Basic HTML Version
[360]
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I created
Future Pro Goalie School
in 1992 after my NHL goaltending career was cut short
because of injury. I had just finished my teaching degree and loved teaching the position and
actually made it to the NHL in part because of my ability to be a student of the game. I had
learned the position from great goalie coaches like Mitch Korn and Ted Ouimet and knew I could
really impact young athletes in a positive way as my mentors had done with me. I also knew that
coaching young goalies would keep me in the game and ease my transition from being a
pampered NHL athlete to a normal citizen.
I also knew I didnʼt want to work for a living and in the decades that I have taught kids to play
goal I have never once felt like I was working. It was quite the opposite. I couldnʼt believe I got
paid to do what I would do for free. This is why over 20 years later I still personally instruct on the
ice EVERY day for 6 hours!
When I first decided to run a goalie school I had to decide on a name. At the time many names
were tossed around before Future Pro was selected. “The Goalie Doctor”, “Big League
Goaltending” and “ McKichan Goalie School” were all considered.
Future Pro
was selected because it hits at the desire that is in every hockey-playing kid
growing up in Canada, USA and the world; the desire to play in the NHL.
I taught public school for the first three years of
Future Pro
ʼs existence until the company
really took off and became self-supporting. My classroom teaching experience was invaluable
and you quickly learn in a 2nd grade classroom how lucky you have it when you get to teach kids
on the ice. Teachers truly earn their paychecks.
In 1992 I held our first summer camp in Ilderton, Ontario and over a three week period 57
goalies attended. The camp has now grown to the point where I have 11 weeks of summer camp
in the USA and Canada and over 800 goalies attending.
During this time I have had too many great memories and have had way too much fun. My
students have gone on to be doctorʼs, lawyers, coaches, teachers, parents and even NHL
goaltenders. I have worked with little guys who canʼt hold their stick and Hall of Famers who
could; sometimes over the course of the same day! I really have been lucky.
I have had the privilege of playing in the NHL, coaching in the NHL and look forward to
passing my knowledge along to the next generation of budding puck stoppers – the
Future Pros
.
Steve McKichan