Veteran goaltending coach and youth hockey leader Steve Carroll was recently featured as a guest on the Talk Goalie to Me podcast, a show dedicated to deep conversations about the goalie position and hockey development hosted by former University of Minnesota and St. Thomas University Olivia King. Carroll’s episode provides listeners with a thoughtful look at his journey in hockey, his coaching philosophies, and his perspective on goaltender development at all levels.
During the podcast, Carroll reflects on his own playing career — from his formative years playing high school hockey at Edina under legendary coach Willard Ikola to his collegiate success at Minnesota State University, Mankato — and discusses how those experiences shaped him as both a player and coach. He shares insights into what it takes to coach goalies effectively and the unique mindset required to succeed between the pipes.
Listeners also get a behind-the-scenes view of Carroll’s work running the Carroll Goalie School, a respected development program that has helped young goaltenders build fundamentals, confidence, and resilience. Throughout the interview, Steve emphasizes the importance of treating goalies as people first — understanding their challenges on and off the ice and fostering growth in a positive, engaging environment.
We’re celebrating our 31st year of helping boys and girls achieve success between the pipes through our popular weekend clinics in Minnesota and Iowa.
Coach Steve Carroll teaching goalies at one of his clinics.
“Goalies who train with us work hard, improve their skills and have fun,” said Edina, Minn. native Steve Carroll, a goalie development leader who coaches goalies at the youth, high school and college levels. “I’m extremely proud of the reputation we’ve earned for developing quality, fundamentally-sound goaltenders.”
We give goalies the proper training and attention they need to maximize development. They’ll improve their individual skills, self-confidence and elevate their game to new levels in a challenging, upbeat and fun learning environment.
Our instructors use their extensive playing and coaching experience to teach the goalies what it takes to be successful. They are experts who also share their wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for the goaltending position with the kids.
“CGS coaches love goaltending and do a great job teaching the skills that matter most in today’s game,” Carroll said. “They break things down, demonstrate properly, and help goalies leave feeling confident in their overall play.”
All of our clinics are conveniently scheduled on select evenings and weekends during June-September. Ice times are at six Minnesota arenas including Eagan Civic Arena (Eagan), Richfield Arena, Sports Arena East, (Sauk Rapids), STMA Arena (St. Michael-Albertville), Super Rink (Blaine), and the TRIA Rink (St. Paul), practice home of the Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Frost.
In July, we will also host two weekend clinics at the RecPlex in West Des Moines, Iowa.
We offer four programs for goalies ages 6-14 – Intro to Goaltending, Intermediate Skills, Advanced Skills, and Tryout Tune-up.
Goalie parents like the variety of programs we offer because they realize that having their kids train with Coach Steve Carroll and his expert staff can have a significant impact on their development.
“We have been to quite a few of Steve’s camps and will be coming back for quite a few more,” said goalie parent, Kevin Rowe from Blaine, Minn. “Always a great camp and many locations to pick from when schedules get busy. Our son enjoys the camp and the coaches are engaging and have fun with the goalies while making them work at improving their skills. I highly recommend this goalie camp.”
Goalie parent Jenn Bernacki from Solon, Iowa, said “This was our first experience with a goalie-specific camp and it was a great one! The structure was great and coaches were very efficient with the time. Our daughter felt this camp really helped in her development as a young goalie. She loved every minute!”
Goalie parent Jared Bulinski from Sauk Rapids, Minn. said, “My son had a great experience with CGS. He enjoyed the challenges and learning that took place at the clinic. On the last day, he asked if we could sign up again next year. That is all the proof I need. We can’t wait to work with CGS again. Thank you very much.”
COACH STEVE CARROLL Coach Steve Carroll has more than 35 years of experience coaching goalies. He recently completed the USA Hockey Bronze Level Goalie Coach Education Course. Steve is a two-time NCAA Hockey National Champion, a two-time All-American goalie and finalist for the Hobey Baker Award presented to the best player in men’s college hockey. He’s been inducted into the Edina High School and Minnesota State University, Mankato athletic halls of fame.
Just because a kid signs up to play goalie doesn’t mean they should be shutout from coaching. I recently wrote an article about coaching today’s goalies. It’s designed to help youth hockey coaches understand how to help the kids who play, I think, the most important position on a team. Too often though, coaches forget about goalie development and hope they somehow magically improve throughout the season.
We’re hosting weekend sessions at convenient Minnesota locations this fall to help goalies prepare for tryouts and upcoming season. Clinics are set for Edina, Richfield, St. Michael-Albertville and Sauk Rapids.
Reserve a spot for your goalie by visiting our website.
CGS, which is now in its 30th year, provides game changing clinics for boys and girls, ages 6-14.
“I’m proud of the reputation we’ve earned for developing quality, fundamentally-sound goaltenders,” said Steve Carroll, an Edina, Minn., native, who is lead instructor at the popular evening/weekend clinics offered in the summer and fall.
Coach Steve Carroll teaching goalies at one of his clinics.
Carroll uses his extensive coaching experience to teach goalies what it takes to be successful. He coaches goalies at the youth, high school and college levels. He shares his wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for the position with the goalies who attend his clinics.
“Our talented and personable team of instructors are passionate about goaltending and do an excellent job of explaining, demonstrating, and reinforcing the essential techniques used in today’s game,” Carroll said. “Goalies who train with us work hard, improve their skills and have fun! We help goalies take their games to new levels by building individual skills, techniques, athleticism, consistency and self-confidence.”
Goalie parents like the variety of CGS programs (Intro to goaltending, Intermediate Skills, Advanced Skills and Tryout Tune-up) that are offered and realize that training under the watchful eye of Coach Carroll and his staff can make a significant impact on the skill development of their kids.
“This was our first time at the Carroll Goalie School and we were SO impressed. My son learned a ton, did some fun conditioning, got a lot of 1:1 help and had a great time overall. He’s already asking me when the next one is. The coaches are so kind but they also work the kids hard. We will absolutely sign up again next time.” Sarah Bailey, Des Moines, Iowa
“Our son has been attending the Carroll Goalie School for three years. The clinics are well designed and keep the players moving. The content is focused and the coaches aren’t afraid to provide the appropriate instruction. We love these clinics and they have become the standard we hold other programs to.” Paul Zackery, Apple Valley, Minn.
“CGS ignited my son’s passion for the goalie position.” Craig Pelissero, Redmond, Washington
“My young goalie had a great first season and wanted to have some additional practice that wasn’t just reps in the net. CGS gave her a great foundation to build off of and helped to reinforce good habits and helper her to eliminate some bad ones. Overall, a great experience that was both fun and productive.” Paul Warden, Mendota Heights, Minn.
“My son enjoyed his time at CGS! Coaches made the entire practice fun but informative! He already asked us to sign him up again next year!” Brittany Bunn, East Grand Forks, Minn.
“I think the biggest thing is the coaching staff here makes it fun. Each year we try to get the boys to one of the camps and it’s been pivotal in getting them ready for the fall or a little tune-up going into the playoffs and other parts of the year. We can definitely tell the difference when they come to the Carroll Goalie School.” Shane Hudella, Hastings, Minn.
“The coaching staff at CGS did an incredible job working with the kids. They adjusted the training to suit the individual needs of the goalie within reason. They kept everything fun and demanding at the same time which displays a high level of knowledge on the material being taught. We can’t wait to train with CGS again.” Josh Bowers, Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
“Steve Carroll and his team are amazing! They have elevated my son’s skills and fostered his love for the game and being a goalie.” Cecilia Teeuwen, Minneapolis, Minn.
COACH STEVE CARROLL’S BACKGROUND
Carroll has more than 35 years experience coaching goalies at the youth, high school and NCAA levels. He is the goalie coach for the Gustavus Adolphus College Women’s team, which won the 2023 NCAA Division III National Championship.
He was named USA Hockey’s 2024 Goalie Developer of the Year for his work as Minnesota Hockey’s goalie development coordinator.
As a goalie at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Carroll led the Mavericks to a NCAA Division II National Championship. He played in 119 games, made 3,570 saves, posted a career mark of 81-32-2 and still holds several of the school’s all-time goaltending records. He was also a two-time All-American and top-10 finalist for the inaugural Hobey Baker Award, presented to the best player in men’s college hockey. Carroll earned a free-agent tryout with the NHL’s Minnesota North Stars.
Before college, Carroll played three years at Edina High School (Minn.) for legendary Coach Willard Ikola.
Steve has been inducted into the Edina High School and Minnesota State athletic halls of fame.
We just produced a video showing what CGS is all about. Hear from a parent, who is a former goalie, about how impressed he was with the clinic his son attended.
Registration for our 2024 clinics is underway. We’re hosting 11 clinics in Minnesota and Iowa on select weekends during June-September. You are encouraged to register early for best selection.
“I’m proud of the reputation we’ve earned for developing quality, fundamentally-sound goaltenders,” said director Steve Carroll, a two-time NCAA National Champion and Hall of Fame goalie at Edina High School and Minnesota State. “Goalies who train with us improve individual skills, confidence and take their game to new levels in a safe, challenging, and upbeat learning environment.”
Coach Steve Carroll working with goalies at one of his clinics.
The CGS staff teaches goalies what it takes to achieve success between the pipes. They share their wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for the position with the participants.
“Our coaches do an excellent job of explaining, demonstrating, and reinforcing the essential techniques used in today’s game,” Carroll said.
Goalie parents realize that training at CGS can make a significant impact on the development of their kids.
“Every year, ever since he was eight, he seems to get so excited about being at CGS, you just can’t get enough of that as a parent,” said Shelley Peterson, Becker, Minn. “The positive environment and it’s just a lot of fun for him. We’ll be back, you’ll see us for a while.”
Becky Moore, Cheyenne, Wyoming said, “My daughter’s love for being a goalie was renewed and strengthened in just the first hour of the camp. Each day brought different skills taught in a supportive and fun environment that kids of all ages and skill sets benefited from.”
Shane Hudella, Hastings, Minn., said “I think the biggest thing is the coaching staff here makes it fun. Each year we try to get the boys to one of the camps and it’s been pivotal in getting them ready for the fall or a little tune-up going into the playoffs and other parts of the year. We can definitely tell the difference when they come to the Carroll Goalie School.”
Tina DeLeeuw, Cambridge-Isanti, Minn., said “My son had a blast and touched up on all of his techniques and the coaches really helped him fix the little things he needed to fix before tryouts. I like how you go around and work with each kid individually and in small groups as well and you teach at every station it’s not just shots taking on him, it’s a lot of teaching as well.”
2024 CGS Highlights
11 clinics – evening and weekends in June, July, August and September
It’s also the time of the year when people are realizing what the coaches are or are not doing to improve the skill development of the goalies on their team.
Unfortunately, in a lot of cases, nothing is being done during scheduled practice times.
Steve Carroll leading goalie development clinic.
Some coaches believe that as long as their goalies are seeing lots of pucks during practices they are getting better. That’s not necessarily the case. Goalies need time to develop their individual skills in addition to being available to participate in team drills.
I believe more coaches need to change the way they currently do business and improve on how they work with their goalies. Coaches need to break out of their comfort zone, so goalie development becomes a priority during every practice and not an after thought.
Sometimes coaches think that somehow the goalies will magically improve during the course of a season and become that much-needed difference-maker in big games. Unfortunately, it doesn’t usually work that way.
Some hockey association’s hire outside coaches to work with their goalies for periods of time during the season. This is certainly a step in a right direction. However, the fact an association provides goalie training periodically is not an acceptable excuse for ignoring goalie development during team practices.
The reality is, goalies spend considerably more time on the ice with their team than they do at any association goalie clinic. Constructive/productive use of a team’s practice time, in addition to any in-season goalie training progams, is the key to developing goalies.
Figuring out how to coach goalies can sometimes be a challenging and intimidating aspect of the job for many coaches. However, it doesn’t have to be.
Here are some goalie coaching tips that can help:
Assign someone to be the team’s goalie coach and encourage them to learn as much as they can about the position. Lots of resources available online.
Stick to the basics, most goalies need to improve fundamental skills. Successful goalie development includes quality repetitions.
Schedule 15-20 minutes of each practice hour for goalie coach to work with the goalies on individual skill development. Make sure to write this down on a practice plan so it doesn’t get forgotten.
Give the goalie coach time and space to work on the ice. The individual skill development can take place at any time during practice. Successful team drills can be run without goalies in the net while they are working on their skills.
Remind players (and coaches) that goalies are not shooting targets. They should be treated with respect.
Coaches should not be developing back up goalies. Kids sign up to play the game, not to sit on the bench. Look at developing a rotation where the goalies split games or split periods so they are involved in every game.
Set up the goalies for success. Control pace of team drills so they have time to get ready for each shot and into position to play rebounds.
Encourage goalies to be leaders and not followers. For example, move them to front of the line during skating drills. They will skate harder, feel more a part of the team. Do not put them at end of the line because they skate slower than others.
Teach goalies to treat every shot like it means something in practices and games and to be accountable for their effort and performance.
If an association holds goalie clinics, make sure the goalies attend and strongly recommend that the team’s goalie coach also go – taking notes and/or helping out on the ice. Coaches should build on what’s being taught at the clinics during team practices.
Encourage goalies to work on their puck handling and shooting skills.
Successful goalies compete, are consistent and play with confidence; build their confidence, improve their play, improve team’s win-loss record.
Think carefully about removing a goalie during a game for poor play, if possible make any change between periods.
Coaches need to control their reactions/emotions on bench when goalie gives up a goal. Goalies typically feel bad enough when they get scored on and it doesn’t help the situation when they look at bench and see coach upset and/or screaming at them.
Be good to your goalies and chances are goalies will be good to your team.
Coach Steve Carroll is a goalie development leader. He’s been running skill development programs in Minnesota and Iowa in the summer/fall since 1995. He’s a 2x NCAA National Champion, 2x All-American, Hobey Baker Award Finalist, and Hall of Fame goalie at Minnesota State and Edina (Minn.) High School. Learn more about his programs at www.carrollgs.com
It’s our 29th season of providing goalie development excellence
With tryouts for right around the corner, the Carroll Goalie School is here to help your goalie get ready. Since 1995, we have been teaching boys and girls how to build their individual skills and boost their confidence in a safe, challenging and upbeat learning environment. You can reserve a spot for your goalie at www.carrollgs.com
“I’m extremely proud of the reputation we’ve earned for developing quality, fundamentally-sound goaltenders,” said director Steve Carroll, a goalie development leader who has been coaching goalies at the youth, high school and college levels for more than two decades. “We want the goalies to feel good about their game and feel good about themselves.”
The CGS staff of instructors use their extensive coaching experience to teach the goalies what it takes to be successful. They also share their wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for the position with the kids.
“Our instructors are passionate about goaltending and do an excellent job of explaining, demonstrating, and reinforcing the essential techniques used in today’s game,” Carroll said. “Goalies who train with us work hard, improve their skills and have fun!”
We offer four programs including – Intermediate Skills, Advanced Skills, Tryout Tune-up and Intro to Goaltending.
Clinics are scheduled on evenings and weekends during August-September. Ice times are at Minnesota arenas in Blaine, Edina,Richfield, St. Michael-Albertville and the TRIA Rink in St. Paul, which is the practice home of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild.
Goalie parents like the variety of programs we offer because they realize that having their kids train under the watchful eye of Coach Carroll and his staff can make a significant impact on their development.
“Our son has been attending the Carroll Goalie School for three years,” said Paul Zachary from Apple Valley, Minn. “The clinics are well designed and keep the players moving. The content is focused and the coaches aren’t afraid to provide the appropriate instruction. We love these clinics and they have become the standard we hold other programs to.”
Goalie parent Jeremy Anderson from Minneapolis, Minn., said “Our daughter goes to a lot of goalie schools during the summer, but CGS is by far her favorite.”
Goalie parent Shelley Peterson from Becker, Minn., said “Every year, ever since he was eight, he seems to get so excited about being at CGS, you just can’t get enough of that as a parent. The positive environment and it’s just a lot of fun for him. We’ll be back, you’ll see us for a while.”
Goalie parent Shane Hudella, from Hastings, Minn., said “Each year we try to get the boys to one of the camps. It’s been pivotal in getting them ready for the fall or a little tune-up going into the playoffs and other parts of the year. We can definitely tell the difference when they go to the Carroll Goalie School.”
