Why Demko Holds His Glove That Way, Kiprusoff’s Reset and the Turco Grip (Ian Clark): The Last Line Episode 7
Ian Clark on goalie hand position and why Thatcher Demko holds his glove the way he does, the clock face for your glove fingers, Miikka Kiprusoff's reset, stiff vs. flexible pads, and the Turco grip.
| 0:00 | Welcome + the Thatcher Demko glove questionKevin sets up the question teased at the end of Episode 6. |
| 1:16 | Glove position: preparation vs. save stanceDemko’s preparation stance, not his save stance; every goalie is different, and tension is always the enemy. |
| 6:03 | What “forward plane” means for your handsHands out in front of the torso, for function and for tracking the puck. |
| 10:29 | Finger orientation: the clock faceWhy a young goalie might start around 1:30 and explore from there. |
| 14:12 | Glove breaks and gear at the NHL levelMoving the pocket, and why goalies should be gear nerds. |
| 16:41 | Analytics and the FTC app’s TRENDkeeperSmall samples, game stories, and the Martin Brodeur lesson. |
| 26:15 | Viewer question: overthinking in games (Devin Cooley)We work in practice, we play in games. |
| 30:35 | Resetting after a goal: Kiprusoff’s routineMask up, squirt of water, mask down, carry on. |
| 36:38 | Viewer question: stiff vs. flexible padsRebound control, lateral movement and balance. |
| 43:08 | Pad balance and outer materialsNHL pads that fall over on the ground, and materials that help a goalie brake. |
| 44:55 | Viewer question: the Turco grip and puck handlingBoth hands working together, up-ice awareness, and deception against F1. |
| 51:45 | Wrap-upSend your questions to TheLastLine@InGoalMag.com. |
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Why does Thatcher Demko hold his glove differently? Should goalies stop thinking during games? And what really makes a great puck-handling goalie?
In Episode 7 of The Last Line, presented by InGoal Magazine and From the Crease, longtime NHL goaltending coach Ian Clark joins Kevin Woodley for another deep dive into the details that separate good goaltenders from great ones.
The episode begins with a fascinating breakdown of Thatcher Demko’s unusual glove positioning, including why the way a goalie holds their hands while preparing for a play may be very different from their actual save position. Clark explains the importance of neutral elbows, reducing tension, and finding the right glove orientation for each goaltender — including a simple clock-face reference that young goalies and coaches can use.
They also explore how goalies can use game-performance analytics to identify what actually needs improvement, rather than simply trying to perfect every technical detail.
Plus, inspired by comments from NHL goalie Devin Cooley, Clark explains why goalies need to separate practice from games, how visualization can help them perform freely, and what made Miikka Kiprusoff’s famous reset routine so effective.
Finally, they answer listener questions about stiff versus soft goalie pads, the importance of balance and lateral control, and the mechanics of the famous Turco grip — including why the best puck handlers are defined by much more than how hard they can shoot.
Topics include:
- Thatcher Demko’s glove positioning and the difference between preparation and save stances
- Why tension and locked joints can limit glove reactions
- Finding your ideal glove position using the clock-face method
- How glove breaks and pocket positioning affect performance
- Using analytics to identify meaningful areas for improvement
- Why goalies should work in practice and play freely in games
- Visualization, mental resets and Miikka Kiprusoff’s routine
- Stiff versus flexible goalie pads and their impact on rebound control and lateral movement
- The Turco grip, puck-handling mechanics and the power of deception
The Last Line brings Ian Clark’s decades of experience coaching elite goaltenders together with Kevin Woodley’s analysis of modern goaltending, helping goalies, parents and coaches better understand the position.
For more on the grip, read how Marty Turco invented it, and see Mike Smith demonstrate it on the ice in our Puckhandling Lessons from Mike Smith series.
Send your questions for future episodes to TheLastLine@InGoalMag.com.
Learn more at InGoalMag.com and explore the From the Crease app on the Apple App Store or Google Play.