Maria from GoalieTrainingPro.com and Goalie Training Pro TV kicked off another Weekly Live Q&A from the familiar surroundings of Goalie Training Pro headquarters.
With everyone settling back into their regular routines, Maria explained the format of the session: address a few questions from the mailbag, take any live questions from viewers, and keep things efficient so everyone could get back to work or school.
Mailbag Question: Trouble Stickhandling With the Glove
The main question of the week came from a goalie struggling with puck handling—specifically holding the stick with the glove. The goalie explained that due to the design of their Bauer senior glove, they were having trouble getting enough contact between the glove and the stick to maintain grip. They wondered whether roughing up the leather might help or if it was time to start shopping for a new glove.
Maria admitted right away that puck handling is not her strongest skill and that she doesn’t consider herself a goalie coach in that area. Still, she shared what insight she could from personal experience.
She encouraged the goalie to look up the “Turco grip,” popularized by former Dallas Stars goaltender Marty Turco, who was known for his puck-handling ability. Experimenting with this grip style might help the goalie find a more secure way to control the stick with the glove.
Maria also noted that puck handling with one hand rarely feels comfortable at first. Even when it feels awkward or unstable, it’s uncommon for the stick to actually slip out. She suggested practicing short intervals—about 30 seconds at a time—focusing on single-hand puck handling, resting briefly, and repeating.
For additional help, she recommended reaching out to dedicated goalie coaches or equipment specialists, or even visiting a local hockey shop with a strong goalie department. In her experience, goalie-focused staff are often eager to examine equipment, make adjustments, or identify issues like oddly shaped pockets or improper lacing.
While she didn’t believe the glove itself was fundamentally flawed, Maria acknowledged that some equipment issues can be subtle and benefit from an expert second opinion.
Butterfly Challenge App: Why It No Longer Works
Maria also addressed a recurring question about the Butterfly Challenge app, which some users have had trouble installing or running on their phones.
She explained that the app has been nonfunctional for over a year due to changes in Android and iOS platforms. The app was originally created years ago by a community member as a kind gesture, but maintaining compatibility with evolving app store requirements would require technical upgrades beyond her expertise.
The good news is that the Butterfly Challenge is still available—just not as an app. The updated PDF version (4.0) can be downloaded through links on her website and Instagram bio. In fact, the PDF is newer and more up to date than the final app version.
“It’s not you,” she reassured viewers. “It’s me—and my lack of app development skills.”
Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead
As the session wrapped up, Maria invited viewers to continue sharing ideas—especially regarding glove stickhandling—so she could crowdsource solutions from the goalie community. She also mentioned that she would ask for additional input when the Q&A was reposted to Instagram.
Before signing off, Maria let viewers know she would be unavailable for the following week’s live Q&A due to a family commitment but promised to be back soon. As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to help[at]goalietrainingpro.com.
She closed by thanking everyone for tuning in, wishing them a great week, and reminding them that smart questions, shared experiences, and community support are what keep goalies improving—on and off the ice.