Teaching up and coming goalies the ropes

Times Reporter

 

The UFA Bisons hosted a goalie clinic for Strathmore Minor Hockey Players on Dec. 3. UFA Bisons goalies George Merik and Devon Fordyce put on the clinic with the help of their goalie coach Damon Umcheid. 

“We’ve both been to various goalies schools and whatnot and we just (did) drills that we knew,” said Merik. “Our goalie coach helped us out and we just basically split up the kids into pairs … we just went around and showed them things that they were doing right and things that they were doing wrong and just tried to help them.”

It was a two hour-long clinic for peewee and atom goalies in the Strathmore Minor Hockey system.

“We just kind of gave them the basics on how to stop the puck. That’s where it started, just teaching basic moves and stuff like that,” said Merik.

The third-year Bison has helped out with a few other goalie camps, including the Elite Hockey Development Camp in the summer. Merik said he had a lot of fun teaching the kids things they may not have known before or showing them the proper techniques. 

“Our managers, Wayne Hansen and Neil Glionna, thought it would be a good thing to do and we agreed, so we just put it on,” said Merik. “I think they (the kids) enjoyed it to. I know I enjoyed getting taught by older kids when I was young, so I’m sure they enjoyed it.” 

Merik said there might be another clinic held in January before the playoffs roll around.