Goaltender Program
Goalie Development
CMHA is committed to providing top quality goalie programming and opportunities for the strength
of our entire Association. Our goalie program consists of mandated goalie training for U7 through
U13 C and optional goalie training for U13 A and above. The program begins after Thanksgiving and
continues to the end of the season (skipping Halloween, Christmas break and possible tournament
conflicts). Goalies need to be registered through their Division Manager for the weekly sessions.
The Rep goalie program will be for Rep goalies only and may include AP goalies to keep
numbers at a workable level. We strive to keep the instructor to goalie ratio at 1-3 to optimize
reps for goalies. Shooters from the Association will be provided along with professional
goaltending instructors. Camps will be held on Monday’s at 4:00pm at Planet Ice 3. CMHA has
designed the Rep ice schedules so that no Rep teams have games or practices on Monday’s to
ensure the athletes have no conflicts.
The cost is $250 per goalie, which works out to be between $25 and $30 per session. If they
continue after Christmas break, then they will pay another $250 per goalie. We do not prorate
sessions; there are no refunds for missed sessions. While we realize that teams may not
choose to participate in this program parents have the choice to pay privately to ensure they
are receiving a full 60 minutes of DEDICATED goalie Development throughout the season.
U7 & U9 Sessions run on Thursday’s 4:00pm Planet Ice 3
U11C-U13C run on Thursday’s 5:00pm Planet Ice 3 – U15C welcome
Progressive Stepped Development
The foundation of everything goalies learn is based on positional mastery. From Novice aged
beginning goalies to pro calibre athletes, all our students are taught to continually work towards
improving their positioning skills. Stressing confident positioning is where all goalies start. Once
positioning has been understood and demonstrated consistently, our students are ready to start
learning the mechanics of stance, movement, challenging shooters, rebound control, playing the
puck, and directing play in the defensive end. These are all teachable skills that with our tested
training methods have been shown to contribute to the exceptional development of goalies aspiring
to raise their game to a higher level.
Attention to Details
Our instructors are sticklers for details. Details on stance, positioning, holding your stick and other
subtleties can mean the difference between the one that got past you and making the winning save.
Students are constantly monitored and assessed for their adherence to practicing exactly as the
instructors have explained. Long term, we have found that this attention to detail makes our
students more aware of the finer points of their game and aids in developing their mental
toughness.
THE GOALIE GROUP
The Goalie Group currently works with the Philadelphia Flyers, UBC Thunderbirds, Victoria Royals WHL, Victoria Grizzlies BCHL, as well as several academy teams and PIJHL teams
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Mission Statement:
With the game of hockey becoming faster and more dynamic, goaltenders need to adapt, relying on athleticism and technical foundations during a variety of in-game sequences. By focusing on each goaltenders strengths, and refining certain areas of their skill set, goaltenders can cultivate a well-rounded approach to the position and to the game of hockey. Our development philosophy places a strong emphasis on certain foundational aspects and demands a focus on pro-habits that can otherwise be neglected.
We recognize each goaltender is different, and as such, design specifically tailored programs that focus on each goalkeeper's needs. Our coaching style pushes goaltenders to find what works for them and combine athleticism and hockey intelligence with strong technical ability. Within this philosophy, there is a critical importance that goaltenders take ownership of their game, working in tandem with our highly qualified staff. This, in turn, builds a host of skills that goaltenders can take with them in their hockey career and at each stage of their lives. At the goalie group, we look to develop athletes into elite goaltenders, but at the same time, strive to build our students into better contributors to society as they progress through their careers.
