Ind the Mask Team Effort Cultivates Homegrown Goalies
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[ DIGITAL EDITION EXCLUSIVE ] PACKED WITH GOALIE TIPS & FEATURES MEET THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK TEAM EFFORT CULTIVATES HOMEGROWN GOALIES JUNE/JULY 2016 � $3.95 IN THE GOALTENDERS DESCRIBE THEIR PASSION FOR THE POSITION I NS ID E RECEIVE THIS FREE : M DIGITAL EDITION O EACH MONTH R E M CLICK HERE TO E BECOME A USA D A HOCKEY MEMBER L S S K IN R GRAND FO STOPs & STARTS USA HOCKEY NEWS & UPDATES NHL Gives Goalie Gear A Makeover Coming soon to an NHL arena near you, a remake of the 1989 hit movie, Honey, I Shrunk the Goalie. NHL general managers agreed that goaltending equipment needs to become smaller for next season. At their annual meetings in March, Goaltending 3.0 the league’s GMs heard how the NHL will be “cutting away all the fat, the parts that extend out past the body Digital Resources Provide A High Tech Assist and don’t wrap” in the chest, pants To Puck Stoppers and upper body area. It was stressed at the meeting that goaltenders’ or as long as goaltenders have of goaltending drills, videos and resources. safety will not be compromised by been stepping in front of fly- The list will continue to grow this year changing equipment. ing pucks, the men and women when the next revolutionary goaltending The NHL Players’ Association is on board with the changes, including F between the pipes have been tool is unveiled. some of the league’s top goaltenders committed to improving their game. Beyond the app, USA Hockey also such as New Jersey Devils netminder Like a branch of the evolutionary tree, launched usahockeygoaltending.com, Cory Schneider. the art of goaltending has advanced in complete with a design overhaul. The “Safety is paramount but I think we have the materials now where we phases over the years. Thanks to count- new mobile-optimized website features a can create smaller, lighter and faster less equipment additions and improve- full library of resources and goaltending- pads and guys can still be protected,” ments, the goaltenders of today look specific training, including the USA Schneider said. nothing like those bare-faced brave men Hockey Goaltending Skill Video of the The plan is to have the equipment who first stood in the crease, and neither Month playlist. This new series of videos ready for goaltenders during the summer so they can prepare for the do the technology tools at the modern covers a wide range of training tips for upcoming season with the new pads. netminder’s disposal. goaltenders and their coaches. Subscribers Some general managers said the In 2012, USA Hockey launched the will receive an alert whenever a new video change could pave the way for smaller, Mobile Coach App on iOS and Android is posted so they never miss out on any of more athletic goaltenders to have a chance to be successful NHL players devices. Since its debut, Mobile Coach the newest exciting tools. again. In the last several years, there’s has been dedicated to constant improve- With these advancements, USA been a move to taller netminders ment, much like goalies themselves. Hockey hopes to take the lead on usher- because they take up more of the net. Recent advancements, including a prac- ing in a new wave of digitally enhanced “I think if it makes the game better tice plan designer, activity tracker and a goaltending resources. then I’m all for it. Obviously, we have to see what’s going to happen. I don’t newsfeed of coaching articles, helped the know if it’s going to be a big change in app become a finalist for the 2016 Sports Digital Goaltending Tools the amount of goals scored,” said Ben Technology Awards App of the Year for • USAHockeyGoaltending.com Bishop, the 6-foot-7 goaltender with Coaches and Managers. • USA Hockey Mobile Coach App the Tampa Bay Lightning. “I think the (for iOS and Android) game is good the way it is, but they The app, which is available for down- • YouTube Goaltending want to get some more goals and this load at USAHockey.com/mobilecoach, Skill of the Month Series might help do it.” is stocked with an ever-expanding library 06 JUNE/JULY.2016 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS COURTESY OF SportslinePhotography.com; Getty Images first liners PROFILES OF PRIME TIME PLAYERS With The Past Behind Her, Katie Burt Looks Toward The Future By SIAN WILKERSON lenty of pressure comes season was tremendous. Even who won a silver medal with the with the weight of though we fell short of our goal, 2014 U.S. Women’s Olympic P being perfect. That’s we were able to push the pro- Team and received the Patty something that Boston gram forward,” said the sopho- Kazmaier Award in 2015, has College goaltender Katie Burt more goalie. helped Burt grow as a goaltender. knows all too well. The team had one rule during “It gives me a ton of confi- After going on a stunning its undefeated regular season: dence. As a goaltender, knowing KATIE BURT #33 40-0 run, the Boston College take it day by day. Under the that my team will probably score POSITION: Goaltender women’s team fell just short of direction of Boston College Head early on, usually within the first CATCHES: Left a perfect season with a loss to Coach Katie King Crowley, the five or 10 minutes, enables me HEIGHT: 5-foot-6 the University of Minnesota Eagles strove to quickly put each to take a breath and just worry WEIGHT: 140 pounds Golden Gophers in the national game behind them after the final about doing my job,” she said. BIRTH DATE: Jan. 26, 1997 HOMETOWN: Lynn, Mass. championship game. While it buzzer sounded, wiping the slate “At this level, all of the goal- COLLEGE: Boston College was a disappointing end to an clean for the next one. ies are pretty similar in skill, so USA HOCKEY HISTORY: otherwise spectacular season, “We learned from each game, the most important thing is to Attended USA Hockey’s Burt knows that one game does of course,” Burt said. “But we have confidence. This position National Development Camp not define a season. didn’t dwell on them.” is very mental.” on three separate occasions (2012, 2013 and 2014) and won “It’s tough to look back on Practicing against talented The Lynn, Mass., native is a silver medal with the U.S. so soon, but overall, I think our teammates like Alex Carpenter, no stranger to the international Under-18 Team at the 2014 IIHF stage. As a member of the U.S. U18 World Championship and Women’s National Under-18 gold in 2015. YOUTH STAR For Audrey Wheeler, hockey has always Team, she back stopped her been a family affair. When her older brother took up the sport, watching him squad to a gold-medal win over play sparked Audrey’s interest, and she Canada, an experience that pre- “There’s always something that soon followed. In 2012, Audrey began pared her for the pressures of so every player needs to work on,” attending Learn to Skate programs and much attention. Burt said. “The goalie position graduated from Mites to Squirts. Early on, she got a taste for the “Katie had a great year for is changing constantly, so I try goaltender position, influenced by her us. She is the backbone of our to look at what other players are team’s policy to have each player try defensive core and did a great doing and I do my best to incor- AUDREY WHEELER standing in the crease for a game or two. AGE: 9 job using what she learned last porate some of those things into For Audrey, the pads fit perfectly. South Bend, Ind. year to put her team in a spot to my own game.” “I like playing goalie because when you make a great save, everyone on the team cheers for you,” said win a national championship this With the Frozen Four behind the fourth grader who is the only girl on the Irish Rovers Squirt A year,” said King Crowley, herself her, Burt has her sights set on travel team. a three-time Olympian. whatever the future holds. Even in her free time, it’s hard to tear Audrey away from the “I’m proud of all she has “Anything can happen, which rink. When she’s not on the ice, you can find her sitting in the stands, cheering for her brother. The South Bend, Ind., native has accomplished and I know it’s any hockey player knows,” she been to almost too many Notre Dame hockey games to count, and only going to continue getting said. “A few years ago, I didn’t loves watching the Chicago Blackhawks. better through her career.” make [the U.S. Women’s In the rare moments that she’s not playing or watching hockey, For all of her success, Burt National Festival], and then I Audrey enjoys softball and archery. But for Audrey, life is really all knows that the key to main- ended up on the U18 team. So about playing hockey. “I just love it because it’s fun.” taining her edge is to never anything can happen. Anything get complacent. is possible.” 16 JUNE/JULY.2016 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS COURTESY OF USA Hockey USA HOCKEY MAGAZINE JUNE/JULY 2016 Digital Edition Exclusive page 17 More High-Level IN THE Athletes Are LINE OF Being Drawn To FIRE The Crease AS THE GREAT JACQUES PLANTE ONCE SAID, “How would you like a job where when you made a mistake a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?” Judging from the popularity of the position at the grass-roots level, kids of all ages are lining up for a chance to stand in the way of flying rubber.