O’Connor: Hey, goalies, let’s hear you talk out there
Communication is so important for goalies at every level. (Getty Images)February is usually playoff month for many hockey programs (high school in particular). At the…
Goalie Guru
O'Connor: Abusive coaching antics have no place in our game
I'm not the type to suffer in silence. My family, and my friends, know this all too well. Believe it or not, though, I have…Read More
O’Connor: Bullying is never acceptable, especially from coaches
Bullying shouldn't be tolerated at any level of hockey. (Getty Images)Throughout my coaching career, I’ve had to listen to parents and players who claim that…
O’Connor: Never mind the helicopter parent, beware the ‘bulldozer’ parent
Sports parents deserve a spot on the sidelines, but not in the game. (Getty)I was a hockey coach before I became a parent. I was…
For goalies, practices are about quality, not quantity
Tuukka Rask knows a thing or two about how to make the most of practice. (Getty Images)“The magic bullet is that there is no magic…
Team-oriented Marc-Andre Fleury a role model for youth goalies
Marc-Andre Fleury (Wikimedia Commons)During Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, I was multi-tasking, trying to get some work done while watching the Washington Capitals…
Goalie Guru: If you want someone’s attention, whisper
At the risk of dating myself (yet again), I was recently thinking back to my heyday of the 1970s and ‘80s, when there was a…
Toughness is a trademark that can be developed
I absolutely love playoff hockey, especially postseason college hockey. No knock on the National Hockey League playoffs, which are great, but the college game, both…
Practice what you don’t do well
As an unabashed fan of hockey in general, and women’s hockey specifically, I always look forward to the Winter Olympics. Sure, the tournament is a…
Parents, school officials must respect boundaries
Sigh! Seems like every time I want to focus on a basic goaltending topic — from techniques to game preparation — something happens that pulls…
Sports without sportsmanship is a hollow activity
February represents the stretch run for most high school hockey seasons. In other words, this is the time of the season when coaches tend to…
Guidelines for age-based goals
One of the most difficult aspects of coaching is applying the right approach to each goaltender, at varying age levels. The reality is that not…
Dealing with the fear of losing
Adecade ago, I was working with a young goalie who showed considerable promise, despite his tender years. He had good athletic ability, terrific control of…
