After a long break, we are back on the ice for our 26th straight year of helping goalies get ready for the upcoming hockey season.
We have weekend programs scheduled in August and September at Edina, Richfield and St. Michael-Albertville. Programs include Intermediate Skills, Advanced Skills and Tryout Tune-up. There are limited openings in these sessions. Reserve a spot for your goalie at www.carrollgs.com.
The health and safety of our participants, parents and coaches continues to our top priority. So when we return to the ice, everyone will be expected to follow the new safety guidelines set by the CDC and the State Health Department, which includes social distancing guidance for youth sports activities.
Each ice arena has also developed their own return to ice guidelines that CGS participants will be expected to follow. We are have developed our own return to ice guidelines. We will share this information with parents/participants prior to each clinic.
Hard to believe it’s been 40 years since that night in March when Mankato State pulled off the upset to win the 1980 NCAA Division II National Championship.
I was the starting goalie for Mavericks at the school that’s now known as Minnesota State University, Mankato. In 1980, the Final Four was held at Elmira College in New York, less than a month after the U.S. shocked the world and won Gold in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
Coach Carroll played four years at Minnesota State Mankato.
In the NCAA semifinals, we stunned the defending champions from Lowell University 8-1, despite being outshot 41-24.
That win put us into the championship game for the second year in a row, this time against heavily-favored Elmira College, the school that was hosting the tournament.
You can see Coach Carroll playing in the National Championship Game in this video.
There was a standing room only crowd of more than 4,000 people at the title game and it seemed like all but about 50 MSU parents and fans were cheering for the Soaring Eagles. Elmira outshot us 46-31, but when the final buzzer sounded, we proudly skated away with an stunning upset victory, defeating Elmira 5-2, giving us our own version of a Miracle.
Winning the National Championship was a tremendous thrill and one of my all-time hockey highlights. The game was televised on a new sports TV network called ESPN. It was shown multiple times on the cable on a taped-delayed basis. And through the magic of video, I still have vivid memories from that night in New York.
During my four years at MSU, we finished third in the country during my freshman year, second as sophomores, first as a junior and third as a senior. It was an awesome run! Great memories as a Maverick!
During the winter months, I am the goalie coach for the Gustavus Adolphus College women’s hockey team. In late December-early January, our team took a trip to Europe for sightseeing and to play a couple of hockey games. It was an unbelievable experience.
Coach Steve in Prague.
We flew into Munich, Germany and visited the Marienplatz area and ate as group at one of the historic bier halls. Even though we had reservations, seating our party of 65 was no big deal for this place as we ate dinner with several hundred other people who were at the restaurant.
The appetizer included meats and cheeses and the main course was schnitzel and french fries. It was delicious.
From then we headed by bus to Salzburg, Austria. This was the favorite spot for most of the players. They liked scenery and the small town feel. The Christmas markets were still open and the city was all decorated for the holidays.
This also the city where some of the famous scenes from The Sound of Music movies were filmed in Mirabell gardens. We were able to check them out during a walking tour. We also visited a nearby concentration camp.
Christmas markets in Prague
In our first hockey game against the Austrian National team, we beat them 3-2.
From there, we headed to Vienna, Austria, a much larger city.
We went to the Schoenbrunn Castle, visited a local winery and celebrated New Year’s Eve in Stephensplatz. It was a wonderful place to ring in 2020.
After that, we headed to Prague in the Czech Republic. There we visited Old Town and the famous Charles Bridge. We also played a second hockey game in that area. It was at an arena that was in the hometown of hockey great Yaromir Jagr. We beat a local women’s team 2-0.
The players visited with a two-year-old hockey fan after the game in the Czech Republic.
Beside schnitzel, other food items included pizza, pasta, fried chicken and duck. The breakfast buffets were something else at the hotels we stayed at. Wide assortment of eggs, sausage, meats and cheeses, breads and pastries. It was a nine-day trip that flew by. So many memories from our trip to Europe.
The Carroll Goalie School is pleased to announce that we have just added a new location and times for our popular Tryout Tune-up program. We will be hosting a three-day goalie development session in St. Michael-Albertville on Thursday, Sept. 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21, 3:30-5:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 22, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Coach Steve Carroll helped at a goalie clinic in St. Michael in December 2018.
At CGS, we help goalies take their games to new levels by building individual skills, techniques, athleticism, consistency and self-confidence. Goalies who train with us work hard and have fun in an upbeat and positive learning environment.
Coach Steve Carroll and longtime CGS student/coach Amanda K. will be the lead instructors at this six-hour clinic.
Coach Amanda K. is the goalie coach for STMA Hockey Association and the NWC Riverhawks. She runs clinics during the season.
The CGS staff will help goalies improve their skills, consistency, work habits and overall game. They’ll feel confident they’ve gained a competitive edge and are on top of their game to start the season.
Topics that we will cover include footwork, save and recovery techniques, hand-eye coordination, angles, rebound control and breakaways.
This clinic is open to goalies in the St. Michael-Albertville and North Wright County Riverhawks associations as well other youth hockey goalies who are looking for last minute training to help them prepare for tryouts and upcoming season.
Session is for boys, girls ages 8-15. Limited space available. Spots will be filled on a first-come, first served basis. Register now.
The Minnesota State High School Boy’s State Hockey Tournament is a special time of year. It’s always fun to watch the games and see who comes out on top on Saturday.
The CGS/Brian’s booth at the 2019 LPH Expo.
It’s also a busy time for the Carroll Goalie School. We are long-time exhibitors at the Let’s Play Hockey Expo, which is held in conjunction with the state hockey tournament. The sales rep from Brian’s Custom Sports, who sponsors our program, comes to town to show off the latest gear and help goalies with getting sized for Brian’s equipment they are looking for, whether it’s gloves, leg pads or chest protectors.
During this year’s expo, I also had the wonderful opportunity to visit with Mick Hatten from the Rink Live.
We recorded a 30-minute interview live from the Expo. We discussed all kinds of hockey topics including my playing days in Edina, what it was like playing for legendary Coach Willard Ikola, winning the NCAA title at Minnesota State and my work with the goalie school.
It’s was fun to share some stories with Mick and I certainly appreciated the opportunity to be on his show.
I had the opportunity to be part of two USA Hockey goalie clinics this past weekend, one in Duluth and one in Brooklyn Park. The clinics were designed to teach youth hockey coaches of all skill levels how to effectively work with and develop goalies.
Phil Osaer, USA Hockey’s ADM manager for goaltending, was among the presenters at the clinics.
The clinics included a series of classroom presentations as well as an on-ice sessions where the coaches ran a goalie practice with drills they developed at the clinics. They also had a chance to try various goalie-specific skating movements.
Presenters included:
Phil Osaer, USA Hockey ADM manger for goaltending
Emily West, USA Hockey ADM manager for female hockey
Paddy Elsmore, goalie coach for College of St. Scholastica women’s hockey team
Justin Johnson, former University of Minnesota men’s goalie coach
Brennan Poderzay, regional scout for USA Hockey’s National Development Program.
The clinics are latest in the series of initiatives focused on boosting the recruitment and development of goaltenders in Minnesota.
More than 60 coaches from Minnesota and Wisconsin attended the goalie coaching clinics.
This was a fun goalie reunion. Years ago, a young boy by the name of Dominik came to my goalie school as a 6-year-old. Even though he was new to the position, you could tell he was into it and he had a grand old time. Turns out, it was the only opportunity I had to work with him during his youth hockey days.
Dominik, now a sophomore in high school, and I in St. Cloud in early August.
Now fast forward to August 2017. Dominik and I are reunited on the ice in St. Cloud. He earned a spot at a goalie camp I was coaching at. It was great to see him after all these years!
Dominik is going to be a sophomore in high school this fall. It’s fun and rewarding to see goalies who I have worked with grow up, continue to develop their goaltending skills and love the game of hockey.
UPDATE: I wrote this story a few days before NHL draft in June. Lakeville’s Jake Oettinger was taken in the first round (26th overall) by the Dallas Stars. He became the highest drafted Minnesota goalie.
By Steve Carroll
It didn’t take long for Jake Oettinger to get hooked on being a goalie. In fact, all it took was one game after he had a chance to strap on the pads with his Farmington, Minnesota squirt team.
“I tried it, loved it and stuck with it,” he said. And he eventually would become the go-to goalie for his peewee team that won more than 50 games.
“I liked being able to have huge impact in every game and the spotlight that comes with being a goalie,” he said.
Oettinger play goalie for Farmington squirts.
In ninth grade, Oettinger moved to Lakeville North High School where he led the Panthers to a runner-up finish in the State Tournament in St. Paul.
“It was unbelievable,” he recalled. “Probably one of the most fun years of my life playing hockey, playing in state is such a cool experience.”
After his freshman year, he made the United States National Team Development Program in Michigan, where he spent to next two seasons. And he enjoyed plenty of success on those teams including leading his U.S. squad to a gold medal at the 2015 U18 World Championships.
“It was great,” he said. “It was difficult moving away from home, but it was definitely worth it. I’m really happy I went there.”And he also excelled in the classroom. He accelerated his academics so he graduated from high school in little over two years.
During his time in Michigan, he had developed into one of the nation’s most sought after high school goalies and had plenty of college scholarship offers to choose from.
He selected Boston University. “I went on a visit, loved the city and the coaches, the goalie coach, thought it would be a great fit and it was,” he said.
And he quickly earned the starting spot, playing college hockey as a freshman in what could have been his senior year in high school.
Oettinger played in 35 games for the Terriers, posting a 21-11-3 record, with 2.11 goals against average and a save percentage of .927. His outstanding play earned him a spot on the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and the All-Conference second team.
By far his favorite memory from the first season was beating North Dakota 4-3 in double overtime in the NCAA Regional Tournament, before a packed house in Fargo, North Dakota. Oettinger made 56 saves in that game.
Now fast forward to this summer, where the 6-4, 218 pound netminder is now an 18-year-old and a top pro prospect.
According to NHL Central Scouting, Oettinger is the number one rated North American goalie and projected to be picked late in the first round or early in the second round in this weekend’s draft.
If that happens, he would be the first Minnesota goalie taken that high in the NHL Draft.
“It’s going to be a once of a lifetime experience,” he said. “Really excited to have a ton of family and friends with me in Chicago. It’s going to be an awesome weekend.”
Oettinger has met with every NHL team but doesn’t know or care which club will select him.
“I’d love to play for any team,” he said.
But regardless of where he goes in the draft, Oettinger plans to return to Boston University this fall.
“I think I have a whole lot of unfinished business at BU, so I don’t really know yet when that time will come, (to turn pro). I know it’s going to have a lot to do with how hard I work and how good I play.”
#GOALIES#
Congratulations to former CGS student Sydney Rossman. She recently signed a contract to play for the Connecticut Whale of the National Women’s Hockey League.
Sydney Rossman attended the Carroll Goalie School early in her career.
Sydney participated in the Carroll Goalie School early in her career. She would go on to star at Minnetonka High School and Quinnipiac University.
ABOUT THE WHALE
Goaltender Sydney Rossman, a 2016 NWHL Draft pick of the Connecticut Whale and the 2015-16 ECAC Goaltender of the Year, has signed a one-year contract with the club.
“It was a really cool thing to get the contract offer to join the Whale and the NWHL,” said Rossman. “I was hoping to play for the Whale this upcoming season, but it wasn’t a reality until I got that email. It’s really great to continue my hockey career at a high level.
“Since I have teammates and friends on the four teams, I was at a lot of NWHL games in the last two years and was really impressed. The NWHL is all about the opportunity for women in pro sports. I’m excited to get a chance to be part of the league and help build its reputation in this early phase. I’m hoping that a lot of people come out in see us starting in October. I believe this season can have a huge impact on the future of the NWHL, and from here the league will grow stronger.”
While playing for the Whale, Rossman will teach her craft to young netminders at Pro Crease Goaltending – run by Quinnipiac’s men’s goaltending coach Jared Waimon. “I hope to start a program at Pro Crease dedicated to coaching women goalies,” said Rossman.
Rossman played four seasons at Quinnipiac University.
In addition to coaching and playing, Rossman will pursue an MBA at Quinnipiac.
The Minnesota native graduated from Quinnipiac in May with a degree in marketing. In her four-year college career, she was 52-13-11 with a 1.16 GAA and .938 save percentage. She has the school record for shutouts (26) and was selected as a Quinnipiac Scholar-Athlete. During her junior season, Rossman led the Bobcats to the ECAC Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. She was named the league’s Goaltender of the Year and was a finalist for ECAC Player of the Year.
Rossman won three Minnesota State High School Championships with Minnetonka High School. She attended three USA Hockey National Select camps and the USA Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship Team camp.
Gustavus women’s hockey sophomore goaltender Amanda DiNella (Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.) has been selected to the 2017 NCAA Division III CCM Women’s Hockey All-American West First Team, by the American Hockey Coaches Association.
She becomes the 15th player, fifth sophomore, and first goalie in Gustavus Women’s Hockey history to earn the prestigious honor.
Goalie Coach Steve Carroll with Amanda DiNella at 2017 NCAA Division III National Tournament.
Coach Steve Carroll is the goalie coach for the Gustavus women’s hockey team.
DiNella, a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference Team member, finished the regular season as the league’s goaltending champion, posting the MIAC-best save percentage (.947), goals against average (0.92), winning percentage (.813), and most shutouts with eight.
In 20 appearances and 17 starts, DiNella has compiled a record of 13-3-2. She owns an NCAA-best 1.08 goals against average and is tied for the most shutouts with eight. In addition, her .778 win percentage ranks eighth while her .944 save percentage ranks 13th. In 1,108:21 minutes played, DiNella has accumulated 329 saves and allowed just 20 goals on the season.
DiNella has backstopped a Gustavus defense that ranks sixth nationally in goals allowed per game (1.41). She is the first Gustie goaltender to post 13 wins since Lindsey Hibbard posted 16 wins in 2012-13 and is one shutout away from tying a program record of nine shutouts in a season, set by Breanna Scavo in 2007-08. DiNella has greatly exceeded her numbers from her freshman season, improving her win total from three to 13 while nearly cutting in half the number of goals allowed.
On March 10 at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, DiNella helped guide Gustavus to its first NCAA Tournament victory since 2013 as she registered a career-high 38 saves in the 3-2 NCAA Division II National Tournament first round win.
After a long break, we are back on the ice for our 26th straight year of helping goalies get ready for the upcoming hockey season.
