Iles Reaching Riding High With Flyers

Pro Crease Goaltender and Summer Camp Coach Andy Iles is off to a superb start with his new team the Fife Flyers of the E.I.H.L. (formerly the English Super League). Fife is in Scotland and plays against the likes of the Belfast Giants, Cardiff Devils and Nottingham Panthers. Retired Pro Crease Goaltender Kevin Regan also spent 2 seasons playing in Fife prior to moving his family back to Connecticut.

Through five games Andy has a 1.61 goals against average and a .944 save percentage. Prior to making the move to Europe, Andy played in the E.C.H.L. and A.H.L. he has also represented USA Hockey at a number of international events including the World Junior Championship where he won a Bronze Medal in 2011. 

ELECTION DAY MINI CAMP VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE CANDIDATE...YOU!

The 2017 Election Day Mini-Camp on November 7th at Avon Old Farms School will be the first camp where students will elect the on-ice drills and video sessions they want to work on. From breakaways to penalty kill, lateral rushes to plays around the net, each student will have the opportunity to focus on their own choices. 
 
The camp will include nearly two and half hours of on-ice time in an amazing 2:1 goaltender to coach ratio and two unique video sessions. There will also be a special talk by Sports & Performance Psychologist & Coach Dr. Jason Emery who is one of the top sports psychologists in Connecticut and has now fully turned his practice to working with athletes, specifically hockey players, to reach their optimal performance zone.

Proudly Serving Connecticut's Premier Collegiate Programs

The upcoming season marks another season of firsts for Pro Crease Goaltending as Founder Jared Waimon continues in his role as Assistant Coach at Quinnipiac while Head Instructor Matt Michno joins UCONN as their goaltending coach as the Huskies enter their third season in Hockey East. Michno will keep busy with sophomore Adam Huska who was selected by the New York Rangers in the 2015 draft while Waimon will lead the effort on behalf of sophomore Andrew Shortridge and freshman Keith Petruzelli who was a 2017 draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings. Also joining the collegiate coaching ranks is senior instructor Scott Munroe who was named assistant coach at Trinity College (Trinity is the premier team in Division III having been NESCAC champions the past twoconsecutive seasons and playing in the DIII National Championship in 2015 and 2017). Scott has either coached or played at every top professional level including the NHL, AHL and KHL.

Pro Crease's elite staff enable Waimon, Michno and Munroe to continue in their roles at Pro Crease while also taking on these prestigious DI and DIII positions. "With the exception of occasionally joining the team on the road, the collegiate practice schedule does not conflict with our coaching and leadership roles at Pro Crease," says Waimon. Coaching and the exposure that comes from being at these elite schools also enables Pro Crease to implement the latest techniques and strategies into their student-directed programs. 

O'Brien Shinning with Rangers!

Long time Pro Crease Goaltender, Conor O'Brien is off to an excellent start with the Connecticut Junior Rangers (NCDC). Conor swept a series against the Boston Bandits. So far Conor is 2-1-1 with a 2.22 GAA and a .923 save percentage. 

Conor has demonstrated amazing perseverance this season. The past two season, Conor has had to overcome a number of different injuries. A native of Florida, Conor attended Northfield Mount Hermon Prep School and was a participant in the USA Hockey National Team Development Program tryout camp. 

Be on the look out for Conor as a guest coach at our Mini Camps this season. Our next Mini Camp will take place on Columbus Day, October 9th at the Westminster Prep School in Simsbury, CT. Two spots remain open in the Columbus Day Mini Camp. Click here to register. 

Michalek Shines in Minnesota Wild's 3-2 Shootout Victory!

Uploaded by Jared Waimon on 2017-09-23.

This past Monday, long-time Pro Crease client Steve Michalek played the third period in the Minnesota Wild's pre-season game against the Winnipeg Jets. With the game tied 2-2 at the start of the third period, Steve proceeded to make 19 saves in the third period and overtime- above is one of those great saves! After a scoreless overtime, Steve made all three saves in the shootout helping the Wild defeat the Jets who had surrendered a goal in the shootout. 

To see the full video recap of the game a number of awesome saves please click here. 

Mini - Camps to Engage the Mental Side of the Position

Dr. Jason Emery, Sports & Performance Psychology consultant will speak at each of the Pro Crease Goaltending Mini - Camps. 

Dr. Jason Emery, a Connecticut-based Licensed Clinical Psychologist, consults with local, regional and national athletes and sports organizations in the area of Sports & Performance Psychology. Dr. Emery also brings his lifelong hockey playing and coaching experience to help athletes, parents, and coaches maximize individual and team performance, while simultaneously attending to the well-being of each athlete, family, team and organization.  

Over the course of the mini-camp schedule, Dr. Emery will present on the foundational mental skills and performance enhancement techniques at developmentally appropriate levels.  Topics will include reinforcing the importance of the mental and emotional sides of the game, developing your "reset" button, creating individualized practice and performance goals, discovering "flow" and your optimal level of performance tension, teaching growth mindset strategies, practicing mind & body awareness and mindfulness, and introducing mental rehearsal and visualization skills.  Players will have an introductory understanding of empirically-validated skills and strategies they can practice and apply in order to increase their confidence and play at their best!  s

Dr. Emery is the founder of Northeast Psych. LLC. Follow Dr. Emery on Twitter by clicking below

Dr. Jason Emery

Michno Joins UConn Coaching Staff!

Congratulations to Pro Crease Goaltending's Director of Coaching Matthew Michno on being named the Goaltending Coach for the UConn Huskies! Matt's role with Pro Crease Goaltending will remain unchanged as he enters this new role with UConn. Matt will work daily with the New York Rangers 2015 draft pick, Adam Huska. 

As many of you know, Matt has an amazing ability to connect with students in order to help them reach their maximum potential. We are very excited to see the awesome job he will do with the Huskies! Last year Matt worked with the goaltenders at Brown University and previous to that he spent two seasons with Connecticut College. 

Congratulations Matt!

PRO CREASE COACH RECEIVES NHL OPPORTUNITY

Alex Westlund to become Associate Goaltending Coach for Washington Capitals' AHL affiliate Hershey Bears

Alex Westlund, who has been associated with Pro Crease Goaltending since 2013, has accepted an associate coaching position with the Hershey Bears. In that capacity, he will work with the AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals, including the Capitals. "It's always bittersweet to lose a coach of Alex's caliber but as a personal friend and business associate I couldn't be happier for Alex" said Pro Crease owner Jared Waimon. Waimon went on to say that Westlund is a prime example of the elite level of coaching that Pro Crease students receive.

A graduate of Yale University, Westlund has extensive playing and coaching experience having played in over 750 professional games and coaching both in the U.S. as well as overseas. His resume also includes experience with USA Hockey, serving as the head goalie coach and evaluator for the New England District, being a member of the goalie evaluation group for the USA Hockey's Select 17 Festival, and participating in the prestigious Warren Strelow Camp the past two years. Westlund remains the all-time leader in games played (99) and saves (2,704) for Yale and while there received several prestigious honors NCAA 2nd Team All-American and winner of the Ken Dryden Award as the ECAC's Goaltender of the Year.

Good luck Alex!

Coach Connolly Becomes an Engineer!!!

Congratulations to our very own Tara Connolly on becoming the Assistant Coach for the Women's Division 1 team at Rensselear (RPI) in Tory, NY. The Engineers play in the highly competitive ECAC against formidable opponents including, Harvard, Clarkson & Quinnipiac. 

For the past three season Tara has been an assistant at Wesleyan College where she was responsible for practice plans and managed the forward lines, power play units and goaltending. Tara was also an intern goaltending coach for the USA Hockey U15 and U18 National Camp in July of 2015 and 2016. 

Engineers first-year coach said "We could not be more excited to welcome Tara to the RPI women's hockey family. She is a tireless recruiter, great teacher and even better person. Her ability to forge lasting relationships with student-athletes and help them develop to their full potential, on and off the ice, will be an asset to our program and we are excited to see the lasting impact she makes."

Tara has been with Pro Crease Goaltending since 2014 working with a variety of skill levels and age groups. "We are extremely excited to see Tara move on to the Division 1 ranks." said PCG's Jared Waimon. "We will miss her excellent coaching work during the season but look forward to having her back each summer for camp, especially our newly formed Women's Camp!

Tara's move to D1 adds to PCG's staff who coach at the D1 level including Matt Michno (Brown University), Ross MacKinnon (UConn) and Jared Waimon (Quinnipiac).

Pro Crease Coaches Continue to Develop

This past weekend Jared Waimon, along with Pro Crease Goaltending Professional Goaltender and summer camp Coach Steve Michalek, headed to Quebec City, Quebec to work and learn from Minnesota Wild Goaltending Development Coach Fredric Chabot. 

Over three days, Jared and Steve spent time working with goaltenders ranging in ages from 10 - 22 years old. Additionally, they spent time developing their respective crafts through video sessions with Coach Chabot. 

Prior to working for the Minnesota Wild, Coach Chabot was the Goaltending Coach for the NHL's Edmonton Oilers. 

"It was a great and beneficial learning experience to see how goaltender's from a different part of the hockey world think about the position and train. Getting outside opinions are essential to continuing to grow as a player or a coach." - Jared Waimon

The Bobcat 16 Had Serious Star Power!

This past week sixteen Goaltenders participated in our Inaugural Bobcat 16 Camp in Hamden, CT. Each day's curriculum was designed with innovation and development in mind as the goaltenders participated in two video sessions and 90 minutes of on-ice training in a 2:1 player to coach setting. All on ice sessions featured a full staff of shooters comprised of Division I players from Quinnipiac University.

The campers enjoyed several surprise professional attendees/coaches including former Boston College net minder Thatcher Demko (above), who is currently under contract with the Vancouver Canucks and Steve Michalek (below) from Harvard University who is currently under contract with the Minnesota Wild. Both Demko and Michalek also went through their very own training sessions with Pro Crease Goaltender Owner Jared Waimon. 

Famigletti is a Friar!

We are exceptionally proud of all our students who pursue both their academic and athletic endeavors into the collegiate ranks. In addition to playing junior hockey, having a 3.8 GPA and being a National Honor's Society Member,  Ben Famigletti also headed up the Best Buddies Program at Rocky Hill High School. All of that effort has landed Ben at Providence College for the Fall of 2017 where he will play on the Friars ACHA Team.

Many of our younger students have had the opportunity to work with Ben throughout the season. He has been with Jared since he was 6 years old and is a phenomenal representative of PCG's culture and the benefit that comes with hard work and giving back to the community.

Benjamin is a Nor'Easter!

Congratulations to Pro Crease Goaltender Julia Benjamin on her decision to study and play NCAA Hockey at the University of New England located in Biddeford, ME. Julia, a '99 birth year has been working with Jared Waimon since she was 7 years old!

Julia is finished her prep school education at the Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, CT this past May. While growing up in Tolland, CT Julia played for both the Falcons and Polar Bears. We are very lucky to have been a piece of Julia's development into a collegiate level athlete!

Congratulations Julia!

Wesco Goalie Days Are Coming!

Wesco Sports Center will be hosting their annual "Goalie Days" sales event July 15th - 17th. Vaughn Goaltending Equipment will be 20% off! This is the goalie event of the season. Don't miss out on this great event. 

Wesco Sports Center is located at 270 Federal Rd. Brookfield, CT. 

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Pro Crease Goaltending Holds First-Ever Women's Camp

Pro Crease Goaltending's first-ever all women's camp was held last week and by all accounts was a tremendous success.

Thirty-five female goaltenders, from the high school and prep school level, gathered at the Newington Arena for four days of on and off-ice instruction from coaches representing the country's premier NCAA women's programs including Boston College Women's Goaltending Coach Alison Quandt, Cornell University Assistant Coach Edith Racine and Quinnipiac University Assistant Coach Amanda Mazzotta. In an exciting off-ice session, the campers heard about the excitement of scoring the first goal in a championship Olympic game from Gretchen Silverman who played on the 1998 Gold Medal U.S. Women's Olympic (Nagano) team and, in fact, scored the first goal in the 1998 Gold Medal game vs. Canada.

Parents and campers all seem to agree the camp was a great success. "Thanks for a great week" said Mimi van Wees regarding her 13-year-old daughter Truss who attends Ridgefield High School and plays for the Ridgefield Lions. "Truus really connected with the coaches and learned a lot.  This was her first goalie camp and she really loved it and most importantly had fun!! Great job!"

"As the women's high school and collegiate programs get better and better, we really felt it was time to run a camp dedicated to only female goaltenders whether they play on all-girls teams or with boys" said PCG founder Jared Waimon. "It resulted in a great week of not only skill development and premier instruction but also a feeling of great camaraderie. This, our inaugural women's camp, is just the beginning of PCG's commitment to women's hockey."

Feature Article Written by Jared Waimon

The June/July 2017 issue of USA HOCKEY Magazine features  an article written by Pro Crease Goaltending's owner/founder Jared Waimon. Entitled "A Goalies New Best Friend: Understanding the Use and Implementation of the Reverse Vertical Horizontal," Jared covers this important new technique from all angles.

Excerpt:

The RVH is intriguing and looks fun. Seeing an NHL goaltender like Milford, CT native Jonathan Quick use the RVH only heightens the awareness of the movement and appeal of the technique.

The article is available online by clicking the button below!

Aslanidis Shines at Stars Camp!

Congratulations to Pro Crease Goaltender Alex Aslanidis on his excellent showing at the Lincoln Stars (USHL) main camp last week. After an excellent week, Alex earned a spot in the Stars' inter-camp All-Star Game. Each team in the All-Star game had two goaltenders who played one half each; Alex played the first half. At the end of regulation play the game was tied. After backing- up the game's second half, Alex was put back in for the shootout. Five rounds later his team, thanks to Alex's play, was the winner!

As a Stars' draft pick, the team will retain his rights while Alex attends Avon Old Farms for the 2017-'18 season.  While at AOF he will continue his training with Pro Crease Goaltending and play in front of one of the best student sections on the East Coast!

Congratulations Alex!

Green Makes All-Star Game!

Congratulations to Pro Crease Goaltender Eric Green on advancing to the Dubuque Fighting Saints Tryout Camp for the USHL All-Star Game this past weekend. The Dubuque Fighting Saints are a perennial top team in the USHL which is the only Tier 1 Junior League in the country. The Fighting Saints have advanced to the USHL's Frozen Four or Championship game each of the past three seasons.

Eric is entering his Senior season at Northfield Mount Hermon Prep School in Gil, MA. Prior to attending "NMH," Eric played youth hockey at Mid Fairfield. 

Congratulations Eric!

Inaugural Women's Camp Coaches Confirmed!

Pro Crease Goaltending is counting down the days to our Inaugural Women's Camp June 19th - 22nd at the Newington Arena. With the camp less then 20 days away we have confirmed our final coaching staff and it reads as a "who's who" of current NCAA Goaltending Coaches and current NWHL Goaltenders. 

Alison Quandt is the current Goaltending Coach for Boston College and she will be working with our campers all week. Alison has been a part of B.C. Women's Hockey for the past 14 years starting with an illustrious 4 year playing career. While coaching at B.C. the Eagles have advanced to 6 Frozen Fours, won a Hockey East Title and two Beanpot Championships. 

Pictured above is Lauren Slebodnick, current Boston Pride (NWHL) Goaltender and 2016 Isobel Cup Champion. Prior to turning pro, Lauren was the starting goaltender at Cornell University.

Also coaching are Amanda Mazzotta, Assistant Coach at Quinnipiac University and CT Whale Goaltender Sydney Rossman. In her very first season, Amanda helped guide the Bobcats win the ECAC regular and post season championship with Sydney Rossman as the starting goaltender for the Bobcats! Amanda has also served as Hockey Canada's Women's World U18 Championship Assistant Coach. 

We are also excited to welcome Cornell University Assistant Coach Edith Racine, Trinity College Goaltending Coach Michael Mammone, Wesleyan University Assistant Coach Tara Connolly and CT Whale Goaltender Shenae Lundberg. 

Clearly, this is a world class staff. We do have one camper open remaining for a youth hockey aged goaltender. If you would like to take this opportunity to train with the best in the world, simply reply to this email. 

- Jared Waimon

Coaching Development at NARCE

This past week I attended the North American Rink Conference and Expo (NARCE) in Columbus, OH. Along with a great deal of education and skills presented, I was also able to secure  my USA Hockey Level 4 Certification as well as the Certification to be a USA Hockey approved Hockey Director.

By obtaining these advanced credentials, I also received advanced training on how best to structure the development specific to each goalie based upon their individual mental and physical capacities. The biggest impact from this experience will come for Pro Crease Goaltending Summer Camp attendees during our off-ice training. The off-ice curriculum taught at NARCE was extremely innovative and we will be able to pass that along to our goaltenders of all ages and abilities. Developing suppleness, speed, stamina, skills and strength will greatly benefit every goaltender no matter their age. Finally, learning what goal scorers are trying to implement in todays' evolving game will help keep Pro Crease Goaltenders ahead of the curve in our approach to the position.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to have attended NARCE and look forward to passing on this newfound knowledge to all Pro Crease Goaltenders.

- Jared Waimon