Eli Wilson
Having elevated the games of current National Hockey League goaltenders Carey Price, Ray Emery, Tim Thomas, Tuukka Rask, Brian Elliott, Jason LaBarbera, and Devan Dubnyk. Eli Wilson has established himself as one of the premier goaltending coaches in Canada, the USA, and the world. His relentless work ethic, vivacious personality, knowledge of the goaltending position and tenacious approach to the game has afforded Eli the ability to build an impressive track record.
Wilson had tremendous success for four seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers. While there, Wilson’s goaltenders set new franchise records only to break them again two years later. During Eli’s tenure, the Tigers won two Championships and in both of those runs, the Medicine Hat goalies were named playoff MVP’s.
Eli's success as a goaltending coach is best demonstrated by the number of goaltenders he has developed that have gone on to win numerous prestigious awards including Stanley Cups, Conn Smythe Trophies, Venzina Trophies, World Junior Gold Medals, AHL Championships, AHL Playoff MVP's, WHL Goaltender of the Year, OHL Goaltender of the Year and CHL Goaltender of the Year.
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Bob Essensa
Bob Essensa has worked with Eli Wilson at his Goalie Camps since 2005. His main focus has been with the Detroit school and the pro camps.
Bob has a very good understanding of the position. He has a calm approach to teaching and he is very good at pointing out details of the tactical aspects of the position.
Essensa is in his 8th season with the Bruins organization since he was named as the club’s goaltending coach on September 9, 2003.
The Bruins goaltenders have had tremendous success during his tenure with the hockey club including Rookie of the Year and Vezina trophies. Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask are 2 of the top goaltenders in the NHL.
Based out of his home in Michigan, Essensa joins the team at various times during the season to work with the organization’s goaltenders both in Boston and in Providence.
Essensa played for six NHL teams over a 14-year professional career and played his final NHL season with the Buffalo Sabres in 2001-02.
His NHL career record was 173-176-47 with a 3.15 goals against average and 18 shutouts in 446 games with Winnipeg, Detroit, Edmonton, Phoenix, Vancouver and Buffalo.
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Chris Piku
A lifetime student of the hockey goaltending position, Chris instructs goalies, consults, and designs equipment. He has been instructing goalies for 15 years and has achieved success with his NHL clients, collegiate and junior goalies, and all levels of amateur and youth hockey goaltenders. He constantly strives to innovate and remain on the cutting edge of modern goaltending evolution through both innovative techniques and equipment integration into the goalie position.
Over 300 students from ages 8 through adult, male & female, take year round private lessons and attend his camps. His students have won several state and national championships. They continue to stand out as the best goalies in their league and in tournaments. More refined in their movement, in control and rarely out of position, providing their team consistency in goal every game.
Chris believes that Goaltender Training should focus on movement drills that are repetitive and train muscle memory. Efficient goalie practice has everything to do with correct use of repetition and variety. It is critical to not practice mistakes. When goalies play faster, they don’t think faster, they simply rely more on previously ingrained habits. So practicing correctly is critical to successful execution and performance, and drills must also replicate game like situations.
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Robb Tallas
This is Robb Tallas' first year working with Eli Wilson at his Hockey Goalie Camps.
Robb has worked three seasons as a member of the Florida Panthers coaching staff.
Throughout his
13-year hockey playing career, Tallas appeared in 9
9 career National Hockey League games with the Boston Bruins (1995-2000) and Chicago Blackhawks (2000-01).
The Edmonton, Alberta native also serves as a hockey instructor at the Florida Panthers official hockey practice facility, Saveology.com Iceplex and has previously worked with several NHL goalies and goaltenders in Canada and the USA.
He has also participated as an instructor at the Panthers hockey goaltending schools, while conducting one-on-one goalie coaching with aspiring goaltenders.
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