Hi Des, Jessica thoroughly enjoys being a shooter at TGC; it's one of her favorite camps of the summer. She's get in a ton of shots during the week and the repetition helps to increase her shooting skills each time. Jess also enjoys the fun interaction with the coaches and the friendly competition with the goalies, as she tries to score on them! As a parent, I appreciate that she looks forward to going each day. In addition, the low cost makes the camp a great value. We plan to sign up for the full-day session next summer, since she feels the half-day goes by too quickly! Keep up the great work. The coaching staff is awesome! See you next year.
Coach Des, Just wanted to send a quick update and well deserved "Thank You" for all that you and The Goalie Club coaches did for Joel this summer. He has improved his game tremendously. His head coach and the Orlando Youth Hockey Association goalie director described him to today as simply "Awesome"; easily keeping pace with two 98 AAA goalies, one of which was a NTDPSE selection last year. He had them both trying to do your "switch foot" drill ("thigh burners" as Joel likes to call them) during center ice mirror drills. Your small shuffle adjustment drills have helped him over-come in-close adjustment problems he struggled with in the past. Additionally, the constant tracking mental focus drills you guys drilled into him over those 2 weeks have instilled in him a "laser like attachment" to the puck whenever he is on the ice. We are off to Tampa next weekend for the Jr Bolts Labor Day Tournament and he is eager to put these skills to work. P.S. Looking forward to any camps you have scheduled over the Christmas break.
Dear Coach Des, I wanted to tell you that I was selected for the Richelieu Patriotes Pee wee AA last week. I am very happy. I want to thank you for the help and advice and time spent with me on the ice during The Goalie Club camp. I played well throughout the three weeks of evaluations. There were 25 goalies for four jobs. Thank you again for the support. I really enjoyed my visit in Minnesota. Good luck to you and the Sabres. See you next year.
Hi Des, Little update on Mary Jane. Wow, has this kid turned it on. Due to an injury to her opposite goalie teammate Mary Jane has stepped up to fill the position so far beyond my expectations and her coaches. She is playing to give her teamates a fighting chance She is working hard in practice. Has come off her line to the top of the crease. Her glove has improved dramatically and her willingness to block the lanes and take a hit while making the save is impressive. When I asked her if Camp is coming back to her she says,"oh yea". She is happy, engaged and getting stronger in herself everyday. She laughs at the crowd now. How cool is that. Thanks to you and your staff.
Hi Des, Hope you and your family are doing well. Just thought I’d let you know that Peter got his first college win in net last week. He’s a Plebe Midshipman at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point , NY. They play ACHA in the Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference, in and around New York City. He’s enjoying hockey and having fun with it, which is good because a Plebe’s life is pretty much designed to eliminate fun. He’s going to become a commercial deck officer, possibly on oil tankers. Over his sophomore/junior year he will spend a whole year at sea, travelling around the world. Just wanted to give you an update on your former student. Thanks for all you do, and have a good Thanksgiving.
Thanks for the camp today! He loved it! He won't stop talking about it!
Hi Des!! Eryn is doing great! She talks all the time about TGC and just Monday told me she thinks she's convinced a couple of her friends to come as shooters with her this summer. Bryan and I couldn't be more pleased with her play. She incorporates everything you corrected her on and taught her - she is "beautiful" in the net. She plays for Chicago Young Americans U12- unfortunately even Bryan said it looks like the team doesn't play hard for her and expects her to always stand on her head. I have a few videos of some games and we review them (taken by another dad) and realize all the little things you helped with. Hope all is well and thank you for checking in!
Chris was a little in shock last night, he hung up the phone and could hardly speak for a few minutes. 🙂 One of the scouts told Chris that he was shocked that he had gotten that good by playing with such a poor HS team. With hard work and the support of people like YOU Des, he most certainly can! Thank you for all you do for our goalies. Knowing you (and The Goalie Club) are there for Chris has meant a lot to our family.
My son is Kevin Aldridge. He is playing for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in the NAHL. He just mentioned that Craig was his favorite coach throughout his career, so I thought I would try and reach out to Craig to let him know how he helped Kevin get to where he is.
Thanks very much for your response Coach. I appreciate your time and I will look into those options. From our limited experience, your group has been first class.
Thanks Coach, Aubrey Mckay, would be very interested in doing the camp again in the fall. She said, "that was amazing, and had a really great time".
Des, Just wanted to say how much you and your coaches have touched our family and especially Noah and his self esteem. We are forever greatful for the high level of professionalism and courtesy you have shown Noah and your other goalies. Thank you!
Des, Thought I would let you know that Mikayla played outstanding tonight and kept her team in the game despite being out shot 31-6, of which 5 of our shots came in the 3rd period. Her save % was .903 which is a HUGE improvement from our last tournament. She was blocking the back door, making breadbasket saves and coming out and poke checking aggressive skaters. She kept them in it that's for sure. She said that was a 'normal' performance. If so, I'd like to see what outstanding looks like! There's a few videos posted on our team fb page, a parent was shooting from behind our net. She was moving much better as well this game. Thanks for you help in her prep for this tournament! Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings vs. The Mavericks!
Hi Coach, just wanted to thank you again for setting up the lesson for my son Ryan. He had an awesome time, and Coach Grant was terrific! The payment is in the mail, and if you have any coaches that are interested we'd love to have him back during the last week of August (or close to it). Thanks again and have a great week.
Congrats on 10years!!! It was Katie's best experience, which took to the next level. She was named To the ACHA All American 1st Team last year. Thanks Coach Des for helping make Katie's hockey so rewarding. Cheers
Des and staff, My son Jake Ball attended your camp in Mankato last week. This was his first time training with TGC other than a couple of clinics held in Albert Lea over Christmas break. I just wanted to tell you what a great experience it was for him, he had a blast! He would come home each day and write his own notes on the daily handouts and tell us all about the drills, video sessions, trivia, games etc. Kudos to you and your team for having the perfect balance of top notch instruction, hard work & fun. Jake will definitely be back!
Coach Des Thank you so much for taking the time to provide the lessons for Kiron. He really enjoyed working with you. He attended the camp and Shattuck the following week. While he was a day camper he learned a lot about an away camp (something he has not done before) and what he'd need to do to be successful. He also enjoyed taking a lot of shots. He did not get as much out of the goalie training, and definitely would prefer to attend one of your camps for goalie training in the future. Thanks again and have a great summer.
Coach Des, Thank you!!! These are wonderful. With me and my husband being over 900 miles away I really appreciate you and your team taking the time to do this. Cameron is having the time of his life and loving your camp!! I just cannot say thank you enough to you and your team! Have a great Wednesday!
Dear Coach Des, I would like to thank you again for the great experience I had last week at TGC. Just like last year, you have helped me become a better goaltender. It has been a privilege for me to be taught by such great coaching. I am now ready to go into my evaluation camp in Montreal for Bantam AA -AAA and I am very confident in myself. I worked hard all summer especially at TGC. It was a great camp for me and I improved a lot on many skills that I had trouble with. I also looked at my evaluation report that I received in my folder. I compared it with last year's and I realize that I have made a lot of improvements with my game. I had so much fun last week in all activities, and with the entire group, and I hope to come back next year to keep improving and getting better and better. Thank you and good luck this season with all teams at SSM.
Coach Des, Our 10 year old has been to your camp in Mankato for two years and he has also been to other skater camps over the past 4 years. This is the best run camp of them all as it gets him involved with older goalies that he looks up to and he then works to their level. I love the fact that they still have fun but are expected to compete and work at a higher level. It is a camp that shows kids all the things that go into playing goalie from on the ice to off, physical and mental. By far the best camp around. As the TGC world grows we now house a Junior goalie from MN that went to TGC camps for many years and he looking to get to collegiate level. He and our son speak the same TGC language every day in all their stories. Thanks for everything you do with the TGC camps!!