Welcome to The Last Line – EPISODE 1: What’s Changing for Goalies?

Welcome to The Last Line with Ian Clark. The last line of defense we are, the goaltending union presented by InGoal Magazine and From the Crease, a new app designed to bring Ian's quarter century of coaching experience and expertise to you available on your phone or tablet or device. We're gonna get into this part of this new project and the combination of the partnership with InGoal Magazine is for us to have a show. We haven't decided how regularly we're gonna do this, but we're gonna spend about a half an hour each episode talking about trends we see around the game, Ian's experience with those trends, what he's seeing, take some questions from listeners. I'm Kevin Woodley, for those that don't know, from Ingo Magazine, and joining me as he will every episode, Ian Clark, former goaltending coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Vancouver Canucks.

He's worked with names like Thatcher Demko, Jacob Markstrom, some guy named Sergei Babrofsky has won a couple of cups. There's a long list. Ian, welcome. How exciting a time is this as you're preparing to watch the AMP X Mark?

Well, thanks, Kevin. It's always great to be with you. You and I go back a long way. So we have you know, it's it's you know, it feels full circle. We kind of I know you You're the

one you're the one that started me on goaltending.

You embarked on your goaltending journey way back with essentially the same same you know, slightly different product, but it was a similar kind of thing. And here we are again, full circle. And technology has changed, and here we are. Back in the day, we were doing

a lot. Newsprint. We had newsprint. We used to get our hands dirty. So for those that don't know, Ian had his original publication From the Crease.

I learned goaltending. I was covering the NHL, and Ian brought me in to help sort of write about NHL goaltenders for a second product, which was Goalie News, and that introduced me to the position, editing his content, learning by reading everything he wrote about the position, started playing it. Now I just can't get enough of it. So now part of InGoal Magazine, it made sense to have this partnership with Ian and and and this show, which will evolve like the position does over time. The last line is all about just trends we see around the game.

So let's hop right in. Let's hop right in.

Let's go.

Because one of the trends that I'm seeing at all levels is the increase, and maybe it's a decrease in shots. We can talk about that a little bit too, but just the increase in offense and how goalies manage it, the dynamic offense at a time when we're maybe not getting credit for shots at the NHL, and we're seeing save percentage go down. What are you seeing trend wise at all levels when it comes to scoring?

Well, I think I think it's clear what's happening. You know, the the the old, funnel the puck to the net, mentality has clearly shifted and changed, with some of the some of probably started with some of the more offensive teams. You know, the Washington Capitals were a big part of that at the NHL level, the Edmonton Oilers. And the idea being that, you know, we're not just gonna send pucks blindly to the net unless there's some value to that shot. Otherwise, what are we doing?

We're just really turning the puck over potentially. So we're seeing less funnel the puck to the net teams, and they want more value out of their puck possession. So what does that result in? Results in less shots and a higher average grade chance per shot. And so it's a natural evolution, I think, offensively.

You know, goaltending got it has gotten very good over the course of time. As we all know, it was a big talking point. We had, you know, gear adjustments at the pro level that, you know, we had to get scoring up.

All designed to make our

lives harder. Right. And so I think that that's you know, really, we're seeing we're seeing that where we're seeing, you know, let's possess the puck longer. Let's get greater value per shot attempt. And what does that mean?

That means more traffic, more chaos, more East West activity, of course, rather than just funneling the the open shot to the goalie.

It also means lower save percentages, and part of that is, you know, just shots not being countered unless they're definitely on the net. Is there a mindset, Like, you must have had goalies over the years, and we don't need specific names that maybe focused a little too much on their stats. Like, as we see stats change Mhmm. How do you make sure guys don't get caught up in it? Because it's the standard.

Like, 900 used to be, like, the baseline, the lowest. And now, like, league average is slipping below it.

Right. And, well, if you know, at the NHL level, there's probably 22 teams with a sub 900 team save percentage. But let's come back to your your your point there, and that is how do you keep goalies focused on the right things? And that, you know, let's be clear, you know, at at a certainly the high levels, your number one stat is your wins. And so, you know, your job as a goalie is to go navigate from puck drop to final buzzer and find a way to navigate your team to victory.

That's your job. And at the end of the day, some goalies are very, very good at that and and and maybe don't have the highest save percentage. K? And you have other goalies that maybe have high save percentages that don't and and they think maybe, at first glance, look like a million bucks. But at the end of the day, you know, are they converting those to victory?

Are they delivering what I call a package? The package is the victory. And so, you know, I think it's super important to understand your number one status of goalie is your ability to convert games.

As the environment gets tougher, as it gets more East West, what are some of the key like, I don't know that the principles change, whether it's tactically or technically, but what kind of adjustments have you seen made as attacks get more dynamic and force goalies to deal with a lot more East West movement? Like you said, less funnels, more dynamic. Mhmm. Mhmm. What are some of the like, I mean, did the skill sets change and the focus on how much you work on them change at all?

Well, think it's I think clearly as you you know, what we're what we're talking about here is, you know, the funnel the funnel mindset. You really are just focused on that shot. There's not a lot of creativity associated with that. It's being funneled to the net and you're set square, stable, balanced, you and you become a good first save goalie and whatever, whatever. Now now what we have is a much higher level of creativity.

K? And that's not just individual skill set creativity, but, you know, the whole composition of the attack. So what does that mean for the goalie? K? We need to have greater awareness, not just, you know, most goalies are taught.

You gotta scan the ice. You gotta be right. You need to see the full picture. You need to see the full painting. K?

Because you need to see the unfolding dynamics within that picture. So what we're talking about there is not just, you know, checking off. There's one offensive attacker. There's another open offensive. What about the defensive construct that's out in front of you?

And is that deteriorating? Is there you know, you need to process all this information. So couple things to note. Number one, goalies always wanna be quick to position. Why do we wanna be quick to position?

Because one of our tasks as a goalie is to buy time for those visuals. Right. And and if I'm chasing the game physically, I'm not gonna have visuals. So number one is get to your spots quickly. Work to your spots.

Buy time for your visuals because we need more clarity and understanding of the attack composition, which is everything that's unfolding. It's the full painting. So we want we want, again, buy time for visuals, and then we wanna broaden that scope of our awareness.

So being quick to your position gives you more time to read where it's headed. I mean, it's a pretty simple concept. Right. But that early arrival and those early eyes are essential to it. We hear this a lot.

We see a lot. InGoal has our Pro Reads about looking off the puck. Mhmm. Scans, a lot of different names for it. Are there areas of the ice specifically or rules of thumb Mhmm.

About when to look off? Is it just as often as you can? Are there dead areas? Are there you know, because obviously, we can get a little puck focused as goalie. Certainly us that play at the lower levels.

That's all we look at. Mhmm. But that ability to sort of scan the zone, are there rules of thumb that allow you to sort identify when and where to be looking away from the block?

So I I you know, there's a couple comments here. Number one is let's we are we need to identify those opportunities when, you know, obviously, it's a nonthreatening situation. We're not looking off the puck while players preparing to shoot or is in in a position where they could shoot. So we have to again, that is that is processing information. We have to have a level of calmness, a level of clarity in our eyes and in our mind, k, so that we have the ability to not just look, but process.

And so one of the things we see, and and I'm sure you see this, Kevin, is, you know, if a goaltender, for example, is on their post, we see these very quick quick looks. Like, how what are you processing with that information? Like, you might just maybe differentiate a jersey color. You're not really getting a lot of information. So I like to see longer, fuller looks.

And, of course, a longer, fuller look takes time. So you need to identify those pockets of time partly through getting to your spots efficiently so that you can process information. So I would rather see and, again, I'm imagining I'm on my left post here. I would rather see a look like this. Rather than this, I'd rather see a look like this and back I come.

So you need to have some time there to actually do that. And you need to understand that, again, the composition of what's happening here so that we don't mistime those. Otherwise, all we're getting is a very shallow looks, very shallow information. Information is king.

How much we I talked to goalies around the league all the time about how much information they want about opposing shooters. Is that an individual preference? And I mean, I guess it depends on the situation. They wanna know how power plays run and where they tend to funnel pucks to. Maybe if it's not to the net, but where where they tend what's their primary options?

What's their secondary options? A lot of guys don't wanna know what shootout tendencies are. Some guys wanna know what the first move is. Some guys were like, where do you sit in that? Is that individual goalie preference?

When you're working with a guy, how much information you give them?

Yeah. I think it is. I think it really is. I think there's a lot of goaltending. Sometimes we try to put goaltending in a box.

And really, at the end of the day, I like to say for every goaltender out there, there is a potentially unique and successful style or approach to play the position. Goalies are different sizes. Goalies have different mindsets. Goalies have different personalities. Goalies have different you know, we can go, you know, through all the various traits.

And at the end of the day, when you put this into the recipe, you get a different result every time. And so we have to be a little careful just putting goaltending in a box. And so, you know, coming to your point from a preparational standpoint, from a, you know, a studying standpoint, you know, I think, you know, I've known goaltenders that knew had a book on every player because that's what

they were. The old quote unquote book. It was a real thing.

Right. And so and then there's ones that would much rather just play instinctively and and and go that route. So I I I I have a tough time saying, you know, to any goalie or any coach, you know, here's how you play goal. Right. So, you know, I think there are ingredients that you can do, but you have to also be a great explorer.

Whether you're a coach or a goalie, you gotta explore within yourself, okay, what is going to be that recipe that you bring to the fore.

What about your own team? Like, knowing your own system and your own personal preferences. I I remember, and this is one of the challenges I think the goaltenders face when they switch teams. I remember having a conversation with Ryan Miller about it, and this actually kinda surprised me the first time. It was a there was a new defenseman on the team.

He'd been there for, like, seven months, and one of the other media asked him about him. He said, oh, I'm finally learning to read off him and his tendencies. How much like, much work should goalies put into? Like, some of it's instinctual, some of it takes time, but how much study? Like, should you know about what your systems are?

What you're trying to take away? What you're gonna give up? How intimately should your guys be familiar with what's going on in front of them? Like, I guess what I'm asking is we focus on opponents when we talk about pre scouts. Mhmm.

How much of it is about knowing your own guys?

Well, again, I and I I've kind of addressed this already, but, know, maybe this is a different way to circle back to it is you need to have a full understanding of the composition of attack, which is both the offensive thrust as well as the defensive construct. So when I'm when I'm doing that full processing look that we talked about earlier, I am actually identifying that, oh, we're in man on man coverage and one of them and my players lost coverage. What is that gonna do? That's gonna have a domino effect, you know, of of of potentially. So, you know, that might be a thing.

Or, you know, as you indicated on a penalty kill, we are doing certain then we're trying to accomplish certain things structurally. K. How does that have an effect often, for example, on a penalty kill? Your you know, you the flank shooter is has the the flanker has the puck, and your defenseman is gonna take the far half of the net away. K?

So now what does that mean to you? Does that mean that it's not your responsibility to stop a puck to the far half of the net? Of course not. K? But having some knowledge.

And now when I see, I can I sometimes I'll be in a position where I'm like, okay? Yeah. That's locked down. Perfect. K?

And I can maybe that enhances my read a little bit. But, again, one of the things that's fundamental to good goaltending is staying neutral, staying patient. And so information is king, but at the end of the day, goaltending is a reactive endeavor, and and and that requires patience and neutrality going into moments. All we wanna do is take information to support our read of the moment. Neutrality.

Define that for me a little bit.

Like, I mean, inherently, is that in a stance, relaxed nature? Is that positional, not being overly aggressive? Like, and I I realized that's all rebase too depending on the situation in front of you. But when you say neutrality Mhmm. Help me build my goalie dictionary here.

So neutrality occurs physically and mentally.

Okay.

As does patients for that matter. And so I'll give, I'll just, you know, I'm sitting here right now but if people can see my elbows here, and you know, just as an example, you know, if I am premeditating that I need coverage to the inside, I I'm not neutral anymore. I've kinda put this in gear, you know, for using the, you know, the car as our analogy. I've put this into gear. K?

And I have almost committed internally for this moment. K? Committing to the outside, sometimes we'll see a goalie start to react to the outside. K? That's a goalie that's not really neutral.

At the end of the day, if you watch my elbows, my elbows are close here, but you can see, k, they're not tight. Tension is a goalie's enemy. Straight

up. We're gonna hear that a lot. You've heard me say if you've listened to our podcast, I've stolen that line from it and credited it many times over the years, tension being the enemy of goaltending.

So if you're looking at my elbows here, you can see they're they're close to my torso, but they're not in gear. They're kind of ready to go because I want to that puck, as that puck is released, I see it's coming to me at my inside, I'm gonna react inside to that puck. If the puck's going to the outside, I'm reacting to the outside on that puck. So neutrality allows me to commit to the interior and or commit to the exterior because we need to be great to our inside and to our outside. So goalies that are not neutral are probably going to premeditate, which you can do in some cases.

Maybe you're right on top of the puck, you're just gonna be compact and big. But at the end of the day, goal hunting is largely a reactive endeavor as we've already talked about. And so if I'm going to excel to my inside and excel to my outside, I need to have some neutrality physically and, of course, mentally. Because mentally, it's am I premeditating this? Well, if I'm premeditating something, then I'm kinda committing to that.

Or

You're thinking yeah. You're already Right. Hedging Right. Cheating if you go too far

Yep. Too And it could be anticipating. I like to define the two different like, anticipation is through your evaluation of what's unfolding, you are taking good information and gaining a physical advantage. Okay? Yep.

If I'm cheating, I'm taking bad information and cheating to get an advantage based on some bad information. Again, this brings us back to our early analysis of big, open processing looks, gaining information, understanding the complexion of what's unfolding.

Neutrality sounds a lot like patience. Just a more defined way of something we're all looking It's Patience, I think, is the easiest thing to say. Does defining it that way, like I said, I never thought of as as a mental process as well help sort of establish a process to help you get better at it because patience is something we hear a lot about, but I don't often hear methods of teaching.

Well, there's different patience is diff you know, patience is can manifest itself in different ways. Right. You know, you have patient feet. You have you know, I use neutral in the sense of, you know, especially with my arms. So I always say, you know, your three most important anatomicals are eyes, feet, hands, that order.

And so, for me, I think this is a really good physical example of neutrality. I'm not committed to the inside, I'm not committed to the outside, I'm just in neutral. So it's just more of an analogy. Patience, okay, is, you know, patience again manifest mentally and physically. Like we see goalies that aren't patient.

They're actually physically committed. Well, in order to be physically committed, they had to be mentally committed first.

Right.

So, you know, we can think about it in those terms.

Okay. So patience, neutrality, not over committing. There's a phrase that I used to hear a lot in goaltending, and I've been more careful with in recent years, probably based on conversations with you, but that nothing threw you. Mhmm. Right?

And and the mentality right? Because we I think for the longest time, and this ties into we got a question. So we're gonna give you questions every week, folks. We're gonna have you give an opportunity. I threw it out there earlier today.

I got a few in through the email, threw in few direct messages. We're gonna throw these Eddie in, and this one ties into it. So when we hear people talk about nothing through you and the idea that anything that goes underneath you or through you being a bad goal, are we not running counter to the idea of patience? Because doesn't that create that if the goalie's thinking, I can't let anything through me, are we creating that predisposition to that tighter blocking, make sure you close the holes mentality?

So and I've got lots of stories around this, which I'm not gonna necessarily share, but the this is a this, you know, this is a really good discussion point. And so and I'm a bit I will tell you that I'm a bit of a contrarian. So

I'm not surprised by that.

So the this is a classic example of where I have a contrarian point of view. Okay. So, of course, we don't want pucks going through us. Of course, that's the case. However, however, I believe very strongly you actually have to give up a few inside and through you.

That is an investment in your patience and neutrality.

Okay.

And if you want to excel to your exterior and your interior, I'm sorry to say you're gonna have to give up a few. Now if you give up a lot, that's a whole another topic.

Okay. So I'm not so I'm not off the hook with my beer league team. That's kinda too bad, but I was looking for an out here.

So and I will say that without saying names, that I had this conversation with prominent people in the hockey world, and it was expressed to me this very thing. And I had to But

that's a bad goal.

That's a bad goal. Right. And I had to explain to that individual, actually multiple individuals, because multiple times, because this is a common viewpoint. Right. And that is, I would react to that sometimes by saying, actually, I loved that goal.

And they would these people would look at me like I had 10 heads.

I'm guessing it's a look you get often.

And so the bottom line is is that, you know, in order to be patient, k, you gotta remember, I'm gonna say a phrase here, feet drive hands. Feet

drive hands. Okay. Now I need a definition because that's going in maybe not the dictionary, but the phrase dictionary, Right. Whatever that

So point being is, if you leave your feet prematurely because you're worried every time about getting beat through you, k? Right. If you do that, you potentially are eliminating all of your major muscle groups from your reactive process. You're taking your glutes out of the equation. You're taking your hamstrings out of the equation.

You're taking your quads out of the occasion. You might be taking some of your bigger lower back, lower tors core muscles out of the equation.

By dropping into a butterfly.

By dropping prematurely.

Prematurely.

So now what happens is I'm left with biceps, deltoids, triceps, and I may be going up against really elite shooters. And I've got these little muscles that are now driving my reactivity and going against the laws of physics because I'm going potentially down and in, and pucks are going up and out. And now I'm now I've I've taken the big muscles out of the equation reactive equation. I'm asking my little muscles to not only counter the velocity and accuracy of that shot, but also fight the laws of physics, gravity, and momentum, and all these things. So, again, this is a patience factor.

You might actually, once in a while, get beat through the five hole or through the seven hole, you know, because we talked about that neutrality. You know? You might actually give up a goal. And you know what? It doesn't look great.

It doesn't feel great in the moment. But at the end of the day, if you wanna excel to your interior and your exterior, you might have to invest in a few of those. Not in the moment because, of course, we don't ever wanna give up a goal. But just big picture wise, there might have to be an investment in that.

Okay. Next question for this first edition of The Last Line with Ian Clark, InGoal Magazine From the Crease. And this one actually ties into a little teaser that we had for From the Crease and Trendsetter. So you're gonna have the ability to measure your own individual stats or track your own game. And the question comes from John, how much do you use analytics and tracking of the game as a goalie coach, again, not specifics when you're coaching, to sort of not just measure your goalie's performance, or I guess, actually, the question specifically is, do you use it to measure performance with analytics and some of the advanced measurements, overall performance, or define trends that might need addressed from a teaching standpoint?

So let me start by making a small correction.

Okay.

Trend setter?

This will not be the first time I get corrected on this show. Did you say did I say trend setter?

You said trend setter.

That's because I am a trendsetter, but that's okay. Yeah. It's Trend keeper. I knew it was trend keeper.

So trend keeper, of course, trend and goalkeeper hybrid word trend keeper.

There we go.

So, you know, I and I this is something that, you know, obviously, at a very high level of play, you've got lots of analytics, you've got lots of metrics, you've got all kinds you have all the tools and resources.

So Right.

We are not really talking about that here. What we're talking about is for, you know, a young up and coming goaltender that has has growth a growth mindset, that is growth oriented, is there an advantage to some of this stuff? And so what we wanted to do was create a simple interface, a simple tool to help support some of this. And for the goaltending coach that's out there, we know what these these these goalie coaches look like. They're running from rink to rink.

They're going from goalie to goalie. They're going from level to level. They're going from skill set to skill set. And what ends up happening often with goalie coaches, you kinda get your favorite 10 drills and you're, you know, and you're running and and it's not necessarily the fault of the goalie coach. They are sometimes running ragged.

They're going through rush hour traffic. They're early in the morning. They're late at night, and they're you know, it's as I said, it's they might address 15 different goalies over the course of a day with completely different skill sets, completely different needs, and all these things. And they're running around with their 12 favorite drills, and they actually the ability to actually plan for that is an enormous thing. And the other problem is is we end up with coaches that they're so busy teaching.

How often do they actually get out to see a game performance? Right. That's a whole another ballgame. So what we're asking is for goal goalkeepers and their goalie coaches to tag team development. Team up, And so the goaltender is gonna use the trend keeper tool, 26 different metrics, to assess goals that are scored on them.

And over the course of time, of course, data only has value over time. Right. But we are going to now be able to see the actual practical needs of the goalie. Because as much as I might go out with a goalie and say, this goalie needs to work on this technique, that's fine. They may need improvement in that technique, but it may not actually have any bearing whatsoever on their game success.

Aren't we really developing so that we can perform in games? Isn't that what our

objective is? Right. So by seeing both their results, but also what type of chances and shots they're seeing in a very different team environment, we can tailor development

not what they're seeing. It's what's beating. So in order to simplify this process, train keeper is going to ask a goalie to evaluate each goal goal through four categories of metrics. And what's gonna happen, it's not complex, but what's gonna happen is the goaltender is now gonna know, for example, k, four categories, tactical category, shot type category, location category, net category. So through four categories, you have to assign one from each category to every goal.

You're gonna know. K? Goaltender's getting beat 32% of the time on rebounds. Okay. Well, it's a piece of information that's interesting.

Right. K? Goaltender, maybe he's getting beat instead of third that way, maybe it's 32% on lateral feeds. Okay. We need some improved lateral mobility, or maybe we need earlier eyes on those moments to get that information we need.

So what we're you know? Or maybe it's traffic related. So maybe it's net play related. Maybe it's high glove. You know?

It's going to identify the actual practical needs of the goaltender, not necessarily solely the technical needs, but the actual practical needs of the goaltender because that's how they're getting scored on. And so the nice thing about the tool is not only is it gonna tell the goalie, FTC allows goalies and coaches to connect, and a coach is gonna have those trend keeper updates as well.

So to bring it back to the question, and that's great, is that something you use at the National Hockey League level in terms of, you know, hey. We're seeing this trend in your game. And to your point, like, data has value over time. You're not gonna react to a one game sample. I think chasing change for the sake of change is something we see goalies get in trouble with right up to the NHL.

Right. But over a month, if you see one of those trends, do you design drills obviously or or have conversations about what's going on in their game with them? Or do you just sort of work it into their daily routine without necessarily telling them? I'm guessing the answer might vary depending on the guy.

Well, again, we have to be we have to be realistic here on what these two very different environments look like. In the National Hockey League, quarter century in the National Hockey League, I am essentially there for every game evaluating directly. I am there for every practice. K? We are meeting probably, you know, unless it's a day off on a regular daily basis.

So there is so much interaction and so much knowledge and so much in person. We are okay. So, of course, all that's being used. Right. But also, I know exactly how my goalie is performing because I'm there every day.

You're watching and all that stuff.

So we're talking about two very different environments. Okay. So when we come back to that, the amateur goalie coach and the amateur goalie, that goalie coach might have seen that goalie. There's I can promise you there are goalie coaches

That have

have never seen their goalie play a game. Right. And that's just the reality of it. But now if that goaltender is objective about their trend keeper entry, that coach who's getting automatic updates, k, knows as they're grabbing their bag out of the trunk of their car to rush into that with ten minutes to spare. They can pop that on and they know exact oh, I need lateral feeds.

We need to work on his lateral. K? Or maybe it's high glove. We need to make sure we're working that hand position and we're you know, whatever it is. Point being is, k, we're getting actionable insights.

Be your own best goalie coach is a theme for the app, but it's also something I've heard you talk about at the NHL level with NHL guys. I've had them regurgitate that line to me. Right? Like, young goalies that are learning in the system about being able to manage their own game. Right.

That tool will give them the ability to do that. Mhmm. How much do you leave them to their own devices? Are there times as much as you are there daily? Mhmm.

Where do you find that balance between, hey, like, you've gotta learn to manage this versus me coming in every single day and telling you, here's what's wrong. Here's what we gotta fix.

So, again, even if you're at the NHL level and you're there every day, there are times when I'm at the opposite end with the other goalie. There are times when, you know, for for, you know, other reasons, k, that goaltender is left to their own devices. At the end of the day, goaltenders need to understand. Only they are there in every moment, and so they need to be the commander in chief of their game. I always tell a goalie first time I meet a goalie, it doesn't matter if it's at the NHL level, doesn't matter if it's at a youth level.

K? I am the assistant goalie coach here. You are the head goalie coach of your game. And so the ability to understand the position, understand their unique approach to the position intimately is vital. The goaltenders, the great goalies I've experienced are great students of the game because they understand that they have to be the commander in chief.

They have to be their own best goalie coach because only they are there in every moment. And so

The Luongos of the world, like like, guys that were con like, right into the end of his career, always looking for the latest thing that could help him make an extra safe

build mindset Constantly constant.

I I how important is that lesson like going away from the question a little bit more wrap here because we've got more questions But we're gonna do that episode, folks. I promise we will get to them. That that mindset, that build mindset, manage your own game and constantly look for opportunities to grow within it. Like, I don't think it's a coincidence that the guys that last twenty years in the league and end up in the Hall of Fame all seem to have that in common.

Right. And so all we need to do is understand basic math. Okay? Basic math.

Kindergarten I was told there would be no math, folks.

Well, good news for you is it's basically kindergarten level math. So we're okay, Kevin.

The guy who survived third year statistics is relieved. So 10 reps. Okay.

You go out there, you work hard enough. You go out there full of energy, full of focus. You go out there and you execute five great reps. You, for whatever set of reasons, lose your focus, you get fatigued, whatever combination of things it is, and you do your last five aren't so great. But we all need to understand that you don't just get credit for your good reps.

K? Your bad reps hurt you. Five minus five equals zero. So simple. Promise.

Even even I can do that one.

Yeah. Top of my

head and everything just didn't even need the calculator app.

So these goalies that we're talking about in generality here, these growth minded, build mindset goalies, they recognize the value of detail, the value of discipline. K? They they they understand the work habits necessary. K? Kind of I kinda call it the goalie value system.

And, of course, we want all our athletes to be like that. It doesn't really but but I call it the goalie value system. You know, it is the personal discipline. It is the attention to detail. It is the work habits.

It's the self initiative to go out there, k, and execute a very high proportion of your work with very high competency. And so we can all imagine five minus five is zero, that creates a perfectly flat line. We can also appreciate the fact that if I did seven well and three, seven minus three is four, I'm gonna get some growth. And I can also very clearly see if I'm gonna do 10 reps very well with zero flawed, k, I'm gonna have a very steep trajectory.

My natural follow-up is to ask about the responsibility of a coach recognizing when that falls off based on fatigue and when as much as you want the goalie to power through, is there a time when you have to identify that, hey. I'm just building bad habits. If this guy's gassed or if if he's seen too much of a certain shot type or practice has gotten as much as we want them to battle and compete. Mhmm. And I'm not trying to let them off the hook, but is that part of the responsibility too?

Like, especially for younger goalies? Mhmm. Like, when they lose control because their legs are tired and they're young and Mhmm. Not that we wanna, you know, have them go running out for a juice box prematurely, but you have to understand that you might lose some of that 10 great reps if you push it to 30 Right. And they've dropped off.

Okay. And so yeah. And that's all fair. But at the same time, the coach, as you said, needs to recognize that. At the same time, k, the goaltender and, again, this isn't know, this is a general general statement here, and that is the medal of the goalie.

K? And we're gonna say and I'm not talking about a gold medal here. I'm talking about you know the medal I'm talking about.

Spelled differently. I believe it's m e t t l e. As a journalist, I I don't have to do math, but I do have to spell.

So that's the medal we're talking about. And there are gonna be times we end up in a five on three situation. K? We have two minutes of in zone activity. And because it's a five on three, there's a lot of puck movement.

There's a lot of activity. There's a lot of things happening. You've got to learn to manage pretty severe physical exertion activity. You gotta find root learn how to reset. You gotta find pockets to reset.

You need to also sometimes you don't get a reset. Your mind's gonna have to say to you, body? Nope. We're not giving in here.

We're not quitting.

We're not giving in here. And so and I know it's easier said than done, but at the end of the day, what is this show called?

The Last Line?

The Last Line. So at the end of the day, we really don't get to give in. And so we have to push through and part of building that metal is finding ways when our body is starting to break, maybe we have to look for a reset, maybe we have to find a way to navigate that so we can continue to keep the quality where it needs to be so we're not tossing repetitions in the trash can.

Great answer. Folks, we went a little long because we got rolling based on your questions. If you've got more questions you'd like to have answered by Ian Clark, the email is TheLastLine@InGoalMag.com. Also, check out our social media. We'll post when we've got shows coming up, and you'll be able to submit your questions.

I thought we you know, interestingly enough, I thought we got better once I stopped asking my own questions, and we went to the listener. So I think this is a pretty good formula.

That is not shocking to me at all.

This is this this could be this could be a long half hour for me, folks. That's the first episode of The Last Line, but it's the first of many. We'll have more coming up. Make sure you check out all the social media channels FTC From the Crease and InGoal Magazine. Ian Clark, Kevin Woodley, we'll be back soon.