BY SCOTT HADDOW
[email protected]
Goalie Billy Stone was missing something from his game last
season.
All year, during the 2005-06 campaign with the Manitoulin
Islanders in the Northern Ontario Junior A Hockey League
(NOJHL), Stone was looking to become more technically sound.
He didn't achieve it until last week when he attended the first
ever Revolutionary Goaltending camp in Sudbury, put on by Scott
Murray of Waterloo.
Murray brought his wealth of goaltending knowledge, which
includes experience in Canadian major junior hockey as well as
NCAA Division I and minor pro hockey. Murray also brought a
full load of bonafide instructors to help push young goalies to
their potentials.
Stone, 18, was blown away by the attention he received and how
he excelled at the camp.
"It was unreal," said the Foresters Falls native. "Usually, you
only get one professional instructor at a goalie camp...Scott
had three here and they knew everything about goaltending.
"It helped me big time. I am faster and have more time to
make decisions. I am a lot more aware of what I am doing
technically and how I should be doing it. I was trying to
improve on that aspect all year...and I've done it in just
five days."
Stone has earned a tryout with the Erie Otters of the Ontario
Hockey League in a few weeks' time. The goaltending camp
has him primed to do his best.
"I wouldn't have been as confident going into the Erie camp
without this instruction," said Stone. "It has definitely
prepared me for just about anything I will encounter on and off
the ice in Erie. This camp had the best off-ice program I have
ever had...it was really tough, but good. I am ready."
Stone wasn't the only goalie soaking up the experience.
Sudbury native and Carleton University goalie Val Charbonneau
also made the most of the elite camp.
"This camp benefited me a lot mentally," said the 19-year-old
puck stopper. "They taught me how to read the play and I think
that's what's missing from most other goalie schools. I
learned all kinds of different plays and I am a lot more
confident now in my abilities."
Charbonneau really liked the fact she will take components of
the camp with her for the entire upcoming season.
"They gave us a binder with stuff in it to practice," said
Charbonneau. "Now, I have the tools so I can practice on my own
and continue to get better."
One of the main instructors was Terry Barbeau, who's the
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds goalie coach and personal goalie
coach for the Buffalo Sabres number one goalie Ryan Miller.
Barbeau liked what he saw, especially the overall effort put
forth by the youngsters.
"There were a lot of good goalies at this camp," said Barbeau.
"Their work ethic was impressive. The goalies really put on a
show and they all worked hard. The biggest key was they all
wanted to learn. They were like sponges and came a long way in
just five days."
The camp was just the start of making better goalies out of the
kids.
"It will be a success for these kids if they leave here with a
positive attitude and keep working," said Barbeau. "With the
skills they've learned...hopefully it will get them to the
next level.
"The biggest thing at this camp was hands-on instruction.
We had instructors here who really believe in teaching. We did
what it took to make sure the kids got the right instruction
and learned. We wanted to teach them to be fundamentally sound
in their movement. Less movement is the best...we taught them
all the things they need to have success in this position."
If the instructors gave out final grades, the goalies would
have all passed with flying colours.
"There wasn't one goalie who didn't get better," said
Barbeau. "This is a growing school and we hope to see more
goalies out in the future."
Murray will host another goalie camp later this month for
technical skills. It will run from Aug. 21 to 25. Call 524-1598
for more information.
