Hi ,

It’s just a coincidence that Braden Holtby switched teams ahead of a couple of big InGoal Magazine stories on his path to success, but as the Vezina Trophy- and Stanley Cup-winning goalie says good bye to the Washington Capitals and prepares to join the Vancouver Canucks it seemed fitting to round up some of the great content we did with him in Washington.

It’s highlighted by the two newest stories at InGoal Premium: 1. the start of a 6-part series with his former Capitals goalie coach, Scott Murray, and 2. kicking off a new Mental Game column with his long-time sports psychologist, John Stevenson. It’s also the perfect time to introduce the opportunity to work with Stevenson, who just launched a three-tiered program that goalies of all ages can join.

So, let’s start with the limited series featuring Capitals goalies and Murray, who kicked off his look at new tracking mechanics...

In the new Mental Game with John Stevenson column, we learn about the message Stevenson delivered to an upset Holtby shortly after being cut from Canada's World Junior team, and the breathing exercises that helped make him a champion:

As for your chance to work with Stevenson beyond his new column, there are three options available, ranging from an Entry Level starting point to the same thing he does with NHL clients:

Entry Level 

This 2-month program focuses on developing goalies Tactical and Mental Game

• Enrolment is limited to a maximum of 20 selected goaltenders, starting Oct. 5
• Includes four, 90-minute online mental training group sessions with John Stevenson
• Includes a 2-month subscription to Vizual Edge Training Program, a simple web-based training tool designed to improve the speed, coordination, and overall efficiency of your eye movements. John will teach you how these drills relate to goaltending and how to use them to improve in ways that will have a tangible benefit on the ice.

Intermediate

This 6-month program takes your Mental Game to another level by developing the ability and tools to re-focus, maintain and project poise, understand keys to consistency, and proper mental rehearsal.

• Enrolment is limited to a maximum of 10 selected goaltenders
• Includes 12, 90-minute online mental training group sessions with John Stevenson
• Includes 6-month subscriptions to both Neurotracker and Senaptec online, web-based training programs designed to boost mental performance in measurable ways. Moving beyond, but not abandoning the Entry Level exercises to improve sports vision, John will help guide you through these Cognitive-Perceptual training methods in ways that will directly improve awareness and decision-making abilities, allowing you to process the game at faster rates, essentially improving your “hockey IQ” in order to better read both plays and shot releases.

Elite

This year-long, limited-admission program mirrors the work of pro clients right up to the NHL and is designed only for goalies who are serious about taking their Mental game to an elite-level, including a willingness to commit to daily mental exercises and important lifestyle factors including sleep, nutrition and limiting electronic use.

• Enrolment is limited to a maximum of six selected goaltenders.
• Entry is not guaranteed: John Stevenson will conduct one-on-one interviews with suitable candidates.
• Includes 24, 75-minute private training sessions with John Stevenson, specified to each goalie’s specific needs, and scheduled at the goaltender’s discretion, ideally twice a month.
• Includes game analysis, using video to tie mental training into on-ice specifics.
• Includes 1-year subscriptions to all 3 vision and cognitive perceptual training tools: Vizual Edge, Neurotracker and Senaptec, as well as the Senaptec Strobe Glasses.

Of course, our work with Holtby and Stevenson goes beyond the most recent article. It also includes a live webinar overview of Stevenson’s Performance Wheel earlier this summer: 

Stevenson also shared the ball drill that Holtby used earlier in his career to improve his focus and eye-hand co-ordination: 

And last, but certainly not least, during our three days on and off the ice with Holtby and Murray in Kelowna the summer before the Cup win, Holtby explained the uniquely large knob at the end of his goalie stick, and walked us through and entertaining tape session to show how he gets it on there: