| Since we began InGoal we noticed our readers wanted to ask and to see and hear from goaltenders about specific things that only goalies love, questions you’ll never see in the mainstream media. These are the kinds of questions two beer-league goalies might ask each other at centre ice as they stretch before warmup, or a minor hockey goalie might ask their favorite pro: What size is your gear? What is your glove break? Why do you wear #29? What got you started in the game? How do you handle a 2-on-1? What’s your pre-game routine?
We also noticed when we brought those questions to pros, the tone of our interviews changed. Eyes lit up as they realized these weren’t the typical post-game scrums and they were talking with fellow goaltenders, fellow members of the #GoalieUnion.
Interviews become conversations and we get fascinating insights that are goaltender-to-goaltender, not athlete-to-media. We’re all just goalies at heart and the difference from “pee wee to pro,” as we like to say, is not as significant as you might imagine.
In recent years we’ve noticed the name InGoal opens doors even in NHL locker rooms. It’s amazing how often we hear young NHL goalies like Mackenzie Blackwood of the New Jersey Devils say they grew up reading the digital magazine and website that began back in 2009. We wonder which pee wee goalie reading InGoal today might be kind enough to grant us an interview 10 years from now when they are pros!
Our goal now is to take you with us into those locker rooms and detailed conversations, in a virtual way, as we meet with the veterans, the stars and the up-and-coming goaltenders in the NHL and beyond. We don’t take the privilege we have in meeting with the pros lightly and want to be able to share it with you as much as possible.
Over the last decade we gathered a mountain of video, photos and interview notes from these meetings but simply did not have the time or resources to deliver them with the regularity you deserve. For that reason, the InGoal Premium Edition was created. And yes, for that reason, we are charging for access to it. Creating all this content comes with a cost, whether it’s travel to be on the ice with and learn from Roberto Luongo and Rob Tallas last season, purchasing professional recording equipment and cameras, or simply the time to produce and manage all those assets to deliver premium content on a regular basis for goaltenders all over the world.
Our hope is that a community of goaltenders, coaches, parents and fans of goaltending will come together here to learn, to advance the craft of the crease, and help more people enjoy the greatest position in the best game on Earth.
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