I try to abide by a general policy not to enter any frays that denigrate any of our "competitors", be it other manufacturers or instructors. This decision was born from my original vision of what this board could be… propaganda free and a legitimate source for real peer-to-peer instruction and untainted "public" opinion. Our regular contributors would probably agree that this policy has probably exposed some criticism of The Goalie Store for mistakes that we have made, and maybe even cost us a customer or two.
On one subject, I am going to break my silence…
Well, kind of. You be the judge.
Elsewhere on this board there is a pet peeve thread running on. I have one to add. The goaltending instruction business seems to attract a high percentage of charlatans. I don't know why. Maybe it's because they can get away with it. Maybe goalie parents are so isolated and desperate to find someone to work with their youngster (or not-so-youngster) that they disregard the principles of developing a relationship that they require from others with influence over their children. Principles like trust.
Nothing burns my bottom more than listening to another 'instructor' rattle off his 'credentials' to impress a parent, "Jr. A, Semi-Pro, spent some time in the IHL", when I know for a fact that they didn't make it out of Bantam 'B' (Not that Bantam 'B' is bad, but it sure isn't the IHLJ). Or worse, when I know that the offender didn't take up the game until they were 17, and have spent the better part of their 'career' playing beer league (ahem, Ron).
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE PLAYED COLLEGE OR PRO HOCKEY TO BE A QUALITY GOALIE INSTRUCTOR. Especially to teach younger goalies, probably up through the ages of 16-17. But you do have to have the self-esteem and confidence to be able to tell the truth. Because that's what students need when you are working with them. Our job is to tell them not what they want to hear. Not what their parents want to hear. But the truth. The bloody truth. "Sparky, you're small. If you want to outplay larger goalies you have to move faster, more balanced, and much more intelligently than the guy at the other end. You're not doing it right now. Do you understand me? Then let's begin…"
Want to impress a parent or win over a young goalie. Teach him/her something. Demonstrate your knowledge of the position. Demonstrate your ability to communicate that knowledge. Can't do it? THEN DON'T TEACH!
Paul laughs when we discuss this. I definitely admit that I get much more infuriated about it than he does. We both think that in every industry the same kind of characters must also exist. Paul thinks that the students that stick with these kinds of instructors deserve them. That the majority of goalies (and their parents) don't want to hear the truth, and are content just to hear that Junior is working hard and lookin' great. I'm not so sure.
Which brings me to my point. (Yes, there is one). Came across an interesting site a week ago.
www.hockeydb.com . This site claims to have the stats for every professional hockey player ever to play. Also has stats for Major Junior, College, and several European leagues. Now, he doesn't have all the gaa and save percentage stats for goalies (the site says he is currently working on it), especially when you get out of the big three (NHL, AHL, IHL), but he does have games played. For instance, want to know that Willie Popp(?) played 2 games for the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL in 1985-86?
Let's take a look at our old friend Stu Gould.
www.goodasgould.com/goodasgouldschoolsstaff.htm claims that he is "Former goaltender with Ft. Wayne Comets of the IHL". Check out
www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=9668 Now, Stu may have gone to training camp with the Comets, may have sat on the bench with the Comets all year, may even have been getting ready for his first start before slipping in the shower, but he did not play for the Ft. Wayne Comets. Stu can be reached at
stu@goodasgould.com
My old home of Vancouver is home to a master of self-delusion. To quote from
www.icezone.com/veit/instructors.html , "Ron Veit has seen all sides of the game. Ron has played at the top level of hockey all his life including Tier II Jr. A and professional hockey." For at least three years in the 90's, Mr. Veit was telling his students that he was third on the Canucks depth chart. Ummm, Ron… I have a question? Where have you played? Go look for yourselves…
www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/findplayer.php3
Again, this is not meant to make fun of others because they haven't played at a certain level. I couldn't care less. If your ideas make sense and you can teach, by all means, help these goalies out. But misleading or outright lying to clients is plain immoral. In any industry.
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