Keeks Was Right! - Thanks!

[goaljudge]

Over a year ago, Keeks responded to a posting by goaliedad asking for "tryout advice." As my son was approaching this frightening process last year, we read Keeks' reply, printed it out, and used it to draft a plan for the three rep tryout sessions.

As I have already reported on this BB, my son made the squad, and after a slow start he had a fairly strong end to the season. We just had our year-end wrap-up party, and the coaches brought up each boy for some presentations. They had prepared a few words to say about the players, and, while there was a great deal of humor etc., they did have one observation to make about why they picked him, the smallest, and, perhaps, least experienced netminder in the association.

They remarked that he obviously had a tremendous work ethic because he stayed on the ice by himself after each session doing laps, extra butterflies, and shuffles. This, they said, was probably the single reason why they took a chance on the "little guy" when it would have been easier to take the tender who was 16 months older and 8 inches taller.

Anyway, we just wanted to say thanks for the advice!

[Timberwoof]

That's a great story. What an accomplishment. Would that all children had such parents and coaches to back them up.

Now that I'm an adult, I realize that this is the sort of thing that they were trying to teach us in school gym class -- possibly without knowing how to articulate it, and probably without knowing that's what they were trying to do.

It turns out that these generalized lessons do apply to the rest of your life -- meaning both the reminder of your time here and your other activities. Maybe sometime I'll go back and finish my college degree, only this time in education and P.E. I could teach some interesting stuff to the nerds in school.

[GoalieAtWork]

In my experience, keeks is always right.

Seriously, Steve is probably the one main reason I am still playing hockey(beer leagues baby!) today. I was seriously close to selling all my gear and giving up... keeks volunteered his time to hold a mini-clinic that, more than just what it taught me on the ice, reassured me that I was not as terrible as some folks had tried to convince me I was. Or as terrible as I feared I was.

Thanks Steve!

[az]

I have to jump on the keeks bandwagon.

His interpretion of goaltending technique--reaction saves vs. blocking saves--has really caused me to reevaluate my whole philosophy on goaltending. His idea has helped me as far as allowing me to more efficiently diagnose problems in my own game as well as help me find the correct adjustments.

Keeks is one of the most intelligent commentators on goaltending that I have ever encountered.

[stollie_the_goalie]

Great story.

The same thing happened to me at my first tryouts for a Squirt house team. I wanted to keep playing, so I stayed out for the PeeWee practice as well, even though I had never faced a slapshot before. I was then protected in my first season.

The moral of these stories: It doesn't matter how good you are, but how bad you want it.

[backup_goalie]

Originally posted by stollie_the_goalie


The moral of these stories: It doesn't matter how good you are, but how bad you want it.

Wow, I might have to quote Stollie! Yoink!

[bedris]

Keeks is always right.

Just like Napolean from "Animal Farm".

[Steve L]

Keeks was absolutely right on that. Not just at tryouts, but all year long. If I've tried to teach my son anything, it's been that hard work and maximum effort pays off. At our team's year end party last weekend, when our coach gave out t-shirts and pucks to each player, he also had something to say about each kid. He introduced my son as "the hardest working kid on the team" and we both felt pretty good about that.

Maybe we should try to get keeks down to SoCal for a clinic sometime! At least the weather is better than San Jose!!

[Timberwoof]

Weather in San Jose? You must be mistaken. They don't have weather in San Jose ... just climate.

As for a Keeks clinic, invite him and set it up.

[goaljudge]

Any good Canadian would love to visit a place that shares its name with a beer!

[Steve L]

Originally posted by goaljudge
Any good Canadian would love to visit a place that shares its name with a beer!

Well, doesn't that pretty much include all of Canada? Or is Molson Canadian just sold here in the states?

And Timber...

We have weather all throughout California, it's just more subtle in some places. Remember down here, we don't have just plain old "rain" we have "StormWatch 2002!!!"

[Timberwoof]

Steve: I used to live in San Jose; I live in San Francisco now. Before SJ, I lived in Denver, where we told people, "If you don't like the weather, stick around; it'll change." I know weather from climate.

My first winter in SJ I was all confused... It was already April and I was still awaiting the first snow. Maybe I should take a trip up to Tahoe sometime.

[fische]

My son has tryouts starting next week. I did a search for keeks original tryout advice that was posted over a year ago & have had no luck finding it. Any link that I've come across says the thread is unavailable. If anyone can get it for me I'd appreciate it.

Thanks

[WERNER 1]

It's good to hear a story where preseverence and hard work payed off!

So many times we've heard the story where "I" was the best, but they picked the son of a friend of a friend and so on and so forth......this is a BB classic!

Keeks IS the man! (I'll be sending you a relief valve with a needle attached to it so you can relieve some of the pressure in your head......you know, from swelling! )

Keep up the GREAT work!

Goaljudge- I hope your son finds continued success in his hockey adventures!

[bedris]

Keeks saved my marriage AND got me out of debt!