Two former University of Alaska Fairbanks goalies are tapping into the minds of the state’s next generation of netminders.
Steve Thompson, a Nanook between 2009-2014, and Wylie Rogers, who played from 2004-2008 for UAF, worked out with 11 Juneau goalies Wednesday.
Thompson is the founder of the Alaska Goaltending Academy, a brand new Anchorage-based venture he says will raise the level of goaltending around the state. Over the coming months, Thompson and business partner Rogers plan on making stops in such far-flung communities as Nome and Barrow.
Rogers also works for USA Hockey as the Alaska Goaltending Development Coordinator.
The half-day clinic attracted nine youth and two adults for five hours of on-ice and off-ice training.
“What we’re hoping is by developing the goaltenders, teams are going to be successful enough that you’re not going to have to leave [the state], so if you’re on the best team in the country at 15 and you’re in Alaska, you don’t have to move to Detroit, because you’re going to get the attention you need to play at the next level,” he said.
Thompson, who grew up in Anchorage, and Rogers, who grew up in Fairbanks, both jetted from Alaska in their teen years to play on more competitive teams in the lower 48. The two also traveled out of state to attend goalie camps, a financial burden they were fortunate to have their parents bear.
“We had to go outside for a lot of that coaching, we had to get airplane tickets, we had to get hotels, we had to pay for the clinics, now it’s being brought to the parents so they don’t feel like they have to spend all this money,” Rogers said.
“You’re spending close to three grand just for one week of hockey,” Thompson added.
After graduating from UAF, Thompson spent three years with the University of Alaska Anchorage hockey program as the director of hockey operations. Before the 2015-16 season, Thompson left Alaska altogether after being hired by a prestigious goalie academy, GDS, based in New England.
It was there as an instructor Thompson learned the nuances of the position even he didn’t learn as a developing goalie a decade prior.
“We’re creating more of an autonomous goaltender, more of a thoughtful, play-reading, student of the game instead of someone who’s just listening and getting hit with pucks,” Thompson said.
Juneau’s goalies impressed Rogers after just one hour on the ice together.
“The amount of quality goalies that Juneau has here is amazing,” Rogers said. “So we were just saying we are definitely coming back to Juneau, we’re excited to see what these kids are going to do in a couple of years. It’s really at this point up to the coaches. If we can get what we’re teaching carried over into everyday practice, there’s no way these goalies won’t be successful and grow as a unit.”
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.com
Steve Thompson, left, and Wylie Rogers, of Alaska Goaltending Academy, run a goaltending camp on the ice at Treadwell Arena on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Gary Stephens, right, gets attention from Wylie Rogers, of Alaska Goaltending Academy, during a goaltending workshop at Treadwell Arena on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Mason Sooter, right, gets attention from Wylie Rogers, of Elite Goaltending, during a goaltending workshop at Treadwell Arena on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
