Goalie Science

Tryout season is here and Jamie and Derek are in the thick of it. This episode is a full breakdown of everything happening right now — how real tryout decisions actually get made, what coaches are doing in January that most parents don't see, why the 7-day tryout window is mostly theater, how to evaluate goalies when practice formats don't tell the whole story, what happens in the war room, and why your reputation as a parent matters more than you think. Plus a gut-check for parents of young kids who are rushing their way into the wrong level too soon — and a shout out to Bauer for stepping up for a family that lost everything. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dr. Jamie Phillips sits down at Ghost Athletica with Roope Koistinen, Grand Rapids Griffins goalie coach and Detroit Red Wings goaltending development coach, for a deep dive into modern goalie development. Roope shares his path from a small goalie in Northern Finland who transitioned into coaching early, to building a legitimate goalie development pipeline at Kärpät, to earning a role in an NHL organization. They unpack why Finland has produced so many goalies, how national coaching education creates consistency, and what North America does better (compete level) — plus where it can improve (consistent messaging and ego-driven fragmentation). They also get into what makes a goalie “stick” at the NHL level (the eye test, trust, sustainability), RVH teaching priorities for young goalies, and the traits Roope looks for when developing prospects across multiple leagues.

Jamie and Derek dive into one of the toughest questions in coaching: when should athletes be allowed to make mistakes — and when must coaches intervene? From goalie technique and youth habits to confidence, resiliency, and accountability, the conversation explores why development isn’t black and white. The episode also covers screen and tip training misconceptions, goalie fights, goalie goals, and finishes with a powerful mailbag question on when parents should hand off coaching duties to a goalie coach.

In this episode, Jamie and Derek start with a quick life update and a fun detour into Ottawa’s latest off-ice rumors before pivoting into a bigger conversation: youth hockey politics and how development systems often work against the athlete. Jamie shares what he’s running into while trying to bring education workshops to organizations outside of Fox, and why “fear of losing players” drives a lot of resistance. The core of the episode centers around a listener question: what should spring and summer look like for an elite 2014 goalie with big goals—especially when it comes to spring hockey, off-ice training, and private goalie coaching. The guys break down when spring hockey is useful (and when it’s just extra volume), why environment matters as much as training, and why semi-private goalie training often beats 1-on-1 lessons for development. They finish with a discussion on choosing teams, why goalies don’t need to chase the “best” roster, and how confidence is built through daily preparation and resilience—not external validation.

In the first-ever in-person episode of Goalie Science, Jamie and Derek sit down over the holidays to unpack a wild year in goalie development, coaching lessons, and hot takes. They break down Canada’s World Junior goaltending, the controversy around RVH glove positioning, and which trends are downright dangerous (literally). They also get personal: their biggest coaching mistakes, whether single-goalie or shared-crease is best, and what makes coaching girls so different from boys. To close, they reflect on highlights from the year—including Ghost’s expansion, Junior A jumps, and big wins on and off the ice—and fire off their boldest 2026 predictions yet.

In Episode 134, Jamie and Derek bounce between goalie development, hockey politics, and gift-buying wisdom. They break down whether Joe Woll’s repeated injuries are a red flag or just bad luck, then spotlight the next wave of NHL goaltending talent, including Dustin Wolf, Lucas Dostal, and Peter Kochetkov. The second half dives into the chaos of open borders in youth hockey, with firsthand tampering allegations, AP rule frustrations, and a candid discussion about what’s broken—and how to fix it. They wrap up with an in-depth goalie gift guide, highlighting edge protectors, pegs, sticks, padskins, mobility programs, and an official Madcap Coffee sponsorship for Ghost Rehab & Performance.

This episode goes deep on youth hockey culture—from team accountability to the politics of tryouts, and when families should start thinking about switching organizations. Jamie and Derek get personal with stories from the bench, lessons learned from coaching, and what it really means to build leadership in young goalies. Plus: Weston wins his first real tournament, Jamie rants about kids spitting indoors, and the guys share their favorite pregame songs from the emo glory days.

In Episode 130 of the Goalie Science Podcast, Jamie and Derek are back with a heavy-hitting conversation around one central question: Is it better to be a good goalie on a bad team… or a good goalie on a great team? They explore the upsides of being on a weak team, what scouts actually look for, and how a “loser mindset” is holding back young goalies. They also revisit the viral debate around stick saves, talk goalie-parent self-awareness, discuss coaches using “development” as a crutch, and break down the reality of accountability, adversity, and athlete ownership—on and off the ice. This episode also features a giveaway from Easy Crease, a shoutout to First Phorm, and a surprise offer from Bjan Goaltending.

In Episode 128, Jamie and Derek go deep on the tension between performance and results—especially early in the season. What should a goalie do when they’re playing well but not getting wins? Or not getting starts? The guys lay out actionable advice for goalies, parents, and coaches navigating the politics and mental toll of competitive hockey. They tackle adversity, roster depth, open borders in AAA, goalie rotation, and why it’s not a coach’s fault if your kid isn’t playing—if you chose this level. Plus: the war on stat counters, Charlotte Payne vs. Liv Fulkins, building depth in your goalie program, and why junior hockey websites might be the worst coded places on Earth.

In this episode of the Goalie Science Podcast, Jamie and Derek dive deep into the massive shifts happening across junior hockey and college recruitment. From CHL–NCAA rule changes to the GOJHL becoming an official development league of the OHL, the landscape for both skaters and goalies is evolving fast. The guys also discuss how these changes are affecting player development, roster decisions, and the role of adversity in modern hockey. Oh—and there’s a wedding recap with tequila, DJ pop punk sets, and five-hour energy shots at midnight.

In Episode 124 of the Goalie Science Podcast, Derek flies solo with special guest Devon Butz, better known as The Goalie Glove Guy. Devon shares his evolution from goalie coach to glove whisperer, revealing what really goes into crafting a glove that feels game-ready from Day 1. They get into the nitty gritty of glove construction, break-in methods that actually work, brand-specific quirks, and how Devon is helping goalies everywhere get the feel and performance they’ve been missing.

In Episode 122 of the Goalie Science Podcast, Jamie and Derek go deep on RVH technique, the realities of how it impacts young goalies physically, and why introducing it too early can do more harm than good. They also get technical on skate laces vs. bungees, Bauer’s new Connect skates, and share why sometimes gear design is so simple that you kick yourself for not inventing it first. They wrap up with a preview of upcoming in-person podcasts, discuss building out video libraries for goalie training, and give a heartfelt shoutout to athletes headed to the Brick Tournament. This one’s loaded with practical gear talk, myth-busting, and a healthy dose of banter about ice rinks, podcasts, and the daily grind of running a goalie school in the summer heat.