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Coach Carroll’s connection to Hobey Baker Award

· Steve Carroll

We had just wrapped up a team meeting after my senior season at Mankato State in 1981 when my coach told me I had been named a Top 10 finalist for a new award honoring the best player in men’s college hockey.

It was called the Hobey Baker Award, named after a former Princeton athlete.

Steve Carroll was a Top 10 Finalist for 1981 Hobey Baker Award

While I had a solid college career, as a Division II goalie, I never expected to be considered one of the 10 best players in the country. Being included on that list came as a surprise and was an incredible honor.

When you look at the list of finalists at the bottom of this page, it was clear from the beginning, who would be winning the award. And no one couldn’t argue with the choice.

Neal Broten was named the winner of the first annual Hobey Baker Award. The Roseau, Minnesota native was a sophomore star at the University of Minnesota. He was on the 1980 gold medal winning U.S. Olympic Hockey team and won a NCAA championship during his freshman year.

I was invited to attend the award banquet, which was held at the Decathalon Club in Bloomington. The guest speaker was Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe.

At the banquet, I met Neal Broten and we talked briefly about the time we played against each in the Boy’s State High School Hockey Tournament.

It was huge thrill for me to meet Broten, who went on to have a magnificent NHL career.

Top 10 finalists for 1981 Hobey Baker Award
Pos. — Name — School — Hometown

LW – Sandy Beadle, Northeastern University, Regina Saskatchewan
C – Steve Bozek, Northern Michigan University, Castlegar, British Columbia
C – Neal Broten, University of Minnesota, Roseau, Minnesota
G – Steve Carroll, Mankato State University, Edina, Minnesota
C – Mark Hentges, St. Thomas University, New Hope, Minnesota
C – Tom Lawler, Merrimack College, Andover Massachusetts
G – Bill Provencher, Bowdoin College, Lewiston, Maine
G – Rick Strack, Plattsburgh State University, Lake Placid, New York
D – Ed Small, Clarkson College, Ottawa, Ontario
LW – Steve Ulseth, University of Minnesota, Roseville, Minnesota

Fun fact about the Hobey Baker Award: Steve Christoff, Richfield, Minnesota native and 1980 Olympic Gold Medalist served as the model for the award.

“Talk Goalie to Me” podcast features interview with Coach Carroll

· Steve Carroll

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 goalie 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.

Coach Carroll, who played goalie at Minnesota State, was featured on recent edition of the “Talk Goalie to Me” podcast.

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.

Here is a link to watch the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_yoTHd1Ba4 

 

 

 

CGS can help your goalie improve their skills this summer

· Steve Carroll

CGS gives goalies the proper training and attention they need to maximize development. By enrolling in our programs, goalies will improve their individual skills, self-confidence and elevate their game to new levels in a challenging, upbeat and fun learning environment.

Our expert coaches use their extensive playing and coaching experience to teach the goalies what it takes to be successful. They share their wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for the goaltending position with the kids.

We’ve been a goalie development leader since we opened 31 years ago, helping boys and girls achieve success between the pipes through our popular weekend programs in Minnesota and Iowa.

Steve Carroll coaching goalies at one of his weekend clinics.

“Goalies who train with us work hard, improve their skills and have fun,” said Edina, Minn. native Steve Carroll, a goalie development leader and two-time NCAA National Champion, 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.”

“CGS coaches are passionate about goaltending and do a great job teaching the skills that matter most in today’s game,” Carroll said. “They do a great job interacting with the goalies, breaking things down, demonstrating the skills, while helping goalies build confidence in their overall play.”

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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 skill development. In 2025, goalies from seven states and Thunder Bay, Ontario trained at the Carroll Goalie School.

“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.”

We offer four programs for goalies ages 6-14 – Intro to Goaltending, Intermediate Skills, Advanced Skills, and Tryout Tune-up. Our skill development programs are conveniently scheduled on select evenings and weekends during June-September.

MINNESOTA LOCATIONS

  • Blaine                               Super Rink
  • Eagan                               Civic Arena
  • Richfield                            Ice Arena
  • Sauk Rapids                       Sports Arena East
  • St. Michael-Albertville          STMA Arena
  • St. Paul                             TRIA RInk (Practice home of Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Frost)

IOWA LOCATIONS

  • West Des Moines              RecPlex

COACH STEVE CARROLL

Coach Steve Carroll brings more than 35 years of experience coaching goaltenders at the youth, high school, and college levels.

A two-time NCAA Hockey National Champion, he was also a two-time All-American goaltender at Minnesota State and a finalist for the prestigious Hobey Baker Award, presented annually to the top player in men’s college hockey.

Coach Carroll’s contributions to the sport have been recognized through his induction into both the Edina High School and Minnesota State University, Mankato Athletic Halls of Fame.

Reserve a spot for your goalie by visiting www.carrollgs.com

Coach Carroll Shares State Hockey Tournament memories

· Steve Carroll

Every year at this time, the memories of playing in the Minnesota State Boys High School Hockey Tournament come flooding back. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to play goalie in the eight-team state hockey tournament during my senior year at Edina-East High School in 1977.

The 33rd annual tournament was played at the St. Paul Civic Center, the historic old arena that featured the clear dasher boards. (Game program cost .75 cents).

The talented tournament field included Rochester John Marshall (22-2), Mounds View (23-1), Hill-Murray (22-2), South St. Paul (18-1-5), Minneapolis Southwest (15-7-2), Edina-East (22-1), Grand Rapids (19-3-1) and Roseau (23-0). The record for all the tournament qualifiers was an impressive 164-17-8.

In the opening round, we played the late game on Thursday night against Neal Broten, his brother Aaron and Busty Erickson from Roseau. The Rams were unbeatenand ranked number one in the state, we were second. We came into the game with only one loss on the season. I remember the ice was soft, the lights were bright and it was hot in the Civic Center.

From what I recall, there was some sort of mix-up before the game which led to both teams wearing their green uniforms for warm-ups. That issue was resolved before the start of the game as we took the ice in our white uniforms. For our game., there was a standing room only crowd of 17,409, which, at that time, was the largest crowd to ever watch a hockey game in Minnesota.

A majority of the fans in the building were pulling for the northern Minnesota school, except for a couple of sections in the corner where the Hornet faithful were seated.

I was so excited to be there – achieving a goal I had been dreaming about since I first strapped on the pads as a peewee.

But I was also nervous, playing on such a big stage, in front of a record crowd and with thousands more throughout Minnesota watching the game on WTCN-TV with announcers Joe Boyle and Lou Nanne calling the game. Watch the highlights of this game.

Once the puck dropped, I couldn’t wait to make my first save. After that, I was able to settle down and focus on the task at hand.

It was a back and forth contest with both teams exchanging excellent scoring chances.

Teammate Bret Bjerken broke the scoreless tie a couple minutes into the third period. Another Hornet tally by John Donnelly a few minutes later sealed the 2-0 victory.

That set-up a semifinal showdown against the two-time defending state champions from Grand Rapids. Their team featured a number of future Division I hockey players including former University of Minnesota Head Coach Don Lucia.

This game turned out to be a shootout from the opening face-off. Grand Rapids built up a 4-2 lead in the second period before the Hornets came storming back with four straight goals to take the lead in the third. Grand Rapids added one late but we hung on to win it in electrifying fashion 6-5. Former University of Michigan Head Coach Mel Pearson scored two goals in that game for the Hornets.

With the win, we advanced to the finals to face Rochester John Marshall, a team we did not know a whole lot about. But what we did know was the squad from southern Minnesota could put the puck in the net and had one of the best goalies in the state in sophomore Paul Butters who would go on to play at the University of Minnesota.

Rochester scored on a breakaway 36 seconds into the title game and added another seven minutes later. But we battled back on goals from Dave Terwilliger and Tom Kelly to tie the game at 2-2 after two. But that was a close as we got. JM added two in the third to win it 4-2.

Even though our team lost in the championship game – playing in the state tournament was a wonderful experience and something I’ll never forget.

And if I ever need a trip down memory lane, I can pop in a DVD and watch the games from that memorable weekend in March.

***

Fourteen players on the 1976-77 Hornets team
would go on to play college hockey.

Name                                     College
John Anderson                       Gustavus Adolphus College
Bret Bjerken                           Michigan Tech
Steve Carroll                          Mankato State
John Donnelly                        Dartmouth
Mark Gagnon                        Cornell
Paul Gagnon                         Notre Dame
Gordie Hampson                   Michigan
Scott Hampson                      Colorado College
Tom Kelly                              Colorado College
Mike Lauen                           Michigan Tech
Mel Pearson                         Michigan Tech
Steve Pepper                        Minnesota
Bill Peterson                         Hamline
Dave Terwilliger                    Minnesota

 

Goalies should not be shut out from coaching

· Steve Carroll

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.

Read the article 

CGS clinics help goalies prepare for tryouts

· Steve Carroll

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.

 

Register for 2024 CGS clinics

· Steve Carroll

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
  • Six Minnesota locations – Alexandria (NorthStar Sports Complex), Blaine (Super Rink), Eagan (Civic Arena), Edina, (Braemar Arena), Richfield, (Richfield Arena) St. Michael-Albertville (STMA Arena)
  • One Iowa location –  West Des Moines (RecPlex)
  • Four programs – Intermediate Skills, Advanced Skills, Tryout Tune-up, Intro to Goaltending
  • Complimentary Carroll Goalie School jersey
  • For boys and girls, ages 6-14
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Coach Carroll's connection to Hobey Baker Award