Secrets Of Kraken Goalie Daccord's Athleticism: Cones, Basement Drills

Brian Daccord once was convinced son Joey woudn't make it as a pro goaltender.

Brian wasn't just a nervous hockey parent. Dad was a former goalie himself, owns the “Stop it Goaltending” school, serves as Boston University goalie coach, and has worked with multiple NHL teams.

Son Joey had transferred to Cushing Academy, a college prepatory school northwest of Boston. Dad at the time was goalie coach for Cushing's hockey team.

"He was too slow. I came home after the first practice, I said, 'I made a mistake.' This was a big jump (from North Andover High School); Joey's skating wasn't good enough."

Brian took Joey out for a cone - but not the ice cream kind.

"I would put out a (traffic) cone (on the ice). He would have to do pivots around the cone. Most importantly, I put out sticks he'd have to step over; he'd have to lift up his feet.

"It took two years. He's playing in the Beantown Classic. He goes behind the net to stop a puck. The puck kicks off the boards and goes right for his feet. He hops over the puck, one foot after the other, and the puck goes to the other corner. I went, 'Done! He's got it!'"

From Basement To Penthouse

Brian Daccord also revealed on The Rink Shrinks podcast the time the pupil schooled the teacher. It happened in the Daccord family basement while Joey was practicing drills.

"I would get so pissed off at him. I would go down there, and there he was with player gloves and a player stick. I'd say to him, 'Dude, you're killing me. You want to be a goalie? Put your blocker on, put your glove on, and grab your goalie stick. That's the only way you're going to be strong enough.'"

"He said, 'Yeah, but that's no fun.'

"What I didn't understand at the time was the fine motor skill of toe-curling that puck, and handling that puck, that he was learning by using player gloves instead of a goalie glove. It's what gave him, when he got stronger, that skill foundation.

"He was the teacher, I was the student on that one."

'Tenders At A Tender Age

When should a goaltending student first learn about the position? Brian Daccord's answer might surprise you.

"There's two windows of optimal train-ability; one is right around 13-15 years of age. It's also at six years old. That's such a great age, because they're learning how to move their body.

"The common thought is, 'You have to wait until they're older to get training.' I don't think it's too early. If a kid loves goalie, why not teach him how to play the game?

"Joey did 16 lessons before he ever stepped onto the ice with a team or a practice. That gave him such a good advantage."