The puck stops here.

That’s how the saying goes, and that was the feeling in the air this past weekend as goaltenders from around Yukon hit the ice for the second goalie clinic of the year run by World Pro Goaltending out of Calgary.

Eighteen young goalies from Whitehorse, Teslin and Haines Junction strapped on the pads for the three-day event organized by the Yukon Amateur Hockey Association (YAHA).

The clinic is part of a continuing goalie development program established for the territory.

While standing in front of a 90 km/h slapshot is not for everyone, there is a diehard group of young goaltenders in Yukon who are up to the challenge.

With house league playoffs, provincial championships and Arctic Winter Games coming up in March, Krister Toews, former pro goalie and senior instructor with World Pro Goaltending was on hand to share his knowledge and provide 15 hours of on-ice instruction focusing on movement, positioning and gameplay scenarios.

Learning the skills required to move quickly and maintain proper position while wearing big square pads and full body armour takes specialized coaching which is not usually available at a team level.

YAHA has stepped up the goalie program this year by bringing up World Pro Goaltending for three separate clinics, the third of which will take place in February.

Weekly goalie clinics run on Thursday nights at Takhini Arena by a group of local goalie coaches – including Brad Gustafson, Darryl Cann, Matt Power, Murray Arsenault and Brian Currie – provide further opportunity for these young goaltenders to work on new skills, establish good habits and have some fun in the process.

– Report courtesy of Darryl Cann