Blog

Congratulations to Maria Manuel, a U12A goalie from Delano, Minnesota, who was selected to win a customized set of gloves from Brian’s Custom Sports.

Manuel was fitted for her GNETiK 8.0 gloves during the 2017 Let’s Play Hockey Expo held in mid-March in St. Paul.

Her name was chosen from the hundreds of goalies who had their shutouts posted on the Carroll Goalie School/Brian’s Custom Sports Shutout Wall and each week in Let’s Play Hockey Newspaper.

Brian’s Custom Sports sponsors the Carroll Goalie School.

We are getting ready for our 23rd season of helping goalies improve their skills, consistency, confidence and overall game performance at our popular weekend camps that will be held throughout Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

Check out our 2017 schedule.

This year, CGS will offer four different skill development programs: Intro to goaltending, intermediate skills, advanced skills and tryout tune-up. Ice times are at night and on weekends at Braemar Arena (Edina), Eagan Civic Center, Richfield Arena, Schwan Super Rink (Blaine)

In 2016, goalies from throughout Minnesota and five other states (Alaska, California, Iowa, North Dakota, Wisconsin) joined us for a weekend of skill development.

Goalie parents like the variety of programs we offer because they realize that training under the watchful eye of Director Steve Carroll and his staff can make a significant impact in the development of their kids.

Here is what some last year’s participants said about their CGS experience.

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

“Is it a coincidence; five years with Carroll and five winning seasons?
Logan C., Lakeville, Minnesota

“Our son learned a lot about goaltending and had a blast doing it. We will be back for more camps for sure.”
Steve F., Mason City, Iowa

“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. Once again we highly recommend Steve’s camp/clinics. He is very knowledgeable, has a great heart, and truly loves helping the kids. Thank you Steve and coaches for another great, successful camp, which our son Ethan Kalafatich truly enjoyed!”
Brian K., Mahtomedi, Minnesota

“Ty made some big improvements in his skating. Namely shuffles and c-cuts. I would highly recommend this school just for skating instruction alone. Coach Carroll was also very approachable and helpful with his answers to my questions. Great job!”
Chad S., International Falls, Minnesota

“Coaches are very knowledgeable and pushed my daughter beyond her comfort zone.”
Joshua S., Delano, Minnesota

“My son wanted the weekend to be longer!!!”
Kristi B, St. Paul, Minnesota

“Really friendly instructors who care about everyone and made it fun and helpful.”
Brandon B, Sartell, Minnesota

“Great camp and a good learning experience for my son. He came off the ice with a smile on his face everyday!”
Mark U., Duluth, Minnesota

As the goalie coach for the Gustavus Adolphus College women’s hockey team, Coach Steve Carroll had the wonderful opportunity to visit Switzerland, Austria and Italy over the holiday break.

We flew into Zurich, Switzerland and spent the day touring downtown. From there we headed by bus to Bolzano, Italy. On the next day, we were off to the resort town of Kitzbuhel, Austria. Even though it was early January, they did not have any snow on the ground. The ski hills were open thanks to snowmaking machines.

On day three, we visited downtown Bolzano and all the Christmas markets that were still open and very festive. Then we were off to Milan, Italy, the financial and fashion hub of the country. There were tons of people there and that place was something else.

After that, we moved on to Como, Italy. More Christmas markets were open and they also had an outdoor skating rink nearby that was filled with locals. We returned later that night for a New Year’s eve celebration. Many of the buildings in the courtyard area had colorful winter scenes projected on the walls, which made for a spectacular setting. At midnight, there was a huge fireworks show over Lake Como.

On our last full day, we journeyed to Lugano, Switzerland and toured that wonderful city on a lake. Besides all the spectacular places we visited, the squad posted a 3-0 record in the exhibition games.  Overall, it was an awesome and memorable trip.

 

Minnesota Hockey and USA Hockey have announced they will cooperatively host a High Performance Goaltending Coaching Workshop from 1:30-8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18 at the Brooklyn Park Community Center. The workshop is designed to teach youth hockey coaches of all skill levels how to effectively work with and develop goalies.

The clinic will include a series of classroom presentations as well as an on-ice session where participants will observe demonstration stations and get a chance to try various goalie-specific skating movements.  Coaches should bring skates and gloves and must wear a helmet during
the on-ice session.

Scheduled presenters include:

• Phil Osaer, USA Hockey’s ADM Goaltending Manager
• Mike MacMillan, USA Hockey’s National Coach-in-Chief
• Steve Carroll, Minnesota Hockey’s Goalie Development Coordinator
• Justin Johnson, goalie coach for the University of Minnesota men’s hockey team.

The workshop is open to registered USA Hockey coaches of all skill levels.

REGISTER NOW
Click here to download the paper registration form. Pre-registration is required.

The High Performance Goaltending Coach Clinic is the latest in the series of initiatives focused on boosting the recruitment and development of goaltenders in Minnesota.

This summer Minnesota Hockey purchased 300 sets of the newly released QuickChange goalie pads, which are designed to introduce more players to the position.

Then, Goalie Development Coordinator Steve Carroll hosted eight goalie skill sessions in September. This coaching clinic brings the initiatives full circle by providing coaches throughout Minnesota with the tools and resources to help young goalies reach their potential.

This October, I begin my 16th season as an assistant coach of the Gustavus Adolphus College women’s hockey team. I primarily work with the goalies but also assist with recruiting future student-athletes.

My older brother Mike is the team’s head coach, while a younger brother, Pat, serves as a volunteer assistant.

I usually make it to practice on Wednesday nights. During that time, I work with the three goalies as a group and also get one-on-one time with each of them.

I then rejoin the team on weekends and am on the bench during games.

During our the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule, we face-off against St. Thomas, Augsburg, Saint Benedict’s, St. Catherine’s, St. Olaf, Concordia, Saint Mary’s, Bethel and Hamline.

Our non-conference games are against UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point, UW-River Falls, UW-Superior and St. Norbert’s.

Also this year, we are going to Europe and will have the opportunity to play a handful of exhibition games.

I am looking forward to another exciting season of coaching the Gusties.

 

It was really fun to host a goalie clinic in August at Braemar Arena in Edina. It was the first time we held a weekend clinic in that building since we started 22 years ago.

There is so much hockey history at Braemar and of course its home to the Hornets, which have won 12 state high school hockey championships.

It’s also the rink where I learned to play the game. I grew up in Edina and started out as a forward. I first strapped on the leg pads as a second year peewee, after a coach saw me playing goalie for our neighborhood floor hockey team and asked if I was interested in trying to stop pucks with skates on.

I accepted his invitation and was selected to be one of that coach’s two goalies on the Edina Peewee “A” team. We a lot of talent up front on that squad and we went on the win the state championship, in a game that was played at the old Met Center in Bloomington. Not a bad way to start a career!

After two seasons of bantam “A” hockey, I selected to play on the Edina-East High School varsity team.

That was quite the experience, something I will never forget. I remember playing our home games before standing room only crowds. The atmosphere was electric – with the school band playing and the student section cheering loudly. And every high school team brought their “A” game, which made for some tremendous battles.

We reached the section finals all three years I was on the team. We got knocked off by Hopkins Lindbergh as sophomores, by Richfield as juniors before beating cross-town rival Edina-West to advance to the state tournament as seniors.

In St. Paul, we defeated Roseau and Grand Rapids before falling to Rochester John Marshall in the championship game. A disappointing end to an otherwise memorable career.

Already looking forward to returning to coach more goalies at Braemar in 2017.

 

By Jayson Hron – USA Hockey

A first-time gathering of USA Hockey’s freshly appointed goaltending development coordinators, a group that will serve USA Hockey affiliates locally while also forming a nationwide network tasked with enhancing grassroots goalie development in the United States, was held recently in Plymouth, Michigan.

“Adding more resources and support for goaltenders, both on the national level and the local level, is a priority for USA Hockey and our American Development Model,” said Phil Osaer, USA Hockey ADM manager for goaltending. “The goaltending development coordinators will play an important role in that process, giving young goaltenders support and guidance from experienced coaches with a wealth of goaltending experience.”

Each coordinator was nominated by a USA Hockey affiliate, a process that produced a sage group to lead the initiative.

Steve Carroll was appointed to serve as Minnesota Hockey’s goalie development coordinator.

Carroll starred at Mankato State University (now known as Minnesota State University, Mankato), backstopping the Mavericks to an NCAA Division II national championship in 1980 and earning national tournament MVP honors. He has operated his own goaltending school for more than 20 years, serving also as an assistant coach with the Gustavus Adolphus College women’s hockey team. Additionally, Carroll directs the Dave Peterson Goalie Camp as part of the CCM Minnesota Hockey High Performance Program.

The coordinators’ multifaceted duties will include educating local goalie coaches, meeting with clubs and associations to implement goalie training curriculum and leading USA Hockey’s student goaltending coach programs.

In all, some 21 affiliates were represented at the summit including some – like Wisconsin, California, Mid-American, Michigan and Massachusetts – that tabbed multiple coordinators. Among them will be Brian Daccord (Massachusetts), who serves currently as a Toronto Maple Leafs goaltending consultant and worked previously as the Boston Bruins’ goaltending coach.

During the event, the coordinators created a collection of goalie development practices and devised strategies for introducing more athletes to the position and improving their development opportunities.

Summit presenters included longtime NHL and Team USA goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck, who will cover goalie development in junior hockey, and USA Hockey’s Ron DeGregorio, co-chairman of the board, former Team USA goalie and a passionate advocate for goalie development, who will be on hand to open the event.

For more information on USA Hockey’s goaltender development program, click here.

The Minneapolis-based Carroll Goalie School (CGS) continues to grow and evolve as it enters its 22^nd 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, consistency and self-confidence,” said Steve Carroll, an Edina, Minn., native, who is lead instructor at his popular weekend camps that are offered in the summer and fall.

Carroll uses his extensive 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.

“All of 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.

“We’re proud of the reputation we’ve earned for developing quality, fundamentally-sound goaltenders.”

This year, the Carroll Goalie School is offering four programs: Intro to goaltending, intermediate skills, advanced skills and tryout tune-up. Ice times are scheduled at night and weekends at five arenas in Minneapolis-St. Paul including Braemar Arena (Edina), Eagan Civic Arena, Richfield Arena, Schwan Super Rink (Blaine) and White Bear Sports Center.

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 in the development of their kids.

“The Carroll Goalie School made learning advanced goalie skills fun for my son,” said David Reinsbach, from Shakopee, Minnesota. “The coaches ran drills I had not seen before at other goalie schools. They also made an effort to connect with all the participants.”

Goalie mom Shannon Gulley agreed. “We came all the way from Alaska to Blaine for the camp and it was well worth the trip. Callaghan had a great experience, improved his skills and just reinforced his love of playing goalie. We are already planning on another camp.”

And the goalies gain a competitive edge and thrive in the positive learning environment.

“I would highly recommend the Carroll Goalie School,” said Katie Aafedt, from Edina, Minnesota. “My son absolutely loved going and is still talking about the coaches vs. goalies game they played every day at the end of the session. The goalies all worked hard the whole time but had a lot of fun with it along the way. We will definitely be back again!

COACH CARROLL’S BACKGROUND

Carroll is a USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach who trains goalies at the youth, high school and college levels.

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. He was a two-time college All-American and Top 10 Finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. Carroll has been inducted in the Minnesota State, Mankato and Edina High School athletic halls of fame.

For more information, visit www.carrollgs.com.

I am excited to let you know that our 2016 schedule has been posted on our website and online registration is now open. You can learn more and register at www.carrollgs.com. 

This is our 22nd year of goalie development excellence as we help boys and girls, ages 6-15, achieve success between the pipes!

Our popular skill development programs are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so I encourage you to register early for best selection.

2016 CGS highlights include:

• NEW and improved drills.
• NEW intermediate skills session June 24-26.
• NEW intermediate skills session Aug. 26-28.
• NEW location – Braemar Arena in Edina.
• Five convenient locations – Blaine, Eagan, Edina, Richfield and White Bear Lake.
• Friday evening and Saturday, Sunday ice hours.
• Two-day intro to goaltending session in June.
• Three-day intermediate skills sessions in June, July, August.
• Three-day advanced skills and tryout tune-up sessions in September.
• Free Carroll Goalie School jersey.

I look forward to helping your goalie improve their skills, consistency, confidence and overall game performance.