Team West Goaltenders Announced

GDI-Prairies is pleased to announce that 2 of there long time students have been named to team West for the 2009/20010 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge.

Tyler Oswald of Sanford Manitoba was the goaltender selected to represent his province. Oswald a WHL bantam draft pick of the Saskatoon Blades is playing this season for the Pembina Valley Hawks of the Manitoba Midget AAA League.

Representing Saskatchewan on team west is Canora Saskatchewan native Zach Rakochy. Rakochy was listed by the Red Deer Rebels (WHL) while attending there 2008 training camp and is currently playing for the Melville Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

Both Goalies are long time students of GDI-Prairies.

The Tournament takes place December 29th through January 4th in Timmins Ontario.

5 regions will represent Canada including the Pacific, West, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic. the rest of the 10 team pool includes Russia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland and the USA

December Camp Heating Up!

Bookings for GDI Prairie's Mid Season Tune Up are already starting to fill up fast so make sure you register online to secure your spot for camp this December. Those that have success come playoffs have been committed to their position by developing on and off ice throughout the whole season.

Bookings can be made by registering online at the GDI Prairies Website.

GDI's New ELITE and PROSPECT Programs

GDI's New ELITE and PROSPECT Programs

GDI is excited to announce a realignment and reformatting of our camp curriculum.

The first three teaching progressions will be made available at our regional level. These programs have been reconfigured and redesigned by GDI Director Ian Clark and will be delivered by our network of Regional Managers.

The fourth and fifth progressions will be only available at our National Development Camps which are both designed and directed by GDI Founder and renowned Goaltending Coach Ian Clark.

In addition to the introduction of GDI's new ELITE program (which provides a lower price point at our residential programs) and a total redesign of our PROSPECT program, GDI has created a theme-based approach to our progressive teaching. This way, GDI will always provide a progressive, innovative and growing curriculum to match each student's developmental pace.

Progression themes include:

• GDI1 (INTRO) - Foundation Development
  
• GDI2 (ADVANCED) - Introduction to Multi-Inputs
  
• GDI3 (HIGH PERFORMANCE) - Advanced Technical
  
• GDI4 (ELITE) - Advanced Technical and Multi-Input Training
  
• GDI5 (PROSPECT) - Advanced Tactical and Game-Dynamic Training
  

U16 Goaltenders Announced

Hockey Manitoba and Hockey Saskatchewan has announced their rosters for this years Western Canada Challenge Cup.

The goaltenders competing with Team Manitoba are Brendan Fiebelkorn (Winnipeg Hawks) and Chris Driedger (Winnipeg Monarchs). Representing Team Saskatchewan in net is Dawson MacAuley (Prince Albert Mintos) and Regan Santoro (North Battleford). Congratulations to all four goaltenders from the Prairie region that were selected.

The 4 day tournament takes place in Blackfalds, Alberta, just north of Red Deer. The tournament will feature the highest rated players in the Under 16 age category representing the four Western Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC. The four team round robin tournament format, which will be held October 28 to November 1, 2009, will assist the four Western Provincial Hockey Associations evaluating these top prospects for future competitions.

For more information on the Western Canada Challenge Cup view their website with news and schedules of the games.

Midseason Tune-Ups

We hope all of your hard work throughout the off season paid off with some rewards during tryouts

As Hockey season wears on, a goaltender’s focus naturally drifts as the intense training of the summer time gets farther in the rear view mirror. This is the perfect time for a GDI Midseason Tune-up. A Midseason Tune-up refreshes the goaltenders mind and muscle memory. Timed with the Christmas layoff, Midseason Tune-ups provide goalies with an outstanding refresher course just before the stretch run to the playoffs.

GDI-Prairies will be offering 2 locations this holiday season.

Winnipeg, MB

Yorkton, Sk

For more information and registration for these camps please go to www.gdiprairies.com and click on the CAMPS tab.

Wardo Gets 6 Years and $37.8 Million

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward has signed a six-year contract extension that will pay him a total of $37.8 million, general manager Jim Rutherford said today. "It comes at a good time," Rutherford said. "We were hoping we could get Cam a long-term contract that would keep him with the team, and it's great to get it done before the season begins."

The Canes open the regular season Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Ward, 25, was due to become a restricted free agent after this season. He's making $3.5 million this season. "We did not want to get into all those things -- offer sheets, free agency," Rutherford said. "For what Cam has done for the franchise, like Eric (Staal), he deserves a long-term contract." Staal was signed a seven-year, $57.75 million extension before last season began.

Ward was third in the NHL in wins (39) and tied for sixth in shutouts (6) last season. He etablished a new franchise record for goaltender victories in a season (39) and matched the franchise record for shutouts in a season.

Luongo, Ward and Fleury Audition for Team Canada

Three goaltenders affiliated with GDI garner Team Canada invites for their Summer Development Camp.

Goaltending Consultant Ian Clark is entering his fifth season working with All Star Roberto Luongo. Clark began his work with Luongo in 2001-02 in Florida with the Panthers. The two paired up again when Luongo was traded to Vancouver heading into the 2006/07 season.


Cam Ward's GDI connection goes back to his teenage years. Ward spent five years training with Clark at GDI's Pro Consulting camp before breaking into the NHL and going on to be the Conn Smythe Trophy winner and Stanley Cup Champion in his rookie season.

Current Stanley Cup Champion, Marc Andre Fleury spent his two Team Canada World Junior experiences teamed up with Clark. Clark was Team Canada's Goaltending Consultant for four years garnering two gold medals and two silver medals during this stretch.

Time will tell which goaltenders will represent Team Canada, but rest assured, GDI goalies will have a strong presence between the Team Canada's pipes.