meeting with one of the original inspirations for a lot of female goaltenders, Manon Rhu00e9aume, at some point when you were younger. Can you share that story with us?

Yeah. The, Memorial Cup was in Kamloops in 2023, and, I just I had a lot of resources from my university that, were in in the media. And, yeah, I got to spend a lot of time with, Craig Button and Cheryl Pounder, and that was really, really cool. Just sitting there watching hockey with them and really getting kind of a different eye, eye in the sky for the game. And, yeah, I was actually ended up being a a bit of a liaison for a couple players.

I think Megan Augusto was one of them, and she brought her daughter as well. So it was really cool to get to know them. And, like you said, Manon Rhu00e9aume, she was there, and Marie-Philip Poulin. And being surrounded by those people was just amazing. And I think it was just it set the precedent of of where I wanted to be.

And, yeah, someone like like Manon Rhu00e9aume, you you grow up without a league like this, and it's it's amazing to see what she did to blaze the trail for for female athletes and female hockey players. So, yeah, to be able to kinda pick her brain and and just get to know her as a person was was really special. And once I got a bit older, I think Shannon Szabados was was my biggest biggest one for sure. You know, she was in Alberta when I was in Alberta. She's a lot older than me.

I remember watching the twenty ten in my living room, nail biter. Just love the way she played. She was so tenacious. Just just so fierce. And it was just something I wanted to model my game after.

And, yeah, it just really, really cool. So

And tech, I would say twin I covered that Olympics. It was one of the highlights of my career. And I would say in 2010, probably technically as good as any goalie in in either gender and just any goalie in the world at that point.

Yeah. I mean, she played with the boys. She played with the girls, and she succeeded at every level that she played at. And that was just it was such an amazing example to show that, you know, women can do things, and female female hockey players can achieve what they want to achieve and what they put their mind to. So that was really, really big for me growing up.

Okay. So I wanna touch a little bit before I let you go on UMB because exceptional career that you had there. All time leader in saves. I'm looking at some of the like, some of these numbers don't make sense to me. I don't know what a nine forty one save percentage is.

It doesn't really compute in my brain. But what what what worked for you there? What were some of the how did your game evolve, some of the influences, coaching, or otherwise?

Yeah. I I came to UMB fresh out of high school. I played male hockey my whole way through minor hockey in in Kamloops, and it was it was definitely a change for me. More off the ice, I think, learning how to be around a female hockey team. You know, with the guys is a bit different.

You're you're kinda segregated a little bit in a sense of the culture. You know, you dress in a different dressing room, stuff like that. I think coming to UMB was the first time that I was able to kind of be part of the culture.

I never thought of that. That's gotta be a big adjustment.

Yeah. Yeah. It was it was big, but I think it the first year was definitely really hard on that front, and learning. I think everybody in their first year is learning so much about themselves. And in my first year was the first year of our program in ten years.

So it was reinstated in 2018 and was my first year. So we had, I think, seventeen first years trying to find their way and trying to learn who they were. So, yeah, I think, you know, by the end, everyone did an incredible job of doing so, but definitely wasn't easy. But, yeah, I think it evolved so well. Just getting more comfortable.

I I love the University of New Brunswick. I love the Aitken Centre. Just everything about it, the team, the staff. It it was amazing. It did a lot for my for my career afterwards, and, yeah, just really the best time.

Do you feel like a little bit of a flag plant here coming from Usports to the PWHL? I know we've seen it, you know, in the NHL with Logan Thompson and other guys that have done it. I feel like for years, watched that league, and we'd always hear about the undrafted NCAA players, and there are greats in in u sport as well. I feel like this is an opportunity to remind people a little bit not to add, but, hey. Let's add pressure, Kev.

Yeah. I mean, I'm I'm glad you brought someone up like like Logan Thompson. I think it's not talked about enough that, you know, you can play where you wanna play, but if at the end of the day, you're good, you're good. Yeah. I think, you know, at times, it can be a lot that's passed over.

I think both U sports and the NCAA, it's just a matter of of who's watching and, when you perform. But, yeah, I think, like you said, a little bit of the flag plant. I'm I'm really proud to have gone through the program in U sports and, to be able to represent. I know there's obviously some other players in the PWHL that did play u sports. I don't think that there's another goalie other than me, which is kinda cool.

Yeah. What what it was really cool to kinda you know, that's one step. Like you said, plant that flag and and represent for sure.

Alright. Well, Kendra, I can't thank you enough for your time. This has been fantastic. I'm looking forward to watching you in this league for years to come. Thank you very much for this, and enjoy.

This is a whirlwind bit of a trip for for you. And I understand you have some familiarity with this building too, Last One.

I do. Yeah. I was a BC Girl Guide when I was growing up, and we came to Vancouver for a wee day thing. And I was think I was nine or 10, and, everyone was sleeping on the floor of the of the Pacific Coliseum, and it was too full. So I went and slept in the stands with my with my group.

So, that's the last memory I have here. So it's it's kind of a full circle moment. So it's really cool.

Awesome. This is great stuff. Thank you very much. Awesome. Thanks.

Outro

Number three is a different takes on a different context now, doesn't it, than than maybe fifteen years ago? Like, numb number three is is part of the group at almost every level nowadays.

Well, and soon to become official in the National Hockey League. They're essentially the PWHL's ahead of the curve. They're they're basically traveling their own e bug. They're making sure that they take care of their number one goaltender and and at times, their number two by having three as a part practice. It's interesting to me to hear, and we've heard it around the Buffalo Sabres a lot this year.

As a matter of fact, one of the things new GM, Jarmo Kekalainen, said he was gonna get rid of was the three goalie system. And and I sort of watch that, and yet we see other teams in other leagues not just find a way to make it work, but find a way to make it beneficial to everyone. And so it's interesting to see that juxtaposition. And and, obviously, next year, there's gonna be a practice goalie on every roster. There's gonna be a dedicated E Bug on every roster that travels with the National Hockey League.

And I see teams that are ahead of the curve with it, and and are having success. And, you know, we saw that in Utah, right, where where Vejmelka wasn't able to play in their goalie, who I believe is the same one that was up here practicing with them, allowing the goalies to warm up at one end while the power play warmed up on fresh ice at the other on a game day skate, got in as an e bug or was an e bug for a game recently as well. So third goalies are more than E bugs in the PWHL, and Kendra's one that, you know, has has a path the Ottawa Charge see towards being a a a contributor to them in the future, but there's also value in in what they bring on a day to day basis from a practice perspective and from a preparation perspective. We haven't had an e bug get in in a while. We're due.

When was the last one? Are you saying I should start stretching?

Yes. I would find a way to get there if you were if you were on a roster.

Yeah. A a, it'll never happen. See see my relationship with the Vancouver Canucks. B, yeah, I might die of shame before before I ever stop the puck. Oh, no.

No. No.

It's like we're also due for a blow up with an e bug. I I say that knowing that I'm part of the union, but the the National Hockey League and the e bugs that have played have had a very beautiful, wonderful exposure to the game and performance.

That's true. And and it kinda goes to another point not to go off on a tangent here. We'll keep this short. Maybe we'll set this up for next week. I had a couple of goalie coaches tell me this in the last couple of weeks.

They feel like the position has never been more closely tied to the performances in front of Like, yes, there are some goalies that can separate themselves, but the list of guys that are significantly outperforming a terrible environment is really, really short and limited to, you know, a very select view like what goes on around us? We've always known that it matters, and I think E Bucks are a great example of that. If you play batten down the hatches defense and keep everything to the outside, you don't need one of the world's best 64 goalies in there to keep the puck out more often than not. Right? It really is, you know, we are more than a product of our environment, but it goaltending never exists in a vacuum, man.

And I and I've had a couple of guys say that they feel like that that interplay, that relationship between goaltending results and team defensive environment has never been more closely tied or more important.

I'm not wishing any ill ill will to anybody, but I would love like to see anybody get in there again.

You're you're warming up. You're stretching.

Gosh. No. That would be bad. The goals per game would be slightly higher than 6.2. I would I would venture to guess.

I I can see that. I can see the show notes now or the the the game notes now. Kevin Woodley got in for three minutes and lowered the NHL save percentage by 20%.

What's happened to the save percentage?

Why is save percentage at a thirty year low? There's little asterisk. Woodley played more than three minutes in the NHL that night.

I would be going and having a conversation with the the person that's keeping track of the shots though and saying, let let's just relax our criteria for a bit.

Well, on another note, because there was a a good story by Jesse Granger and and James Myrtle about that in The Athletic this week, which interestingly enough is, I don't think was a secret. Like, we we kinda it's funny because it didn't it made it into the InGoal version of the save percentage going down story last year, but not the nhl.com story because the reasons for it. But I had, I had a goalie coach tell me that just a couple of weeks ago, there was a meeting between all involved and a decision to maybe start giving the goalies a little more, the 50 fifties, the ones that might be headed near or around the edges of the post as opposed to definitively in and starting to count those as shots. And I couldn't help but notice a few nights later covering a game that when the game ended, the goalie I was covering had a 35 save shutout. By the time I got to the locker room to talk to him, it was up 37.

And by the time I got back to the press box to write, it was a 39 save shutout.

So Giddy up. Because they always go the other way.

It's usually going the other way. I think in the last couple of weeks, there may have been an adjustment to the criteria that could see a few more shots on goal in the next little while. It'll be interesting to watch.

We buried the lead. That's the best news going today.

Yeah. Yeah. Goalies will celebrate.

Hey. Happy New Year.

To you too and everyone else, happy happy Olympic roster days coming.

Get the juices going, doesn't it?

Yeah. That's that's one list I'm pretty sure we can we're we're not gonna find ourselves on.

No. No. But but we'll wave our respective flags very, very proudly as we go into 2026. From all of us to all of you, thanks for being part of this journey. We can't wait for the next time that we get together at InGoal Radio, the podcast presented by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports Langley, thehockeyshop.com.