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What if you started playing goalie at 14, spent most of your junior and college career as a backup, and still managed to reach the American Hockey League?

In this episode of The Goalie Mindset Podcast, Pete Fry sits down with former professional goaltender Dillon Kelley, whose journey is a great example of what can happen when you refuse to give up on yourself.

Dillon didn't take the typical path to professional hockey. He started playing goalie at 14, worked his way through high school and junior hockey, played NCAA Division III hockey at Adrian College, and eventually earned an opportunity with the Henderson Silver Knights in the AHL.

But getting there wasn't easy.

Dillon talks about getting cut from teams, losing starting positions, spending years as a backup, and even considering walking away from hockey altogether. Through it all, he kept believing he could play at a higher level, even when other people questioned whether he would make it.

Pete and Dillon discuss:

• Why starting goalie at 14 didn't stop him from chasing his dream
• How playing on weaker teams helped him develop faster
• Why being a backup doesn't mean your career is going nowhere
• How to handle getting cut or passed over without losing belief in yourself
• Why moving up a level shouldn't change how you approach the game
• The importance of having a clear goal, even when the path isn't obvious
• How staying prepared helped him take advantage of unexpected opportunities
• Why having fun and enjoying the process matters just as much as working hard

One of the best parts of the conversation is Dillon's story about his first AHL win. After years of fighting for opportunities, he finally got his chance with Henderson. He helped his team come back from a two-goal deficit, made several huge saves during an overtime penalty kill, and went on to win the game in a shootout.

It was a moment he had worked toward for years, and getting to share it with his parents afterward made it even more special.

Dillon also shares what he learned from the coaches and teammates who believed in him, along with why he now mentors young goalies who may not have access to the same training and opportunities as others.

His story is a reminder that you don't have to follow the same path as everyone else to succeed. You just have to keep working, keep believing, and be ready when your opportunity comes.

If you're a goalie who's ever been overlooked, cut from a team, or questioned whether you're good enough, this episode is worth a listen.

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How much of goaltending is really mental?

According to Dante Giannuzzi, it's one of the biggest parts of the game. Yet it's also one of the most overlooked.

In this episode of The Goalie Mindset Podcast, Pete Fry sits down with former Portland Winterhawks goaltender, professional goalie, and Certified Goalie Mindset Coach Dante Giannuzzi to talk about the mental tools that completely changed the way he played the game. Pasted text

Dante shares how he struggled with consistency early in his WHL career and how learning to train his mind helped him become a more confident, composed, and reliable goaltender.

Pete and Dante discuss:

• Why the mental side of the game deserves as much attention as the physical side
• How the Three Mental Zones help goalies stay focused throughout a game
• Why routines create consistency under pressure
• How the Confidence Anchor became one of Dante's biggest strengths
• The importance of staying in the Athlete Mindset
• How to bounce back after a tough goal or difficult game
• Why backups should prepare exactly like starters
• Dante also shares stories from working with young goalies as a mindset coach. One of his proudest moments came when a goalie who had been struggling with confidence learned to block out outside opinions, trust himself again, and earned a shutout just days later. Pasted text

One message stands out throughout the conversation:

If the mental game is one of the biggest parts of goaltending, why wouldn't you train it every day?

Whether you're trying to become more consistent, improve your confidence, or simply enjoy the game more, this episode is filled with practical tools you can start using right away.

🎧 If you're a goalie, coach, or parent looking to understand how elite goalies build confidence and perform consistently, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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What do you do when a coach tells you at 14 years old that you have no future in hockey?

In this episode of The Goalie Mindset Podcast, Pete Fry sits down with former goaltender, teacher, and goalie development leader Travis Harrington from Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, one of Canada's longest-running hockey boarding schools.

Travis shares a story from his own career that every young goalie and parent should hear.

At 14, after struggling to get playing time, Travis finally approached his coach and asked what he needed to do. The response was simple: "You don't have a future in hockey."

Instead of quitting, Travis went home and made a decision with the help of his parents. They sat down and created two lists: his hockey goals and his life goals before age 30. Years later, his dad handed those same pieces of paper back to him, and Travis realized just how many of those goals he had accomplished.

Pete and Travis get into:

• How to respond when someone doubts your ability
• Why young goalies need to learn how to advocate for themselves
• The power of writing down exactly what you want
• Why one coach's opinion should never determine your future
• How putting too much pressure on yourself can actually hurt your performance
• Why overthinking can burn through your concentration before the game even starts
• How adversity can become one of your greatest teachers
• Why the mental game matters far beyond hockey
• Travis also opens up about another turning point in his career. After a strong rookie season in the BCHL and interest from several Division I schools, he entered the following season putting enormous pressure on himself. He became too serious, overthought the game, and lost his first seven starts.

It's a powerful reminder that sometimes trying harder isn't the answer. You have to learn how to trust yourself, enjoy the game, and get out of your own way.

The conversation finishes with a look inside the goalie development program at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, where Travis and his team are working to develop the whole goalie through on-ice training, goalie IQ, video, physical maintenance, and mental training.

🎧 If you've ever been doubted, struggled with confidence, or put too much pressure on yourself to succeed, this episode will remind you that one difficult chapter doesn't decide where your story ends.

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How young is too young to start working on your mental game?

In this episode of The Goalie Mindset Podcast, Pete Fry sits down with Joe Ranger, five-year OHL veteran, U SPORTS goaltender, and Certified Goalie Mindset Coach, to talk about what he's learned from helping young goalies build confidence, handle adversity, and enjoy the game.

One of Joe's favorite coaching stories comes from working with a goalie who was only seven or eight years old. While talking about bouncing back after a tough moment, the young goalie shared a simple perspective that stuck with Joe:

"Winning would be boring without any struggle."

That conversation leads Pete and Joe into why mindset training can be so valuable at a young age. The goal isn't to make kids overthink the game. It's to give them simple tools and habits they can carry with them as hockey gets more competitive.

Pete and Joe get into:

• Why mindset training can start at a young age
• How mental skills compound over time
• Why loving the game is one of the most important parts of development
• How the Confidence Anchor can help goalies build confidence
• Why the language you use can change the way you see your game
• How to bounce back without overthinking what just happened
• Why young goalies can learn valuable life skills through hockey
• How mindset training can help goalies become leaders for their teammates

Joe also shares what he's learned from working with goalies from different ages and levels. Whether it's a young goalie learning how to handle a difficult moment or an experienced goalie preparing for a big opportunity, many of the mental challenges are more similar than you might think.

The biggest lesson is that mindset isn't only about becoming a better goalie. The confidence, focus, resilience, and perspective you develop through the game can carry into school, work, relationships, and whatever comes next.

If you're a goalie or goalie parent who wants to build the mental side of the game early and develop habits that can last far beyond hockey, this episode is worth a listen.

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What separates the goalies who succeed at the professional level from those who never reach their potential?

In this episode of The Goalie Mindset Podcast, Pete Fry sits down with Peter Skrabelj, goalie coach for Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL, to discuss the mindset, habits, and character traits that define elite goaltenders. Drawing from years of coaching in one of the world's top professional leagues, Peter shares what he looks for in goalies and why mental toughness is just as important as technical skill.

Pete and Peter discuss:

• Why hunger is the number one quality every elite goalie needs
• How consistency and daily habits separate good goalies from great ones
• Why taking responsibility accelerates your development
• How to stay mentally strong during a long professional season
• The importance of healthy competition between goalie partners
• Why preparation and communication build confidence before every start
• How great goalies respond to adversity instead of making excuses

Peter also shares stories from coaching in the KHL, including goalies who exceeded expectations through relentless work ethic and others who struggled after becoming too comfortable. His message is simple:

Talent opens the door, but hunger keeps you there.

The conversation also explores what makes goalies like Andrei Vasilevskiy, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Jakub Dobeš so successful, highlighting the importance of athleticism, balance, vision, preparation, and a relentless desire to keep improving.

🎧 If you're a goalie, coach, or parent looking to better understand the mindset required to succeed at the professional level, this episode is packed with practical lessons you can apply both on and off the ice.

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How do you go from a kid in Wales watching hockey on TV to coaching goalies at the highest levels of the game?

In this episode of The Goalie Mindset Podcast, Pete Fry sits down with Nathan Craze, former professional goaltender and current goalie coach with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Orlando Solar Bears.

Nathan shares his incredible journey from discovering hockey in the UK to building an eight-year professional career before transitioning into coaching. Along the way, he explains the lessons that shaped both his career and his philosophy as a goalie coach.

Pete and Nathan discuss:

• Why competing on every single shot matters
• How preparation separates good goalies from great ones
• Why playing games is one of the best ways to develop
• The mindset needed to take advantage of unexpected opportunities
• What coaches should do to build confidence in their goalies
• The biggest mistakes coaches make when communicating with goalies
• Why getting drafted isn't the finish line—and not getting drafted isn't the end of the dream

Nathan also shares his perspective on helping top goalie prospect Will Sharpe through the emotional experience of the NHL Draft. His message is one every young goalie needs to hear:

Your path might change, but your goal doesn't have to.

One of the biggest themes throughout this conversation is that success comes from staying hungry. The goalies who keep improving, keep learning, and keep competing are the ones who give themselves the best chance to succeed.

Whether you're a goalie, coach, or parent, there's something in this episode that will change the way you think about development.

🎧 If you want to learn how elite goalies prepare, compete, and stay ready when opportunity knocks, this episode is definitely worth a listen.

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What does it take to go from third-string goalie to helping your team win a national championship?

In this episode of The Goalie Mindset Podcast, Pete Fry sits down with Johnny Hicks, fresh off winning the NCAA National Championship with the University of Denver, alongside his longtime goalie coach, Nathan Wolfe. Together, they share the mindset, habits, and relationship that helped Johnny reach one of the biggest moments of his career.

This isn't just a conversation about winning. It's about everything that happens before the trophy.

Pete, Johnny, and Nathan dive into:

• How Johnny learned to manage fear and treat it as nothing more than background noise
• Why routines, positive self-talk, and confidence became the foundation of his game
• How to bounce back after a goal against without letting it affect the next save
• Why every game should be treated the same, whether it's opening night or the national championship
• The importance of staying present instead of chasing results
• How body language, breathing, and preparation help build confidence

Nathan also shares what he saw in Johnny from the very beginning and why his willingness to learn, stay disciplined, and trust the process separated him from so many other goalies.

One of the biggest lessons from this episode is simple:

Your opportunity may not come when you expect it, but when it does, you need to be ready.

Johnny started the season as Denver's third-string goalie. Instead of getting frustrated, he stayed patient, kept learning, trusted his preparation, and was ready when his chance came. That mindset helped lead him all the way to a national championship.

If you're a goalie, coach, or parent looking to build confidence, improve your mental game, and learn what it really means to trust the process, this episode is one you won't want to miss.

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What separates goalies who make it to the highest level from those who never quite get there?

In this episode of The Goalie Mindset Podcast, Pete Fry sits down with legendary goalie coach Eli Wilson, who has spent more than 25 years developing some of the best goaltenders in the world, including Carey Price, Devan Dubnyk, Stuart Skinner, Tim Thomas, and many more.

This conversation dives into the mental side of elite performance and what Eli has learned from working with goalies at every level of the game.

Pete and Eli discuss:

• What made Carey Price different from everyone else
• Why focus and concentration separate elite goalies
• The role competitiveness plays in long-term success
• Why some talented goalies never reach their potential
• How confidence, work ethic, and open-mindedness work together
• The biggest mistakes coaches and parents make with goalies
• Why gratitude and perspective matter during difficult seasons

One theme comes up again and again throughout the conversation:

The best goalies never stop trying to get better.

Whether it’s Carey Price, Devan Dubnyk, Stuart Skinner, or Tim Thomas, they all shared a willingness to learn, adapt, and keep improving, even when they were already performing at a high level.

Eli also shares some powerful advice for coaches. Building trust, communicating with your goalies, and focusing on helping them improve is far more effective than criticism, sarcasm, or dwelling on mistakes.

This episode is packed with lessons for goalies, coaches, and parents alike.

🎧 If you want to understand how elite goalies think, learn what separates great competitors from average ones, and discover what it really takes to keep improving year after year, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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