How to help a young goalie progress

Question
Rob,

My son is 11. He is about to start his 6th season of hockey, his 4th in net. He normally plays with the kids one or two years older than he is and is one of the better goalies in his league. He has begun to be asked to participate in showcases and off season tournaments. He has also been asked to play on a AAA program about 300 miles from home.

We don't live in a traditional hockey city, but ice is relatively cheap and very available. He is on the ice three to five days each week for about 9 months of the year. He is usually with a goalie coach at least once per week and attends a nationally recognized camp each summer.

My son has made a Division 1 College Scholarship his goal. My question is how do we help put him in the best position to achieve his goal? At 11, 12 or even 13 are the showcases and tournaments worth the money or should he focus on more individual instruction? Should we consider a AAA team a long way from home or can he improve as well playing AA with kids one or two years older?

Not having grown up with hockey, any advice you can give is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time,

Tim

Answer
Tim,

Your son is on the right track for success.  Most goalies never advance because they end up playing at their level with a local rink team.  Plus, if he stays at home, if the coach doesn't know him, the odds are really good that he will not me selected.  So having him play up is the answer.  Please it puts him against older players with better and faster shots.  So, on that note, I recommend going to the next level up (or two) and work with those kids.  bantam will be a good level for him where midgets could have 18 year old's that will take his head off.

Plus, if be can make a Bantam AAA team, that would be even better.  If out what tournaments the Bantam AAA team will be attending next year.  Most scouts look at AAA leagues and maybe AA.  But AAA is better. Why?  Because there is a really good chance he will be noticed.  Plus, once the scouts see how young he is, they will be more impressed.

Now the rule of thumb is that a player on his way to the NHL, must be playing in Major Juniors by the age of 16, 17 at the max.  Now major junior is really hard to get into.  But can he do it?  Yes, ice time, ice time, ice time!  Players skills are directly proportional to the amount of ice time they get.

I recommend during the Summer, advanced camps.  Now, there is an advanced camp for players which is held in Phoenix ever year.  But it's for skaters.  However, the coaches teachings are unconventional and he currently had5 or 6 players that got drafted into major juniors this year.  So the talent shooting against him is equally important.  The coaches name is Boris
([email protected]) I have seen what he does with goalies and their skating and I was impressed.

I hope this helps.
Rob Lopez - Commissioner
University Ice Hockey League - Monterrey
www.passthepuck.net