Nineteen Whitehorse goalies took part in a clinic with Worldpro Goaltending's Jay F. Martel over the weekend to work on their movements.

The clinic, which took place from Friday until Sunday afternoon, gave the young goaltenders seven hours of ice time with Martel, who is the goalie coach for the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers.

There were 12 advanced goalies and seven beginner and intermediates taking part.

Although the goalies worked hard during the clinic, Gerry Perrier, development co-ordinator for Whitehorse Minor hockey, says they enjoyed the time spent on the ice with Martel.

"They work hard but its quite remarkable really how much they enjoy it,” said Perrier. "They want more.”

Perrier first sought out Calgary-based Worldpro Goaltending about five years ago.

The first coach to make the trip from Worldpro to Whitehorse was Eli Wilson, who is now the goalie coach for the Ottawa Senators. Every year Martel comes to Whitehorse at least three times to train goalies. He made a special trip in 2007 for the Canada Winter Games to support Whitehorse's team as well.

In the off season Martel works with various goalies including Carey Price. Worldpro Goaltending currently works with about 16 WHL goalies.

"He's certainly making a name for himself with Worldpro Goaltending,” said Perrier.

About 20 goalies have been moving through the program in the five years it has been in Whitehorse.

"They get better and better,” said Perrier.

Two of those goalies are currently playing outside of Whitehorse; 16 year-old Brad Gustafson, who tends goal for the B.C. Major Midget league's Cariboo Cougars out of Prince George and 19 year-old Ian Perrier who plays for the Calgary Royals of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Perrier says the goalies see lots of shots and repetition during the clinic and work on "movement that will increase their success.”

The goalies learn to anticipate plays and follow the puck so they are in the right place when the it reaches them.

"They're taught more efficient ways to move,” said Perrier.

Bringing Worldpro Goaltending to Whitehorse has allowed the Mustangs to keep up with the rest of Canada, Perrier says.

"Without the specialized training we simply can't compete,” he said. "We're fairly limited here.”

Perrier says the special training for goalies, which he continues with the players when Martel is gone, makes the team stronger.

"Goaltending is an obvious place to look (for improvement),” said Perrier. "We can make vast improvements to the whole team simply by improving goaltending.”

Goaltenders from the Whitehorse Bantam Mustangs took part in the clinic over the weekend, and coach Jay Glass says the goalies were working hard when he stopped by.

"It looked like a pretty good program,” he said. "It looked like they were working hard.”

Bantam Mustangs trainer Cameron Eckert also watched the goalies at Takhini Arena.

"It's a tremendous opportunity to have high quality coaching come to Whitehorse to train our players,” he said, adding that the benefits are seen with the entire team when the goaltending is improved. "It went great.”

Martel will be back in Whitehorse two more times this year; once in February and again after the season in May.