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New hockey mentorship program hoping to fix goalie shortage

'We need to continue to inspire the next generation of kids and parents'
2023-goalie-mentorship
Photo courtesy Dr. Rob Graham.

North Bay's Campbell Stickland is a pretty good young goalie. 

The U11 AA Trappers netminder who is an under age player on this team was recently selected to play in the high profile Brick Tournament which takes place annually in Edmonton. 

“I am very honoured and extremely excited to be selected to play for Team Quebec Brick – Montreal Canadiens Brick 2013 for the 2023 Brick invitational Tournament," Campbell stated.  

"I have been fortunate to have the help of many excellent coaches and teammates to achieve this great opportunity. I would also like to thank the Coaches and Management of Team Quebec Brick for giving me this opportunity to backstop for their team.”

While Campbell Stickland has a bright future in front of him, many in the North Bay hockey circles admit there is a goalie shortage in minor hockey in North Bay.  

Dr. Rob Graham, a veteran goalie coach, hopes a new mentorship program that was created this year will help change that.  

With the held of Lakers goaltender Zach Roy and U16 AAA goalies Jackson Curran and Owan Heroux, the group of goalie enthusiasts are holding weekly sessions every Wednesday at West Ferris arena.  

"I think when Scott Huycke and Guy Blanchard approached me if I would be willing to collaborate with this project it was based on the idea that we do have kind of a drought when it comes to goaltending right now," explained Graham. 

"But I will say one thing, North Bay is definitely a hub for goaltending and it started with Tom Hedican as the goalie coach pioneer for the most part."

North Bay has been a hub for good goaltending with professionals such as Ken Appleby and Colton Point and now OHL star netminder Ben Gaudreau.   

"We need to continue to inspire the next generation of kids and parents," said Dr. Graham. 

"We have a spirited group coming out and my aim and ambition of this program is to foster some interest in playing goal while at the same time developing some of the fundamental and core skills that maybe coaches that are not as familiar with how to develop goalies would not be able to do." 

Dr. Graham says skating skills and feeling comfortable in the equipment is key. 

"Parents have noticed there is a real games-based approach and there is an awful lot of skating and a lot of other coaches agree that skating shoud be at the heart of the matter.

"I think for me the objective of this program is to cultivate interest in players and parents of course to develop a goalie it does require a community and parents who are invested in the process." 

Graham says skating skills and feeling comfortable in the equipment is key. 

"Parents have noticed there is a real games-based approach and there is an awful lot of skating and a lot of other coaches agree that skating should be at the heart of the matter."

Dr. Graham hopes the success and interest continues to build and the success of young goalies like Campbell Stickland at 10, and Ben Gaudreau at 19, should definitely be a boost between the pipes. 

For more information on the program contact Dr. Rob Graham via email at: [email protected] 

 


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Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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