In her weekly live Q&A on Goalie Training Pro TV, exercise physiologist and goalie-training specialist Maria Mountain checked in with the goalie community just ahead of American Thanksgiving. With many of her U.S. followers gearing up for a day of turkey and football, she kept the session focused, practical, and packed with insight for goalies of all ages.
Balancing Content and Coaching
Maria opened by explaining a shift in her content schedule. Instead of posting weekly YouTube videos, she now releases one every two weeks. The reason is simple: an unusually busy summer of new goalie clients reminded her that program design—not content creation—is where she makes the biggest impact.
She reiterated something she’s said before: she has no interest in becoming a social media influencer. Her focus is providing trusted training systems and working directly with goalies to help them perform at their best.
Last week’s video reviewed the Brian’s pads she has recently been using—what she loves, what she doesn’t, and what she’d change if ordering custom. The full review is available on Goalie Training Pro TV.
Brian’s Pads: What’s Good, What Could Improve
Responding to a question from Dustin, Maria broke down a few drawbacks of the Brian’s pads, while clarifying that equipment preference is deeply personal.
Things she finds less ideal:
- Slightly heavier feel: Although they feel heavier and somewhat clunkier than her Warriors off the ice, she doesn’t notice it while playing.
- Occasional rotation issue: A few times, the pad didn’t rotate with her during a slide—once on a 2-on-0—likely due to strapping setup.
- Inner-calf support limitations: The inner calf flap isn’t independently adjustable, unlike what she prefers with her Warriors.
- Rebound inconsistency: Softer material on the lower portion of the face sometimes deadens rebounds, whereas higher-impact shots pop out more.
Despite these critiques, she emphasized how much she likes the pads overall, praising their fast—but controlled—slide compared to her Warriors’ “wild” knee-stack plates.
Black Friday: Discount Codes and How to Use Them
Maria confirmed she is offering a Black Friday discount on her downloadable training programs. With rising costs affecting everyone, she wanted to make training support more accessible.
Black Friday Code:
BFGOALIE30
Valid for 30% off all downloadable programs (not coaching groups).
Programs include:
- Beer League Bootcamp (in-season & off-season)
- Varsity Goalie Academy
- NextGen Academy
- Program bundles
Only 25 coupon uses were made available, and the code runs until they’re gone or until the end of Cyber Monday.
To find the programs, visit GoalieTrainingPro.com and click Training Programs.
Holiday Break = Mini Unloading Phase
Before wrapping up, Maria shared an important seasonal reminder for goalies who are training consistently.
During the holiday period—whether that’s Christmas or any celebration—she recommends planning a 2–4 day mini-unloading phase.
This period:
- Provides physical recovery
- Offers a mental reset
- Helps avoid burnout before the playoff push
She emphasized planning these days ahead of time, not waiting for moments when someone simply doesn’t feel like training. Consistency is key, and intentional rest protects progress rather than derailing it.
Thank you all for joining today’s session. Remember, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out help[at]goalietrainingpro.com. We look forward to catching up with you all soon. Have a fantastic day!