By Dhiren Mahiban /
Any hockey player wanting to improve their skills, and take their game to the next level often resorts to the help of professional instruction and hockey schools, and goaltenders are no different.
In the case of Vancouver Giants’ netminder Tyson Sexsmith, he decided to seek outside help at the age of 14 prior to moving his game to the next level.
“I taught myself up ‘til I was about 14-years-old,” recalled Sexsmith. “Once you get to that level, where you’re moving on to Junior A or Midget AAA, you definitely need some technical assistance.”
At the time the, Priddis, Alta.-native was planning on taking his game to the Junior A level in the AJHL with the Olds Grizzlys. Sexsmith suited up for 62 games in the AJHL that season in 2004/05 as well as two games for the Giants’ where he is now the starter.
According to the San Jose Sharks third-rounder, most goaltenders don’t need much help, but since the position has gotten so technical, it is important to seek that little bit of guidance.
“If you get that guidance, it doesn’t have to be too much, but just a little bit of guidance on your positional play.
“Goaltending these days is all technical, if you’re in the right position, and you do the right movement back and forth, then you’re looking good.”
Sexsmith, a 14th overall selection of the Vancouver Giants at the 2004 WHL Bantam Draft, took over the starting job last season from Dustin Slade and led the team to their first Memorial Cup Championship in franchise history.
This season, Sexsmith had a 43-11-8 record with a 1.89 GAA and a .911 save percentage.
The 19 year-old says goaltending has come a long way from when he started stopping pucks.
“When I first started it was just stop the puck, and you look back in the old days and that’s all it was: just stop the puck. They didn’t care how you did it as long as you stop it,” said Sexsmith.
“Over the past ten years, the whole era of goaltending has changed, it went from a stand-up, flop-around style to a butterfly control style. Goaltenders have just gotten that much better over the past ten years.
“Patrick Roy was probably one of the first guys to move to the butterfly style and it has changed the way of goaltending.”
The 6-0, 204-pound goaltender is currently in the midst of his second playoff run with the Giants’ and all indications say he’s doing just fine when it comes to his overall game.
The Vancouver Giants are hoping the playoff experience of last season will pay off for Sexsmith as they push for their second straight Memorial Cup. If the Giants are to be successful again, Sexsmith’s game will have to be at its best.
As for advice when it comes to young goaltenders, Sexsmith says as long as you can consistently stop the puck, you’re doing fine.
“If you can make everything look like a routine save, then you’re looking pretty good.” |
