BLAINE, Minn.- Fifty of the state's top high school goalies participated in the 2012 Minnesota Hockey Dave Peterson Reebok High Performance Goalie Camp, July 26-29, at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine.

The four-day, invite-only goalie development program, now in its 8th year, is designed to improve the individual skills, techniques and athleticism of goalies in the 15-to 17-year-old age group.

“The goalies worked extremely hard at improving their individual skills,” explained Camp Director Steve Carroll. “They did an excellent job of listening to the coaches and trying new movements and techniques. It was intense and challenging, but a fun weekend. “

Girls participants                                                      Boys participants

Watch story about the camp on WCCO-TV

The camp featured nine hours of on-ice training and more than 12 hours of off-ice instruction.

“The Dave Peterson Goalie Camp was a great experience,” said Grant Tharaldson, a goalie from Bemidji. “The on-ice and off-ice coaching has strengthened my performance both mentally and physically. I would recommend the camp to any top goalie. If you are invited to attend, don't pass it up.”

Goalie Matt Palmquist from Cottage Grove said, “This was my first time at the camp and it was the most fun and entertaining thing I have done. It was outstanding and very helpful.”

The off-ice topics included equipment fitting, puckhandling, stretching, post-high school hockey options, video analysis, mental sports performance training, and yoga.

“This camp makes you a better player in many ways,” said Logan Knip, who plays goalie for Totino-Grace High School. “I learned a lot more material and facts about the game and how they can help you improve as a goaltender.”

The camp provided the goalies with a unique opportunity to train with a combination of Minnesota’s most well-respected and talented college and high school goalie coaches.

“There are so many amazing goalie coaches at this camp to help us improve our game,” said goalie Emma May from Eagan. “I look forward to this camp every year.”

Seventeen goalie coaches worked at the camp including seven who have won college national championships.

That group included: (name, hometown, school, championship year) Steve Carroll, Edina, Mankato State University, 1980; Johanna Ellison, Cloquet, University of Minnesota-Duluth, 2008; Alyssa Grogan, Eagan, University of Minnesota, 2012; Adam Hauser, Bovey, University of Minnesota, 2002; Jody Horak, Blaine, University of Minnesota, 2004, 2005; Justin Johnson, Ham Lake, University of Minnesota, 2002, 2003; Andrew Kent, Lakeville, goalie coach for University of Minnesota women’s hockey team, 2012.

Other coaches included Mitch Baker, Steve DeBus, Steve Guider, Steve Houge, Todd Johnson, Bill Manual, Mike Moline, Pete Samargia, Sanya Sandahl, Bob Rajanen.

Mike Ayers, national goaltending coach for USA Hockey out of Ann Arbor, Mich., also helped out at the camp. He shared some observations and goalie development tips with participants and ran a station during on-ice drills.

“By working with a variety of coaches we got many different viewpoints of the game and learn different techniques,” said goalie Katie Beckman from Cloquet. “I was very fortunate to attend this camp, and feel that it helped me improve my skills.”

Will Swanson, a goalie from Mahtomedi added, “this camp is a great way to find what works for you and for your game.”

Tom Peart served as the camp’s general manager.

Current Minnesota college goalies worked as counselors and on-ice demonstrators. The group included Zane Gothberg, Thief River Falls, University of North Dakota; Justin Lochner, Sauk Rapids, Augsburg College; Jenna Boss, Roseville, Clarkson University; Marah Sobczak, Stillwater, Gustavus Adolphus College.

“The counselors were awesome and served as tremendous role models and leaders,” said Carroll. “They did an excellent job demonstrating the various on-ice drills and were very good about interacting and helping the goalies with their individual skills. They were great off the ice as well.”

Goalies were invited to participate in the camp based on their performance in the USA Hockey/Minnesota Hockey High Performance 15-16-1-5 Festivals in the spring.

ABOUT DAVE PETERSON
Dave Peterson is a hockey coaching legend. The Minnesota native was a long time boy’s hockey coach at Minneapolis Southwest High School.

He also helped several United States national teams successfully compete against international hockey competition. Because of his outstanding efforts, Dave was named head coach of the 1988 and 1992 U.S. Olympic men’s hockey teams.

In addition to his head coaching background, Dave was a passionate leader in goalie development not only in Minnesota but also throughout the country. Many of his ideas and concepts are still being used by USA Hockey today.

Dave passed away in 1997. Minnesota Hockey is honored his family has allowed us to add his name in support of this exciting goalie development program.

For more information about the goalie camp or other Minnesota Hockey programs, visit www.minnesotahockey.org.