Explore every episode of the podcast Goalie Science

Work with Me

1️⃣ THE ALL IN — a full pro staff for your entire season (training, nutrition, vision, mental performance + weekly video breakdowns). Ages 12+, 14-day money-back guarantee. 👉 https://ghost-athletica.circle.so/ghost-goaltending-labs

Use code: GOALIESCIENCE for your first month Free! 

2️⃣ TRAIN WITH THE GHOST TEAM ONLINE — complete goalie performance + mobility programming in the app, from $98/mo. 👉 https://ghost.fitr.training/p/TheCompletePerformanceProgram

 

3️⃣ FREE: 30 IN 30 — 30 Ways to Be A Better Hockey Player In 30 Days 👉 https://app.arketa.co/ghostathletica/intake-form/7AeAoDC0KdRC5f35oYUs

Want to talk it through first? Email info@ghostathletica.com or DM me "LABS" on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/jamiephillips30

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

JOIN LABS HERE https://ghost-athletica.circle.so/ghost-goaltending-labs

 Use this Code for a Free Month: FOUNDERSFREEMONTH (Valid Until September 2nd 2026)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome back to Goalie Science.

Ben Cernick — original co-host, PhD researcher, and the guy who quietly uncollaborated all his Instagram posts with Jamie — is back on the pod. He texted saying we were slandering him. We invited him to prove it. This is what happened.

🎓 Who Is Ben and What Does He Actually Study?

Ben is two thirds through a PhD specifically focused on youth hockey development research. His work looks at how rule changes in minor hockey affect goalie and player behaviors. He works directly with the Swedish Ice Hockey Association on questions around net sizes, ice dimensions, and development outcomes at the U9 and U10 levels. He also coaches goalies privately and through association contracts and has for 15 years — contrary to what Jamie may have implied.

🔬 Research vs Reality — The Gap

One of the central tensions in this episode is how academic research translates — or doesn't — to the ground floor of minor hockey. Jamie's point: no one in Hockey Canada or USA Hockey is asking coaches like him and Derek what they're seeing every day. The information flow seems to go toward Europe and Scandinavia, not toward the people running rinks in Hamilton and Grand Rapids. Ben's counterpoint: the governance structures in North America are so fragmented and geographically massive that sweeping policy changes are nearly impossible. What works in Sweden — a small, centrally governed country — doesn't automatically translate to a system covering a continent.

Derek's take: parents are the biggest variable and they often don't understand the system they're operating in. You can't take parent feedback and build a meaningful picture of minor hockey from it because most parents don't know what league their kid is in, who the coach is, or how the governing bodies work. That's not a criticism — it's just not their job to know. But it means the information coaches gather from parents is filtered through a lens that's often incomplete.

🧊 Half Ice Hockey — What Actually Happened

Derek told a story that basically settled the half ice debate for him. His son played both half ice MD hockey and full ice outlaw league at U9. When his U10A team started in September, the best players were the kids who had been playing full ice. By December, that had completely flipped. The kids who came from half ice hockey were the most creative, most capable players on the team — and they developed faster once exposed to full ice because they had better fundamentals. Two years later, of 15 skaters on that U10A team, only four are still playing AAA hockey. Two came from half ice. Two came from full ice. The data doesn't clearly favor either system — but Derek's lived experience does.

Ben's point: the reason Sweden studies net sizes and ice dimensions is to answer a policy question — not because it directly translates to Hockey Canada tomorrow. The research informs decisions at a governing body level, not a practice level.

📏 Small Goalies — The Dustin Wolf Debate

Ben raised a micro grievance: he said Dustin Wolf had a shorter AHL career than people imply before getting his NHL shot. Jamie and Derek pushed back hard. Wolf won AHL Goalie of the Year twice — 2021-22 and 2022-23 — plus AHL MVP. He made it very publicly known he was frustrated about not getting called up sooner. Michael DiPietro has since won back-to-back AHL Goalie of the Year awards and still hasn't gotten a meaningful NHL opportunity at 5'10.

The argument: when you put a 6'5 goalie in who struggles, the organization says he needs more time. When a small goalie struggles, the organization says maybe he's just not big enough. The benefit of the doubt simply isn't equal. Ben acknowledged that organizations are probably more hesitant with shorter goalies — he just pushed back on the idea that it's entirely because of height, pointing to organizational variance and circumstance. Jamie and Derek weren't buying it.

The scouting document was referenced again: 6'1 and under must be elite at everything. 6'2 to 6'5 just needs elite tracking and puck handling — everything else can be taught. 6'5 and up needs those two things and that's it. That's the standard. That's the hill small goalies are climbing.

🌍 European vs North American Development — The Real Reason for the Gap

The real gap between European and North American goalies isn't systems or philosophy. It's participation numbers. Other countries are growing their hockey participation. Canada and the US are not. A smaller pool produces fewer elite goalies — it's that simple. Ben also pointed to the US soccer comparison: soccer is globally accessible but in the US it became expensive and privatized. The result is a smaller, wealthier pool of players. Hockey in Canada has gone the same direction. The families listening to this podcast are spending $25,000 to $30,000 a year on hockey development. That's not the average family. That's a very specific demographic — and the pool is shrinking.

🏒 Elite Selection — The Unanswerable Question

The most honest part of the episode: nobody really knows who the best 12-year-olds are going to be. We know early maturers dominate youth hockey. We know relative age effects are real. We know the best U13 goalie in Ontario in 2010 is probably not playing professional hockey right now. And yet coaches are still evaluated on wins, organizations still select for size and physical dominance, and parents are still spending enormous amounts of money based on April tryout performances. Ben's point: we shouldn't pretend we're selecting for long-term development when most of the system is selecting for next season's results. Derek's point: winning has to matter — because without consequences there's no way to evaluate whether development is actually working.

💰 The Private vs Public Problem

All three hosts coach goalies privately. All three charge for it. The families paying for private goalie coaching are not doing it to be recreational players — they're doing it to be elite. So every conversation about making hockey more accessible, more fun, and less selective runs directly into the reality of what the three hosts on this podcast actually do for a living. Ben acknowledged the tension. Nobody fully resolved it.

The potential solution floated: a two-track system — a fully private high-performance stream and a government-subsidized broad participation stream. Ben's response: that's essentially what already exists. It's just that the subsidized stream is still too expensive for most families.

📊 The Last Five NHL Drafts — Jamie's Research

Jamie actually did research. In the last five NHL drafts: Canada led with 39 goalies drafted, Russia second with 37, Sweden third with 13, Finland, Czech Republic, and USA all at 12. Canada is still producing the most drafted goalies. The problem isn't production — it's games played. Drafted Canadian goalies are not getting the same opportunity to play NHL minutes as their counterparts from other countries. Sweden's Dennis Hildeby leads all recently drafted goalies in games played.

📣 Parting Shots

Derek — loved having Ben back. Great discussion. Very punchable face.

Ben — everyone is trying to do their best. Coaches, organizations, volunteers, researchers. It's complicated and messy and that's exactly why the work matters.

Jamie — genuinely had his mind changed. Supports a two-track system: private elite development and government-subsidized true development league. Wild take. Stands by it.

Follow Goalie Science
YouTube comments are the best way to engage — Jamie tries to respond. Share the episode if someone in your life would benefit from it. Ben will be back. There's too much left unresolved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome back to Goalie Science — Episode 148.

Derek is ready for hockey season. Jamie is running on an iced espresso and white monster combo and fixing up a house he probably shouldn't have bought. Both are ready to get into it.

📚 The Talent Code — What It Actually Means for Goalie Development

Derek came in with notes from the book The Talent Code and broke down what the research actually says about high-level development. Key takeaways for goalies and parents:

Talent has to be built. Natural ability is a starting point, not a destination. The 10,000 hour rule has been debunked, but intentional practice — deep practice with a purpose — is what actually drives development. For goalies specifically, that means getting scored on 20 to 40% of the time during training. If a goalie is making every save in camp, they're not getting better. They need to be challenged at the edge of their ability.

Short, specific, immediate corrections from a coach matter more than long explanations. The coach's job is not to run drills that look good on video. The coach's job is to design the struggle. Going out and getting a thousand shots with no feedback is spinning your wheels.

⚖️ Sports Specialization — Where the Real Danger Is

The conversation isn't about forcing kids out of hockey. It's about not forcing kids to stay in hockey when they want to do something else. Derek let his son miss training sessions to play baseball this summer. That's the model. If the kid loves hockey and wants more, let them have more. If they want to try baseball or soccer, let them. The burnout doesn't come from playing too much hockey. It comes from being in a pressure cooker year-round with no breaks from performing.

New skills should not be performance moments. Derek and Jamie both ran RVH sessions this week with U13 goalies. Neither expected them to stop pucks. The shot is the reward for doing the technical movement correctly — not the point of the drill. Too many goalie coaches are screaming at kids who are just learning new things.

📏 Small Goalies — What an NHL Scouting Document Actually Says

A client's father works as an NHL scout. After the team brought in a new goalie coach, that coach sent a document to all scouting staff outlining what they're looking for by height category going into the draft.

The breakdown:

• 6'1 and under — must be elite at absolutely everything. No exceptions.
• 6'2 to 6'5 — must be an elite puck tracker with very good puck handling ability. Everything else can be taught.
• 6'5 and up — must be an elite puck tracker and able to handle the puck. That's it. Two requirements.

This is not an argument against small goalies. It's an honest look at what teams are actually using to evaluate. Dustin Wolf had to win AHL Goalie of the Year twice before Calgary trusted him with a full-time NHL job. Small goalies can absolutely make it — they just have to prove it longer and more definitively than taller goalies do. That's the reality.

🌍 European vs North American Goalie Development

One of Ghost's coaches, Coach Dakota, sparked a discussion about why European goalies tend to be more athletic and positionally sophisticated. The theory: European development systems push kids into ball sports earlier — handball, racquetball, badminton — sports that build lateral movement, hand-eye coordination, processing speed, and angle reading. These skills transfer directly into goaltending.

In North America, we push kids into football and basketball — more athleticism-based, less skill-based. Goaltending is a skill-based position, not a pure athleticism position. You can be a great goalie without being the best athlete on the ice. The skill of tracking, reading, and positioning drives performance more than raw athletic ability.

The other factor: significantly less stigma around youth weight training in Europe. North America still fights the narrative that kids shouldn't lift weights when every scientific study has shown that's false. European programs are putting young athletes into resistance training, Olympic lifting, and plyometrics earlier, building stronger, more powerful goalies long before North American kids get access to the same tools.

⚾ The Two Sports Every Goalie Should Play

Derek's picks: Baseball and a racket sport. Baseball for the mental side — every single pitch is a new scenario, you have to update the situation constantly, and learning to stay locked in through a full game teaches goalies to stay mentally sharp through a 60-minute hockey game. Pickleball or racquetball for the physical side — rapid change of direction, quick hands, tracking an object at multiple angles.

Jamie's picks: Gymnastics at a young age for mobility and body control, then squash or racquetball for change of direction, and track and field decathlon in high school to build genuine athleticism across multiple disciplines.

The bigger point: whatever sport keeps a kid active, moving, and having fun outside of a performance pressure environment is the right sport. Road hockey in the backyard counts.

🏒 Parting Shots

Derek gives CCM their first compliment in a long time — the new TACKS Pro pad has actually impressed him, with the only grievance being the off-white colourway. Jamie agrees and admits it even as a Bauer-affiliated coach.

Both want more interviews. Drop your suggestions in the comments — who do you want to hear on Goalie Science?

📲 Ghost Rehab Complete Performance Program
365 days of training. Off-season tracks available now. Use code GOALIESCIENCE50 for 50% off your first month. Link below.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Key Topics:

2025 Draft Breakdown
Not a single Canadian goalie drafted in the top 15 of the 2025 NHL Draft. Russia had 7 goalies drafted. Czech Republic had 6. The first Canadian goalie taken was Elliott Lennon in the 4th round, and he was US developed out of prep school. The guys break down what the numbers actually mean and what they don't.

The Russian Model
Russia identifies top goalies around age 11-12, places them near a developmental pathway (MHL, VHL, KHL), and brings them together for centralized camps several times a year to work on shared issues. The result is ultra-athletic goalies with a built-in pro pathway. North America has no equivalent. Goalie coaches don't collaborate. There is no standardized model.

What Scouts Are Actually Buying
Technique is teachable at the pro level. Athleticism, skating ability, and tracking ability are not. Scouts are drafting ceiling. That means size (6-foot-1 was reportedly the smallest goalie drafted) and raw athleticism matter more than technical polish at the draft stage.

The COVID Factor
The 2013 Ontario goalie birth year may be the worst in provincial history. Those kids were 8-9 years old during key development years and lost roughly a season and a half of minor hockey. This draft is the first wave. It will continue for several more years before it resolves.

Sports Specialization and Burnout
Jamie argues that burnout doesn't come from playing too much hockey. It comes from pressure. A kid playing summer hockey as a centerman with zero stakes is not burning out. A kid in Triple A baseball under the same win-at-all-costs pressure after eight months of Triple A hockey is burning out from the mindset, not the sport. Booge adds nuance from the applied coaching side, landing on athlete-led specialization, supported by off-ice athletic development and fun-based multi-sport activity.

Over-Coaching and the "Science" Trend
Both coaches push back on the trend of over-analyzing goalie mechanics with biomechanical tools and angle measurements on video. Buj example: a goalie with a blocker foot slightly behind him. The fix was a simple feel-based cue. "Push your blocker foot forward. It'll feel weird. That's fine." Solved in one rep. No iPad required. The concern is analysis paralysis and coaching athletes out of their natural feel. There is also a pointed critique of making "silly" warm-up drills appear scientific for content performance.

Goalie Power Skating
Jamie has brought in a dedicated power skating coach for his goalie group. The result: outside edge work that exposes how over-coached most older goalies are on inversion and inside edges. The younger goalies pick it up easier. The 15-17 year olds struggle and resist. Outside edge development gets a strong endorsement for long-term skating quality and puck retrieval ability.

Pad Stiffness and Glove Angle
Parting shot hot take: if you are not a fast, flexible lateral skater, you should not be in a soft pad. Soft pads require the athlete to control rebounds. Stiff pads do it for you. Match equipment to your athletic profile, not brand preference. Glove break angle deserves the same consideration.

Upcoming Content

• Tydan skate blade profile podcast (Jamie visiting with his son to test multiple profiles)
• Pad Skins West Michigan event in August (free gear customization day for local goalies)
• San Jose Sharks Stan club membership for Buj 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tryout season is done. And whether your kid made the team or didn't, this episode is for you. Derek Boogaard just finished three weeks of evaluations — two teams he coached personally, five or six more he assisted with, and conversations with roughly 250 players. And the same problem kept showing up everywhere. It wasn't skating. It wasn't hands. It wasn't compete level. It was Hockey IQ. Kids who couldn't answer basic questions about strong side, weak side, or what they're supposed to do away from the puck. Kids whose hands were moving faster than their feet. Kids who could score 25 goals at Double A but had no idea how to earn ice time at Triple A. This episode breaks down exactly what coaches are looking for — and it's not the 15 most skilled players. It's the right players. The ones who can play a role, kill penalties, win battles in the d-zone, and connect the dots in real game situations. If your kid didn't make the team they wanted — or if they did and they want to stay there — this is the episode to listen to. You have one year until next tryouts. What you do between now and then is completely up to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Get the Complete Performance Program here: https://ghost.fitr.training/p/TheCompletePerformanceProgram

Use code GOALIESCIENCE50 to get 50% off your first 2 months!

 

Try Sportaibility here: https://ghost.fitr.training/p/TheCompletePerformanceProgram

 

 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

📲 Ghost Rehab Complete Performance Program

Running 365 days a year. Off-season training starts now. Goalie Science listeners get 50% off the first two months plus a 7-day free trial.

https://www.ghostathletica.com/complete-performance-program

Code: GOALIESCIENCE50

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tryout season is here and Jamie and Derek are in the thick of it. This episode is a full breakdown of everything happening right now — how real tryout decisions actually get made, what coaches are doing in January that most parents don't see, why the 7-day tryout window is mostly theater, how to evaluate goalies when practice formats don't tell the whole story, what happens in the war room, and why your reputation as a parent matters more than you think. Plus a gut-check for parents of young kids who are rushing their way into the wrong level too soon — and a shout out to Bauer for stepping up for a family that lost everything. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome back to Goalie Science.

After three months off (and yes, Derek missed an alarm), Jamie and Derek are back and working through a backlog of topics that have been building since before the Olympics.

This one covers a lot of ground. Here's what's inside:

🏒 Olympics Gold Medal Game Breakdown The US won. Canada is in shambles. But how can you not love that game? The pace, the decision-making, the skill level — this is how hockey is supposed to look. Jamie and Derek break down Hellebuyck performance vs. Binnington's, and why depth management makes all the difference at that level.

🤔 "Everyone Missed Hellebuyck" — Did They Though? The internet went wild after the Olympics claiming scouts missed Connor Hellebuyck Jamie pushes back hard. He was drafted fourth round. Jamie was drafted seventh. The scouts didn't miss him — he was exactly where he needed to be, and he earned his way up. The moral of the story isn't that the system is broken. It's that if you're good enough and persistent enough, the right people find you.

⚙️ Why System Fit Matters More Than Talent Edmonton's goalie problem has nothing to do with the goalies. It has everything to do with the system they play in. Jamie breaks down why lateral skaters thrive in Edmonton and why putting a square peg in a round hole destroys careers — and why Joe Wall might be the answer if Edmonton ever figures it out.

📊 The Scandinavian Experiment That Cut the Best Players Derek shares a study from a Scandinavian soccer program that intentionally cut their best U12 players and replaced them with late bloomers. Over a five-year period — it worked. The best 12-year-olds were no longer the best 15-year-olds. What does that tell us about how we evaluate and develop young athletes in North America?

📋 Tryout Season Survival Guide It's that time of year. Jamie and Derek break down everything you need to know:

• The difference between AAA teams and teams that play AAA — and why it matters more than the letter on the jersey
• Why your kid developing on a competitive Double A team beats making a bottom-feeder AAA roster
• How to read between the lines when a coach is stringing you along
• Why if you played 60 games for a coach, those 60 games already were your tryout
• The one question every parent should ask directly — and stop waiting for a vague answer

💡 Can You Actually Develop Hockey IQ? Money buys opportunity. It doesn't buy hockey IQ. And in the big moments — playoffs, championship games, pressure situations — coaches put on the kid they trust, not the kid with the best hands. So how do you actually build IQ? Film study is part of it. But the answer that came up? Coach. Volunteer. Teach it. The process of explaining the game to younger players forces you to connect dots faster than any drill ever will.

📣 Shout Outs

• Congrats to the Glancaster Bombers U12A — first team in franchise history to win the Tri County Championships
• Congrats to the Fox U18 boys — first state championship in program history
• Shout out to Eric Comrie for taking 30 seconds out of a game night to record a personal hype video for one of Jamie's remote mentorship goalies
• Big shout out to Mason Martin, Ryan Toyer, and Andrew Crochek — all three Ghost athletes invited to the USA Hockey 40-man U17 National Development Program camp

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Jamie and Roope cover:

• Roope’s background: Northern Finland, starting goalie at 4, full-time by 9

• Why he started coaching while still playing: “I didn’t get the help, so I wanted to help others”

• How Finland’s goalie coaching education system works (levels, regional coaches, consistent messaging)

• The shift in Finnish coaching culture: more organized education and easier pathways into coaching

• Building a goalie development program from scratch at Kärpät:

  • More resources + more ice time (4–5 goalie touches per week, not 1)

  • Recruiting coaches and building a culture that values goalie development

• How Roope made the jump to North America and the Red Wings organization

• What Roope looks for in a new AHL/NHL prospect: strengths first, weaknesses second

• The non-negotiable skill: skating pace and sharpness (on feet + on knees)

• Can you turn a bad skater into an elite skater? His honest take

• Geographic goalie “identities”: Finland hands, Czech athleticism, Russian body control, North American compete

• AHL → NHL readiness: sustainable habits, success at each level, details that scale to 60+ games

• Why some goalies stick: passing the “eye test” + coach trust

• RVH teaching priorities: stay on feet longer, strong anchor, learn to recover to feet

• How AHL consistency is built: coach consistency, structured routines, monthly check-ins, and small drill evolutions

• ECHL as a development tool: not required, but often valuable for hunger and growth

• Roope’s parting shot: continuing education and staying hungry to improve every day

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

30 Ways in 30 Days to become a better hockey player, delivered right to your inbox: https://app.arketa.co/ghostathletica/intake-form/7AeAoDC0KdRC5f35oYUs

Charlotte Skates: https://calendly.com/jamiephillips/egm-semi-private-session-pay-online-clone

The new website: www.ghostathletica.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• Why mistakes are necessary for learning — but not all mistakes should be allowed

• The difference between technical freedom vs habit correction

• Confidence explained as preparation and standards, not results

• Resiliency as the ability to bounce back from failure

• Why tying confidence to outcomes is dangerous

• How coaches should individualize accountability (not all players get the same leash)

• Youth hockey habits vs tactics (ages 9–12)

• Why goalie tip training often fails due to predictability

• The importance of surprise and randomness in goalie development

• Screen training tools: what works, what doesn’t, and why real shooters matter

• NHL goalie fights, goalie goals, and goalie culture

• Parent mailbag: signs it’s time to move from parent coaching to a goalie coach

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Key Points Discussed

• The youth hockey buzzword problem: “development” often gets reduced to individual skill work and ignores human development.

• Why Derek believes winning matters — not as the only priority, but as a teacher of responsibility, teamwork, pressure, and accountability.

• Confidence explained: confidence is owned, built through preparation (routine, hydration, nutrition, visualization), and shouldn’t be dependent on external validation.

• Resiliency explained: bouncing back from fear, failure, and adversity — and why kids must experience competitive situations to learn it.

• Coaching reality: a coach being “hard on a player” can mean investment; being ignored is often the real warning sign.

• The difference between putting players in positions to succeed vs “shortening the bench to win.”

• Story from the Oakville Winter Classic: late goals against, overtime loss, and the mindset response Derek got from his 10-year-old goalie son the next day.

• Book recommendation: Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday — why it’s valuable for athletes, goalies, and hockey parents.

• Listener/community plug: Derek invites DMs and in-person conversations at rinks; encourages sharing the episode and leaving a 5-star review.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

• Get the tryout checklist here: https://app.arketa.co/ghostathletica/intake-form/N2Wh0mCY5NnCURRU35OI

 

• Quick intro + Ottawa Senators rumor mill and why “team statements” create speculation

• Youth hockey politics: tier friction, recruiting paranoia, and why organizations resist outside help

• Workshop outreach update: education, injury prevention, nutrition, and performance presentations for teams (in-person or remote)

• Development philosophy: pushing kids forward vs protecting organizations

• “Hard truth” segment: survivorship bias, genetic ceilings, and why “just work harder” is incomplete advice

• Goalie development realities: style isn’t copy/paste—find what works for the athlete, not what looks like an NHL comp

• Listener Q&A (Jack, 2014 goalie): spring/summer structure, private training timing, and multi-sport value

• Spring hockey: when it helps (low starts, injury recovery, new teammates/experiences) and when it’s unnecessary volume

• Off-ice training: what matters around age 12 (running/jumping/landing/cutting basics done well)

• Environment warning: age-group training and social influence (older-kid locker room culture, distractions, maturity gaps)

• Private lessons vs semi-private: why competition + better shooters + built-in rest improves training quality

• Team selection advice: stop chasing “best team,” chase the best situation (challenge, development, culture)

• Mindset tool: “confidence stacking” through daily choices (sleep, hydration, preparation, school, mobility)

• Potential Goalie Science Podcast camp discussion

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode 137 of the Goalie Science Podcast, Jamie and Derek dig deep into Canada’s World Junior Championship loss and the public outcry that followed. They examine whether the Canadian player development model is flawed, tackling issues like open borders, super teams, lack of adversity, and overemphasis on early winning. They challenge reactionary takes blaming CHL imports, half-ice hockey, and goalie selection. They also discuss goaltending performances across the tournament, the impact of structured vs unstructured youth environments, and why North American goalies may be falling behind. The episode wraps with a discussion on nepotism in hockey, injury load management, and updates on upcoming podcast guests. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosts:

Dr. Jamie Phillips – Former pro goalie, DPT, Founder of Ghost Rehab & EGM

Derek Bujan – Owner, Bjan Goaltending & On Ice Hockey Performance

Special Format:

First-ever in-person episode with special appearances from Jamie’s wife and a live Q&A from the community.

Topics Covered:

• Team Canada’s World Junior goalie selection controversy

• Zayne Parekh’s NHL future: skill vs. attitude

• Coaching regrets: overcoaching, goalie rotation, and learning the hard way

• Gender-based coaching adaptations: girls vs. boys

• Junior hockey decisions: A vs AA at U13, goalie partner vs. solo crease

• New gear trends and technique myths: RVH wrist injuries, Panda, paddle grips

• 2023 coaching and business highlights (EGM, Ghost, championships)

• 2026 predictions: trades, goalie shifts, and who’s winning a Cup

• Vlog reflections, family, mentorship, and why documenting matters

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Topics Covered:

• Why one youth hockey all-star team was picked by drawing names

• How coaches can better support goalies through anxiety & pressure

• U.S. junior league breakdown: NAHL, NCDC, NA3HL, BCHL

• The risk of trusting the wrong advisor (or coach)

• Differences between junior and AAA development environments

• Goalie career mismanagement: how it happens, how to avoid it

• NHL goalie trends + how Olympic ice changes the crease landscape

• Coaching shoutouts, gear wins, and what we’re testing next

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Featured Gifts

• Edge Protect Post Guards

• Easy Crease

• Mask Scraps Custom Paint

• Cement Pegs & Pro Pegs

• Bauer Shadow/Flylite Sticks

• Cut-resistant socks + poly socks

• Padskins full wraps

• Oculus + Sense Arena (for injured goalies only)

• Goalie Mobility Program (365 days, 4 tracks)

• Shot clickers (for parents who can’t count)

• Heated vests for freezing cold rinks

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Get the Ghost Rehab & Performance Complete Training Program (7-day free trial): https://completeperformanceprogram.ghostrehab.com/landing-page-541315

Join Jamie’s “30 Ways in 30 Days” hockey performance newsletter:

https://api.grow.pushpress.com/widget/form/Q1wwRE11i88aiOsOCUvx ️‍️

 

 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Check out Charlotte Hockey Lab! https://charlottehockeylab.com/

Topics Covered.

• Why some kids are donkeys… and how we discipline them

• Should coaches be friends, mentors, or surrogate parents?

• When to actually consider leaving your current team or club

• How to evaluate your goalie’s options based on radius, budget, and coaching turnover

• Billeting young kids—what’s too young?

• Emo and punk nostalgia: Alexis on Fire, Silverstein, Linkin Park, and Hawthorne Heights

• Pregame music, CD binders, and being 10 years old listening to Offspring

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Topics Covered:

• One puck drill: why it’s the most valuable goalie drill on the planet

• Playing on a weak team: how it can fast-track your development

• Why spring hockey should be chaos

• Stick saves part 2: gloves, rebounds, and puck rotation

• The truth behind “developmental” programs that don’t develop

• Goalies who are afraid to get scored on

• November slumps: why it happens and how to get through it

• Vision problems & goalie performance: Acreman case study

• Strength training, athlete excuses, and parent overreach

• Easy Crease & Bauer gear giveaways

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Easycrease: https://www.easycrease.com/

1st Phorm Supplements: https://1stphorm.com/68e7ffdc802b2

Ovr Performance: https://www.ovrperformance.com/GRP

Giveaway Instructions

We’re giving away a free Easy Crease!

To enter:

1. Go to the YouTube video

2. Comment on who you think is more of a winner – Connor Hellebuyck or Jordan Binnington

3. Each comment = 1 entryWinner announced in next episode!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Visit stonewallmind.academy/goaliesciencepodcast

A complete mental performance training course built on real research and science. Learn the same mental performance strategies used by elite goalies worldwide. Master pregame routines, eliminate slumps quickly, and build unshakeable confidence.

_________

1st Phorm Discount link: https://1stphorm.com/68e7ffdc802b2

Topics Covered:

• Stick saves: necessary skill or outdated tactic?

• Why young goalies with soft pads give up more rebounds

• Should goalies rotate their stick to elevate pucks?

• When coaches say “I develop every player”… do they really?

• How to measure improvement when results don’t show it

• Development vs. performance in AAA hockey

• When do elite goalies stop getting better?

• Why every athlete should use NSF-certified supplements

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Visit stonewallmind.academy/goaliesciencepodcast A complete mental performance training course built on real research and science. Learn the same mental performance strategies used by elite goalies worldwide. Master pregame routines, eliminate slumps quickly, and build unshakeable confidence.

• Why some goalies play great and still get scratched

• Balancing wins, performance, and process-focused mindsets

• The real reason AAA ice time isn’t 50/50

• Building goalie depth: how to “Build a Goalie” at the U8-U9 level

• Coaches: stop ghosting kids you signed

• Goalies: stop blaming D—learn to manage the endzone

• A message to stat counters: shots on goal aren’t optional

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In-Season Hockey Training: https://www.ghostrehab.com/programs/remote-training

 

Topics Covered:

• Lack of effort and intentionality in goalie training

• Why off-season gains disappear without in-season maintenance

• The four pillars of elite-level endzone management

• Coaches do play favorites—and why it’s earned

• The myth of “I’ll just turn it on in games”

• Rhymer back in Toronto? Leafs fans, buckle up

• Two standout goalie shoutouts: NCAA & Junior A

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Presented by: The Goalie Glove Guy — Turning your glove from bricks into butter. Repairs, break-ins, rebuilds—done right.

Topics covered:

• Behind-the-scenes of Jamie’s wedding (Fran should run the CHL)

• CHL & OHL’s partnership with GOJHL — why it matters

• NCAA vs CHL tug-of-war for elite junior talent

• Major Junior vs College Hockey development for goalies

• The transfer portal and how it’s changing commitment culture

• Speculation: Will Hockey Canada ban NCAA players from World Juniors?

• Advice for 17-year-old goalies stuck in the new system

• Ghost Rehab gym updates and in-season training programs

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Topics Covered:

• Why goalies struggle in their first 5 starts of the season

• The science of scanning, rebound tracking & better coaching language

• Overuse of RVH and the dangers of robotic “zone mapping”

• Teaching puck handling the right way—with processing, not panic

• Coaching philosophy: show, don’t tell

• Asking better questions as an athlete

• The value of reps, not just structure, in training camps

• Jamie’s behind-the-scenes chaos building his new gym

• Gear Talk: CCM EFlex 7, Vaughn pants, Bauer pads, and more

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Guest: Devon Butz – The Goalie Glove Guy https://www.instagram.com/thegoaliegloveguy/?hl=en

Host: Derek Bujan (@bjangoaltending)

What You’ll Learn:

• Why 90% of new gloves don’t close properly out of the box

• The hidden quality control issues behind major brands

• How Devon breaks in gloves and rebuilds them for elite performance

• What makes Bauer, Vaughn, Warrior, and True gloves different

• The best way to dry and maintain your glove (hint: stop throwing it on your garage floor)

• Why custom glove work is exploding across all levels of play

• A behind-the-scenes look at Devon’s loaner program and business model

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

PAID THINGS: 📱: Access to all my drills, lessons, training plans and more for only $1.50 a day https://www.elitegoaliemethod.com/egm-labs/

🏋🏼‍♀️: If you want to get stronger, more mobile, more explosive and in insane shape: https://www.bridgeathletic.com/store/jamiephillips-1507460 🏒 If you want to see a little bit more information about my mentor and how to join, check out: https://www.elitegoaliemethod.com/prospects-program/

 

FREE THINGS:

Let me give you 30 days of hockey advice that changes your life: https://phillipsperformanceplaybook.beehiiv.com/subscribe

 

Want me to constructively roast your game in my next video? https://www.elitegoaliemethod.com/video-breakdown-submit/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Key Topics Covered:

• How to break in a glove the right way

• Why over-teaching RVH can backfire for young goalies

• The science of hip and ankle positions in butterfly/RVH

• Skate lace vs. bungee debate: what really matters

• Gear innovation: Bauer’s Connect skates and their benefits

• EGM Labs app growth, 365 skating patterns, and video resources

• Preparing for the Brick Tournament and spotlighting young talent

• Behind the scenes of running goalie schools in summer

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode Notes:

🎙 Hosts:

• Dr. Jamie Phillips – Former professional goalie, physical therapist, performance coach

• Derek Bjan – Owner of Bjan Goaltending and On Ice Hockey Performance Center

📌 Topics Covered:

• Why baseball doesn’t directly improve glove saves in goalies

• Overcoaching and how we ruin natural instincts in youth goalies

• Root cause vs. symptom: how to evaluate true performance gaps

• Misguided “sport-specific” training and its unintended consequences

• Why the only 1:1 transferable skill for hockey is… hockey

• A breakdown of tools like Sense Arena, Swivel Vision, and weighted pucks

• How to balance structure vs. variability in drills

• Training mindset: What’s your “NHL” in life?

📚 Book Recommendations:

• Relentless by Tim Grover

• Winning by Tim Grover

• Legacy by James Kerr

• Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday

• Future Greats and Heartbreaks by Gare Joyce

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

🎧 Guest:

Chuck Thuss – Former pro goaltender, All-American at Miami University, certified performance coach, founder of The Compassionate Connection

📌 Topics Covered:

• Differentiating nerves from anxiety in athletes

• How performance expectations can become destructive

• The mental health toll of professional hockey

• Signs parents and coaches should never ignore

• Chuck’s personal story of survival and rediscovery

• Building emotional resilience in goalies and youth athletes

• Social media’s impact on athlete identity and anxiety

• The importance of separating parenting from coaching

• Tools to help athletes reclaim their confidence and purpose

📞 Need support?

If you or someone you love is struggling, don’t wait. Call or text 988 (USA). Help is always available.

Links & Resources:

Chuck Thuss Contact:

🌐 Website: TheCompassionateConnection.com

📞 Phone: 251-680-5731

📱 Instagram: @thecompassionateconnection

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Main Topics:

• Why point shots are (mostly) useless in the NHL

• How dopamine spikes from phones damage goalie performance

• Why goalies must “earn their playing time at practice”

• The myth that strong goalies are “too bulky”

• The epidemic of low hockey IQ in today’s players

• How sleep, structure, and screen habits affect cognition and confidence

• iPads on the bench: helpful or harmful?

• Gaming vs. scrolling: what’s the real impact?

Key Quote:

“If your screen time is higher than your practice time, don’t complain about your ice time.”

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join EGM Labs Now! https://www.elitegoaliemethod.com/egm-labs/

Main Topics Covered:

• Why being a “goalie YouTuber” is harder than it looks

• Self-correcting as coaches: How Jamie and Derek adjusted their summer approach

• The “No Saves Made” summer: Designing training to be brutally effective

• How to mentally rebound after bad games or playoff slumps

• A deep dive on NHL Cup-winning goalies and why they aren’t always “superstars”

• Goalie trivia and stats from MoneyPuck.com

• The importance of structured rebound drills and fatigue-based training

• Breaking down Bauer SV Pro pads, junior/intermediate gear updates, and gear myths

• Final reflection: Why Triple-A hockey matters, even if your kid doesn’t “make it”

Shoutouts:

• Max Source for Sports (Hamilton, ON)

• Ben from Clear Sight Analytics

• Bauer, CCM, Warrior gear reps

• MoneyPuck.com for goalie analytics

• Vlog watchers… even if there’s only 60 of you

Follow-ups / Resources Mentioned:

• MoneyPuck.com – Breakdown of NHL scoring scenarios

• Book referenced: Travell and Simons’ Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction

• Bauer SV Pro gear reviews and customization options

• EGM Labs App – In-app training and giveaways

• New vlogs by Jamie & Derek on YouTube

Closing Quote:

“Everything I have in life is from good parents and hockey.”

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

📱 EGM Labs App Plug: Jamie’s full goalie development library in your pocket
https://www.elitegoaliemethod.com/egm-labs/

 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Download the best goalie training app on the planet: https://www.elitegoaliemethod.com/egm-labs/

 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

30 ways in 30 days to become a better hockey player, delivered right to your inbox: https://phillipsperformanceplaybook.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Fix Your Tracking: https://miltonvisionoptometry.com/

Join EGM Labs now: https://jamiephillips.graphy.com/membership#nav_bar Join Team EGM.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

30 way to be a better hockey player in 30 days, delivered right to your inbox. https://phillipsperformanceplaybook.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Download The Best Goalie Training App in the world: https://www.elitegoaliemethod.com/egm-labs

 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sponsored by Milton Vision Optometry
Visit miltonvisionoptometry.com and use the code GoalieScience for a discount on your first evaluation and training package.

Welcome to Episode 112 of the Goalie Science Podcast! This week, Dr. Jamie Phillips and Derek Bujan are joined once again by the highly requested Dr. Curtis Ackerman from Milton Sports Vision Training Center.

This episode dives deep into the world of sports vision, concussion recovery, and the hidden impact of poor helmet quality on goalie health. Dr. Ackerman shares real-life case studies, including goalies who unknowingly played with visual misalignments or post-concussion symptoms, and how targeted vision therapy helped unlock their full potential.

You’ll hear about:
• Why ringing ears after a shot could be a red flag for concussion
• How poor helmet design might be hurting goalies more than helping
• Why just using visual training apps might not cut it
• The science behind peripheral vision, tunneling, and post-concussive visual challenges
• The dangers of popular training aids like Swivel Vision goggles
• How to find a qualified sports vision specialist near you

Whether you’re a goalie, a coach, a parent, or a performance specialist, this episode is packed with eye-opening insights on how vision—and the right kind of training—can drastically impact performance and health.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Download the EGM Labs App Now!: https://www.elitegoaliemethod.com/egm-labs

 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of GOALIE SCIENCE, Jamie interviews (questions) Steve Thompson of USA Hockey to ask about some concerns and address the state district evaluations. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join EGM Labs now: https://jamiephillips.graphy.com/membership#nav_bar

Join the FREE Goalie Newsletter! EGMWeekly.beehiiv.com Join Team EGM.

The first and only Goalie Performance Club: https://www.elitegoaliemethod.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Visit Milton Sports Vision Clinic: https://miltonvisionoptometry.com/

Download the EGM Labs App Here: https://www.elitegoaliemethod.com/egm-labs

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Get your vision dialled in here: https://miltonvisionoptometry.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week of GOALIE SCIENCE, Jamie and Buj discuss the 4 Nations Face-Off, moving up in hockey and the myths about it getting easier.

EGM Labs: https://jamiephillips.graphy.com/membership#nav_bar

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

EGM Labs Is Here: https://jamiephillips.graphy.com/membership#nav_bar

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of Goalie Science, Jamie and Derek dive into the future of the podcast and what’s in store for listeners in the coming episodes. They also break down one of the most overlooked aspects of goaltending—being a great goalie partner—and why support, communication, and mindset matter just as much as skill on the ice.

Plus, they explore the role of goalie parents in a young athlete’s development, sharing insights on how to foster growth, resilience, and a positive playing experience. Whether you’re a goalie, coach, or parent, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways to help you navigate the goaltending journey.

Tune in for expert perspectives, candid discussions, and much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jamie and Derek discuss the process around goaltending development versus recruitment versus scouting, and how each overlap and differentiate.

Episodes are released on some Wednesdays. Subscribe so you never miss the next one!

Ben Csiernik, MHSc (@bcsiernik)

Jamie Phillips, DPT, MS, CSCS (@jamiephillips30)

Derek Bujan (@bujan_goaltending)

https://www.patreon.com/jamiephillips

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC4XfwtCw0Ki-03TU5cRxjA

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.