About Elkin Goaltending

Modern Day Goaltending

Bio Information

In 1984, Jon Elkin started his goalie school at 16 years of age as a part-time venture in Montreal, Quebec where he grew up. He moved to Toronto 20 years ago to operate the school full-time. Since then the school has grown into one of the largest goalie schools in the world. It operates year-round seven days per week including ten straight weeks of summer goalie hockey training where students congregate from all over the world to learn modern day hockey goalie tips and techniques.

Experiences

Extensive Experiences

Jon Elkin has coached at all levels. He was the Calgary Flames (NHL) goalie coach for three seasons and has been the goalie coach for teams in the AHL, WHL, QMJHL and OHL, all top feeder systems to the NHL. He has coached 21 NHL goalies.

Jon is currently the goalie coach for the Mississauga St. Michaels Majors of the OHL. He also works privately with his own NHL goaltenders and NHL goaltending prospects.

Over the 6 seasons that Jon has been the Majors’ goalie coach, the team has used 7 goalies in total. Of those seven, 3 have gone on to play in the NHL and 2 signed NHL contracts this past summer. Three have won the prestigious OHL Goalie of the Year Award, 2 have won the Dinty Moore Trophy for the lowest rookie GAA & last season the St. Mikes’ goalies combined to win the Dave Pinkney Trophy for the lowest GAA in the OHL.

In 2004 Elkin won the OHL Championship with the Peterborough Petes. His students have earned 4 OHL Goalie of the Year trophies, 1 CHL Goalie of the Year award, 1 OHL MVP honor, 4 Dinty Moore trophies & 1 NHL Rookie of the Year award.

TOPS IN DEVELOPMENT

Jon Elkin's Goalie Schools has been extremely successful in developing goaltenders. Seven long-time students have gone on to play in the NHL. In the past, Elkin's protégés have typically made up between one quarter and one half of the goaltenders in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) - the top junior hockey league in the world.

The school has many young goalies that are legitimate NHL prospects, including 25 who have been drafted recently by NHL teams. The goalie school also has a substantial number of male and female goaltenders playing Division I college hockey. Elkin’s students have also been active in the European Professional Leagues: Russia, Sweden, Finland, Germany, France, Holland, Norway, Austria & England. Our record acts as confirmation that our pupils are participating in one of the top goaltender developmental programs in the world.

Methodology

TREND SETTING

Jon Elkin's Goalie Schools has been a leader in foreseeing new trends and implementing effective techniques to counter the changes in the game. 20 years ago, it was one of the first goalie schools to adopt the butterfly technique. After a while, when forwards were forced to adapt their games as a result of facing butterfly goalies, Elkin emphasized a more reactive butterfly style to counter improved shooting accuracy.

New rules that have exponentially opened up the game combined with the reduction in the size of goalie equipment, better player equipment and ever-improving player skill levels mean that goaltenders have to be technically even sounder, more patient, improve their reads, be quicker on their feet, better at controlling rebounds, be in better shape, be more proficient at playing the puck and more athletic than ever.

PROVEN TECHNICAL SYSTEM

Our unique form of the butterfly style, a patient butterfly, has shown foresight in staying ahead of the trends. Goaltenders are taught to be strong on their feet and to stay up as long as possible. When the goalie has to go down, the school teaches him/her how to do it effectively and efficiently so that he eliminates the scoring chance and recovers quickly into position for the next play. Consistent positioning, good efficient movement, reading the play, proper rebound control, athletic ability and playing the puck are constantly stressed in our program.

PASSION & DRIVE

Great goaltending does not end with skill and technique. These are only the basic foundations of strong goaltending. What separates great goalies from good goalies is mental toughness. Success is not handed down or stumbled upon; it is earned. If you want to understand modern day goaltending and possess the ambition to strive for the best, Jon Elkin's Goalie Schools will help propel your game to its highest level.