Episode 362 Parents: Why Multiple Coaches Help — and Why You’re Not Alone
In the Parent Playbook, presented by Stop it Goaltending U the App, Hutch revisits his week at Stop It Goaltending’s GCG Prospects camp and reviews two important concepts: the value in working with multiple coaches who have different perspectives and styles, and the fact that all goalie parents — right up to the NHL — are part of their own special union. You are not alone.
- Expose your young goalie to multiple coaches with different styles and perspectives — this is a deliberate, proven approach used at elite camps like GCG Prospects.
- Nearly 200 goalies at Stop It Goaltending's GCG Prospects Camp near Boston worked with coaches from the NHL, NCAA, OHL, QMJHL, and Slovak Extraliga.
- Coaching development is a two-way street: coaches at the camp spent hours in classroom sessions sharing ideas with each other after ice sessions.
- Goalie parents at every level — including NHL parents — experience the same frustrations: coaching decisions, tough games, disappointing tryouts, and uncertainty.
- You are not alone: the goalie parent community is its own union, and sharing those highs and lows with other parents is part of the journey.
Episode Transcript
I speak for Woody. Hutch, we miss you. David?
Sorry. I can't be with you again this week, guys, but today I'm reflecting on my time at Stop It Goaltending's GCG prospects camp just outside Boston last week. It was a fantastic week where Brian Daccord kindly invited me to be a guest coach. There were literally dozens of coaches there from the NHL, NCAA division one and three, the OHL, QMJHL, and even the Slovak extra liga, and somehow me. Two things really hit home that we've talked about a lot on this segment before.
The first is to stay open to learning from new voices. Nearly 200 goalies attended the camp and they never saw the same lineup of coaches on any one ice session. That was intentional. There was a framework and a curriculum for each day with themes at every station, but beyond that each coach was encouraged to bring their own perspective and approach. It was a powerful way for goalies to expand their thinking and for coaches to learn from one another.
In fact, once the on ice sessions ended, we'd spend hours in the classroom sharing ideas and discussing the game late into the evening. The second lesson came from the parents. I had the opportunity to speak to a room packed with more than 80 goalie parents as part of their seminar series. The highlight for me was sharing the stage with Brian Daccord and talking about the journey of being a goalie parent. We both shared the highs and the lows.
And, yes, even when your goalie's in the NHL, there are still difficult nights. As I talked with parents throughout the week, one message kept coming back, and it's one we've shared here many times. You're not alone. We've all celebrated incredible moments watching our sons and daughters play. We've all been frustrated by coaching decisions, tough games, disappointing tryouts, and the countless ups and downs that come with the position.
One of the best parts of goalie camps is the friendships goalies build that often last a lifetime no matter where they end up playing. The same is true for parents. To all the parents who were there and to all of you who continue to send us your stories and emails at parents@InGoalMag.com, Thank you. It's been amazing to build this goalie parent community together. And a huge thanks to Dac and everyone at Stop It Goaltending for welcoming us last week.
Finally, if you're headed to the USA Hockey Symposium in Boston in a couple of weeks, please stop by and say hello. We'd love to meet you there.
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