Often goaltenders, when selecting a goaltender school, look to see what different schools offer and what sets them apart. While MTN teaches many of the same ideas as other goalie schools and instructors we would like to answer the important question:

What sets Mind The Net apart?

There are three main areas which MTN prides themselves on, as well as their high intesity, on and off ice training.

Low student numbers at all MTN Camps

Often, MTN is asked how many goaltenders are accepted or registered per camp. In the case of the Top Prospects Program we tell the goaltender that we only accept six goaltenders/camp. Some people have suggested that this is a sign that business is slow, when in actuality MTN, purposely and with principle, stick to low student numbers to create an atmosphere that is very personal and can strengthen all aspects of a goaltender's game. By sticking to low registration numbers goaltender improvements physically and mentally occur quicker and are more likely to stay with a goaltender all season. Also, MTN believes in performing all goaltender movement, transition and puck stopping movements in the defensive zone and in and around the crease to entrench a sense of what situations look like during a game. All MTN camps and services are based on low student:instructor ratios with the Midget "AAA" Prep and Bantam Prep Camps only accepting eight goaltenders and the Atom/PeeWee Camps only accepting nine goaltenders.


High concentration on the mental aspects of goaltending

With a name like Mind The Net one would have to expect that a lot of time would be spent focusing on the mental aspects of goaltending. Typically, MTN covers everything from examining the goalie's job of "KEEPING THE PUCK OUT OF NET", responsibilities, the realities of playing elite hockey, promoting oneself to mental training techniques and tactical/technical response discussions. With a low student registration MTN instructors can get to know the needs and desires of each student in attendance. The Hotstove environment lends itself to collaboration amongst the students so goaltenders are learning more than just the instructors perspectives. The best goaltenders are students of the game and love to talk goaltending, so MTN tries to promote and accelerate learning through honest and open discussions. To help goaltenders add tools to their toolbox MTN also provides a MTN Goaltending Guide that is over 200 pages with new articles and discussions added each year.

MTN is the only elite level goalie school offered in Saskatchewan, Canada

When MTN began in the spring of 2004, Travis and Ian saw a need for elite level goalie instruction in Saskatchewan that was geared towards aspiring and established elite level goaltenders. Starting with the former Elite program to what is now the Top Prospects Program, MTN Camps are designed to help elite goaltenders gain an even bigger edge to help them move on through the hockey ranks.

**It is because of a solid base of goaltending knowledge, that is constantly expanding, and with the help of the three topics discussed above that MTN has helped over 85% of our students move onto even higher levels of hockey.**

The Student:Instructor Ratio Myth

Throughout goalie instruction circles there is a discussion about how the head instructors or directors work personally with the goalies in their camps, yet if you go to these camps you can see anywhere from 12-44 goalies on the ice at one time with 4,6 or more stations. MTN asks, is this really the idea of personalized instruction? When looking for goalie schools there are many factors that go into making the right decision (heck, seeking good goalie instruction is an excellent first step) such as qualifications, program curriculum, customer service and the kicker is usually the goalie to instructor ratio. Which is better, a goalie school with 2 or 3:1 student to instructor ratio with 15, 20, 25+ goalies on the ice, plus instructors and/or shooters, OR a goalie school that offers 2:1 student to instructor ratios like MTN's Top Prospects Program? Would you prefer to be involved in or watch your goalie be one of 40+ people scattered around the same ice surface? Wouldn't you rather see improvements in an atmosphere that looks to truly strengthen a goalie's game while allowing them to develop their own style?

The MTN Goaltending Top Prospects Programs guarantees a 2:1 student to instructor ratio, which includes co-directors/head instructors Travis Harrington and Ian Robertson plus other MTN instructors (TBA) that are former students that know the MTN program through experience AND training. Again, ONLY SIX GOALIES ARE ACCEPTED/CAMP

The MTN Goaltending Midget "AAA" Prep Program guarantees a 2.5:1 ratio (technically 2.66:1). ONLY EIGHT GOALIES ACCEPTED/CAMP

As MTN students become more successful throughout various leagues in Western Canada and the college/university ranks we have more students dedicating their summers to training and thus become more available to become MTN instructors as well. As instructors are available to instruct the student to instructor ratios decrease for even more personalized instruction.