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During the winter months, the Carroll Goalie School and our partner from Brian’s Custom Sports, sponsor the Shutout Wall that appears in Let’s Play Hockey newspaper and on its website. 

It’s a popular way for goalies to get recognized for posting a shutout and as you can see there are easily a couple hundred shutouts posted on the wall. Congrats to all the goalies who earned shutouts in 2018-19.

Each week, a goalie, who had a shutout posted on the wall, was selected to receive a prize pack from CGS and Brian’s Custom Sports. The pack usually included a hat from Brian’s and a shirt from CGS.

In addition to that, at the end of the season, one goalie was selected to win a custom set of gloves from Brian’s Custom Sports.

This year, the winner was Griffin Simpson, a peewee goalie from Minneapolis. He was fitted for his gloves at the Let’s Play Hockey Expo.

Coach Carroll presented Griffin with his new gloves this summer at Richfield Arena. He was on the way to a baseball game and wore the gloves out of the rink. Congratulations to Griffin.

Look for the CGS/Brian’s Custom Sports Shutout Wall promotion to return to Let’s Play Hockey this coming hockey season.

The Minneapolis-based Carroll Goalie School (CGS) continues to grow and evolve as it enters its 24^th season of providing skill development programs for boys and girls.

“We help goalies of all abilities take their game to new levels by building individual skills, techniques, athleticism, and self-confidence,” said Steve Carroll, an Edina, Minn., native, who is lead instructor at the popular weekend camps offered in the summer and fall.

Carroll uses his extensive coaching experience to teach goalies what it takes to be successful. He shares his wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for the position with the goalies who attend his camps. “I’m proud of the reputation we’ve earned for developing quality, fundamentally-sound goaltenders, Carroll said. “Our instructors are passionate about goaltending and do an excellent job of explaining, demonstrating, and reinforcing the essential techniques used in today’s game, Goalies who train with us work hard, improve their skills and have fun!”

This year, CGS is offering four programs for goalies ages 6-15 including: Intro to Goaltending, Intermediate Skills, Advanced Skills and Tryout Tune-up.

Ice times are scheduled at night and weekends at five ice arenas in Minneapolis-St. Paul including Braemar Arena (Edina), Eagan Civic Arena, Richfield Arena, Schwan Super Rink (Blaine) and the TRIA Rink in St. Paul, which is the new practice facility for the Minnesota Wild.

Goalie parents like the variety of CGS programs because they realize that training under the watchful eye of Coach Carroll and his staff makes a significant impact on the development of their kids.

“Wow, Steve and his crew run a great program. My sons never complained when coming off the ice tired and were eager to get up and go to the ice early the next day. My oldest said he loved it and “by the way dad, we are doing this again next year,” Mike Swenson, Savage.

“I would highly recommend CGS. Goalies have a fun time learning new skills. Very professional coaches and great locations,” said Joyce Birchard, Willmar.

“CGS has improved our son’s goalie skills tremendously the past two years,” said Megan Altman from Woodbury. “Coach Carroll and his staff always treat the goalies with respect and you can tell they love what they do.”

Brian Kalafatich from Mahtomedi said, “This is our second time with Steve Carroll. We love the camp, from the good price/value, coaching, ice time, and skills that are developed. As long as our son continues to have fun, love hockey, and love being a tender, then we will find a way to attend his camps.”

Goalie Logan Cooksy from Lakeville said, “Is it a coincidence; five years with Carroll and five winning seasons?”

COACH CARROLL’S BACKGROUND

Carroll is a USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach who trains goalies at the youth and high school levels. He also is the goalie coach for the Gustavus Adolphus College women’s team .

As a goalie, Carroll won a State Peewee “A” title with Edina, participated in the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament, played in four consecutive NCAA Division II Final Fours and won a National Championship while at Minnesota State, Mankato. Carroll has been inducted in the Minnesota State, Mankato and Edina High School athletic halls of fame.

For more information, visit www.carrollgs.com.

We were just finishing up a team meeting following my senior year at Mankato State in 1981, when coach informed me that I had been named as a Top 10 finalist for a new award being given the best player in men’s college hockey.

It was called the Hobey Baker Award, in honor of a standout athlete from Princeton University.

While things went well for me in Mankato, I had a hard time believing the selection committee would consider me, a NCAA Division II goalie, as one of the 10 best players in all of men’s college hockey. It was an unexpected and humbling honor to even be considered for this prestigious award.

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 star at the University of Minnesota who already had an Olympic gold medal and a NCAA championship on his impressive hockey resume.

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

At the banquet, I got to meet Neal Broten. I had played against him when my Edina-East team defeated his team in the quarterfinals of the state high school hockey tournament. We talked about that game for a bit, but not for very long.

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

Being named a Top 10 finalist for the first-ever Hobey Baker Award means more and more to me with each passing year.

Top 10 finalists for 1981 Hobey Baker Award
Pos. — Name — School — Hometown
G – Steve Carroll, Mankato State University, Edina, Minnesota
G – Bill Provencher, Bowdoin College, Lewiston, Maine
G – Rick Strack, Plattsburgh State University, Lake Placid, New York
D – Ed Small, Clarkson College, Ottawa, Ontario
C – Steve Bozek, Northern Michigan University, Castlegar, British Columbia
C – Neal Broten, University of Minnesota, Roseau, Minnesota
C – Mark Hentges, St. Thomas University, New Hope, Minnesota
C – Tom Lawler, Merrimack College, Andover Massachusetts
LW – Sandy Beadle, Northeastern University, Regina Saskatchewan
LW – Steve Ulseth, University of Minnesota, Roseville, Minnesota

By the way, did you know that 1980 Olympian and Richfield, Minn., native Steve Christoff served as the model for the the Hobey Baker Trophy?

Wanted to share with you an article I was asked to write for goalie coaches website.

Goalie Development Should Be Priority For Youth Coaches

 

This will be a different Winter Olympic Games for me to watch because I personally know some people who will be participating.

First off, there is U.S. goalie Maddie Rooney, who is from Andover, Minnesota. She is one of three goalies on the U.S. squad. I have interviewed her a couple of times in the last few months and even recorded a podcast with her.

Following one of our conservations, Maddie mentioned how she remembered going to the Carroll Goalie School when she was younger. That was cool to hear.

The head coach for Team USA is former University of Minnesota goalie Robb Stauber, who owns a goalie training center in Edina. We are both in the goalie development business and have been on the ice together at the same goalie camp.

Another player I know is Marissa Brandt. She played for the Gustavus Adolphus College women’s hockey team from 2011-2015. That’s the team I am the goalie coach for. Marissa played both forward and defense for the Gusties. She is a member of the Korean Olympic hockey team.

Her sister Hannah is a member of the U.S. Women’s Olympic team. The former Gopher star would often come down to St. Peter watch her sister play and would join her Marissa and their parents at our end of the year banquets.

I also know is Noora Raty, the former University of Minnesota stand-out who is the starting goalie for Finland Olympic team. Raty and I have been on the ice together at the same goalie camp.

Another person I know that’s connected to the Winter Games is goalie coach Rebecca Baker. She used to coach at Bethel University and now is the goalie coach for the Korean Olympic team. Baker and I have been on the ice together at the same goalie camp.

Let the games begin!

 

For the first time since 1998, when women’s hockey became an Olympic sport, there’s a goalie from Minnesota on Team USA.

Her name is Maddie Rooney who grew up playing hockey in Andover. She was officially named to the U.S. Olympic team on Jan. 1.

“I’m excited and honored to be on this team and to be playing with this amazing group of women,” Rooney said recently. “I’m really looking forward to this experience.”

At 20 years old, Rooney is the youngest player on the U.S. roster. “I always watched the Olympics growing up and I always had a dream to play on this team,” said Rooney.

Even though she participated in several USA Hockey Development Camps and was on the U.S. National team in 2017, Rooney didn’t think she would have an opportunity to play in the Olympics until after she finished her career at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

“It didn’t really cross my mind that I would have a chance until last winter when I made the winter camp for the Nationals,” Rooney said. “Then I made the World’s roster and everything happened fast.”

And a few short months later, she was one of three goalies selected to represent the U.S. at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games. And she can hardly wait.

Her teammates who have competed in previous Winter Games are helping her get a sense of what the experience of playing on the Olympic stage will be all about.

“Having those conversations and hearing all their excitement has really got me excited,” Rooney said.

Team USA plays their first game in the preliminary round of the Olympics on Sunday, Feb. 11 against Finland, after that they take on the Olympic Athletes from Russia, Feb. 13; and Canada Feb. 15. Then it’s on to the quarterfinals, and then perhaps, a much-anticipated medal round showdown with Canada.

“Whenever the U.S. plays Canada you can expect each team to bring their best,” Rooney said. “We bring out the best in each other, everyone plays 100 percent, very physical, intense environment game.”

EARLY START

Rooney started playing hockey when she was five and switched to being a goalie during her second year of squirts after finally convincing her dad to let her put the pads on.

“I begged him for two years,” Rooney recalled with a chuckle. “He would shoot on me out on the driveway in my street hockey goalie pads and he never thought I was good enough to play. We always laugh about that now.”

After making the switch to full-time goalie, Rooney played boys hockey through bantams. She then joined the Andover High School girls’ team for two seasons where she led her team to its first state tournament appearance. Rooney decided to finish her prep career with the Huskies boys’ team.

“I made the decision after I already committed to Duluth,” Rooney said. “Just wanted the ultimate challenge and I knew guys high school hockey would give me that.”

And it was also one last chance to be on a team with the guys she played with during his youth hockey days.

“It was basically the same team,” she said. “So that was really cool. I was pretty close with all those guys, they challenged my to be better every day, and I thought I really developed that year.”

And she continues to improve her game by working hard every day in practice to become a better goaltender.

“I like how you are in on every play, the competiveness of it,” she said. “I also like how you can steal a game. I like having that pressure on me. I feel like it’s a good motivator to have.”

And you know Rooney will be ready to go when the puck drops at the Olympic Games.

NOTE: Maddie told me after a recent conversation how she remembered going to the Carroll Goalie School in her early days as a goaltender. 

Just posted my latest episode of Ice Insights, a podcast I have been recording periodically for the past couple of years. During the podcasts, I talk about goaltending and other hockey topics with people involved in all aspects of the game.

This episode, I visit with goaltender Hunter Miska, a Stacy, Minnesota native who is in his first year of professional hockey. Hunter was the recipient of the 2015-16 USA Hockey Dave Peterson Goalie of the Year Award, which is presented annually to a top U.S. goaltender at the international, professional, collegiate or junior level.

After five years of Jr. hockey, Hunter played one season at the University of Minnesota Duluth where he led the Bulldogs to the 2017 NCAA National Championship game, where they lost a 3-2 heartbreaker to Denver.

Hunter discusss how his game has changed since turning pro and what it was like when he got called up the the NHL earlier this season. He also talks about his dad who is well-known for designing and painting goalie helmets.

You can listen to the podcast at www.iceinsights.fm