Growing goaltenders via Skype

CEDAR RAPIDS - Absence may make the heart grow fonder, but it doesn't help grow a young hockey player.

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders goaltending coach Scott Meyer lives in the Twin Cities, making commutes every other week for two days of personal tutoring of netminders Matt McNeely and Jake Hildebrand. But even when he's not with them, he's coaching them, thanks to computer technology.

Skype has become an all-important tool for Meyer and the RoughRiders. Though he may be four hours away, the coach still can have face-to-face contact with his goalies, and the ability to go over video of their performances with them.

“It's not quite the same as being there every day,” Meyer said. “When you're there every day, you tend to ease off a little bit because you're always with them. Now it's like you want to get as much coaching in as you can when you're actually there. It's a whole different deal.”

Meyer played collegiately for St. Cloud State and spent three years in the New York Rangers organization. He was a full-time assistant coach for the RoughRiders from 2004 to 2006, before leaving and creating a company that runs youth hockey camps and training centers in Minnesota.

Riders head coach/general manager Mark Carlson brought him back three years ago in a part-time, long-distance role. Meyer began using Skype (an Internet service that allows direct voice, video and instant messaging communication) the final half of last season with goaltender Brady Hjelle, who is now at Ohio State.

“He's always watching our video, so he always sees the goals against us and stuff,” Hildebrand said. “We'll go over video on Skype, so it's like we do always have someone there, even if he's not physically there. We can always get hold of him and talk to him about things.”

Meyer is emailed video of each RoughRiders game. He'll watch it, then set up a Skype time with Hildebrand and/or McNeely, normally a day or two later.

“Usually it's right after practice,” Meyer said. “The guys can just sit on the couch in their housing parents' home, and we'll go over film.”

“Technology has improved quite drastically, for sure,” McNeely said. “It always helps to see videos of your games and be able to go over them with Coach Meyer, even if he's not actually there.”

It's been a big change for McNeely, in particular, who played last season in the United States National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. There he had access to a full-time, in-house goalie coach in former RoughRiders assistant Joe Exter.

McNeely doesn't have that luxury this season, though Meyer always is just a phone call, text message or couple of computer clicks away. Assistant coach Francis Anzalone also has some goalie experience.

“It is a lot different because, like you said, Coach Exter was always there,” McNeely said. “But Coach Anzalone used to play goalie, so he will give me some pointers and tips, and Coach Carlson and I will always have a lot of conversations about my play. I get good feedback from them.”

Meyer feels good about the direction of his goaltending tandem.

“They've had a tough start to the year, a tough time finishing games,” Meyer said. “That's a team (thing). In years past, we've always had goalies that have played in the system before. This year, we don't. Both guys are really talented. I think you'll see them get better the last half of the season.”

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