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Campbell River goalie camp founders have come full circle

A grassroots goalie program returns to where it all began.

A grassroots goalie program returns to where it all began.

Campbell Riverites Richard Kirk and Andy Seppanen, two young entrepreneurs who founded Progressive Goaltending will be in Campbell River with the program this Saturday and Sunday. Both men are products of the Campbell River Minor Hockey Association.

Both went on to play junior hockey, and then pursued their passion for goaltending in another form – coaching.

Last summer the tandem reunited to establish Progressive Goaltending.  After only one year in business they are providing goalie development programs for almost half the minor hockey associations on Vancouver Island.

What separates Progressive Goaltending from other goaltending camps is its film analysis teaching method.  Goaltenders are filmed during the on-ice portion of the camp, and then receive a classroom setting lecture, and film review of the technical side of the position.

“It has proven to be a great teaching method, especially for the younger ages who are fascinated in watching themselves on TV for the first time,” Seppanen says. “It goes a long way in understanding their personal body mechanics in relation to the position.”

Campbell River has the opportunity to become the next goaltender hot bed with Progressive Goaltending’s working relationship with Campbell River Minor Hockey.

“We are both extremely excited to return home to Campbell River and share this opportunity with aspiring young goaltenders,” says Kirk. “It gives us the chance to give back to the community in which we grew up in.”

The Campbell River content does not end there, as instructors for the camp include former Storm goalie Cory Mullin and current Storm netminder and fan favourite Kieran Anderson.

Both also received goaltender coaching from Seppanen and Kirk during their development as a Tyee. Darryl ‘Gump’ Humphrey will once again share his wealth of knowledge during the camp, as ‘Gump’ has been a staple in goaltender development for Campbell River over the past 15 years from the grass roots level up to serving as goalie coach for the Campbell River Storm.

To learn more about Progressive Goaltending you can visit their website www.progressivegoaltending.com