Since the high performance camps were started in 2011, this was the next step that they would have a goalie camp. “We were thinking how we should do it in the future and if changes need to be made. We decided that we should focus on different positions instead of having full teams at the camps and thought that the goalie position is a very important part of our game,” said IIHF council member Dr. Zsuzsanna Kolbenheyer. “If we can improve our goalies, that would be a big help for countries and the teams. Goalies can make a huge difference at every level.”
Krisztián Budai, goalie coach for the women’s program took part, with Vanessa Horváth representing the senior team. As proof that the youth system is working as well there were two U18 goalies in Zsófia Tóth and Fruzsina Szabó in Spain.
The girls had a chance to learn from some of the best in the sport as the “ambassadors” were Florence Schelling and Zuzana Tomcikova, Tomcikova should be familiar to the Hungarians as she had worked with the Hungarian program in the past. “Without them I’m pretty sure their teams would not have performed as well at the top level. We have some more good goalies in Europe but in a number countries you do not have that many at that high of a level,” said Kolbenheyer on iihf.com.
The girls went through not only on ice drills and practices but also off ice conditioning and also how to mentally prepare for games. This are some of the aspects that they can work on all year round.
There were three different groups during the camp, the senior goalies all worked together and the U18 goalies worked separately, this was great because as one was on the ice the other group could watch them. The third group was the goalie coaches that were in attendance. The coaches also had a chance to pick up knowledges that they could use both on and off the ice.
Overall it sounds like the camp was successful and productive, everyone in attendance picked up knowledge that they could apply as soon as they hit the ice and the coaches can use when they are back with their teams.
