Tommy returns to the Gym!

With the transfer window just about to close on Monday, a last minute-ish transfer is Tommy Alexander returning to Indian Gymkhana, who he was playing for last season. Helping HWHC 2's to a dominant first place in the London Premier League and playing for the 1st team in the cup rounds, Tommy is obviously itching to take over as a first choice and push to stake his claim for a spot for the long term, as one of the more ambitious high level goalies knocking around the national league. Tommy helped the Gym to a good finish last season after joining midway from Surbiton, where he was second choice behind the now-emergent David Kettle. Indian Gymkhana are second place behind Bath right now, and with Cardiff dropping off from the pack, a good run of form could really make things happen. So not only can Tommy regain a national league spot, but also have the chance to help them to promotion, killing two birds in one stone as they say, by aiding his ambition to play in the Premier league and pushing the Middlesex side up the divisions potentially (if all goes to plan!).

Mason: Guildford's "grey beard"

Leading the pack of the veterans of the English national league is stalwart "old timer" (meant positively using the American slang of the NHL and beyond!) who offers a different approach to the game and an intense level of consistency for the team he plays for. With a style of hybridised technique and broad depth. With his wealth of experience and level of consistency, he is an example of elite level goalkeeping for others to learn from, and has great insight into the game, on a higher level of thinking.

Mason provides an incredibly stable presence "between the sticks" for the Surrey outfit, a high level of goalkeeper and player that Guildford can rely on to bail them out of trouble and keep them in games or keep them "leveled up" (i.e. ahead of the opposition on that front!), as he practically steals wins for them with his play. For instance, in their win at home over a strong side in Havant (which I was lucky enough to get alone to, a great goalie performance to watch). But I think sometimes they can end up over relying on the ex-GB Olympian as they sometimes expect more of him than the required effort of playing as a team!

Whilst his playing style might hark back to a game from days gone by, he proffers an important signature on the coaching of goalkeepers. He plays a style that is totally unique to him and whilst now all sports seem to be obsessed with coaching a system for all, rather than coaching out the natural born (god given, however you want to phrase it!) talents, to the detriment of goalkeepers' development. I would go as far as saying coaches should coach goalkeepers appropriate to the goalkeeper, and place emphasis on the positives of playing as Mason does. With his extreme height, agility, athleticism, and ability to read the game like a chess board (like Hasek did in the NHL and the best natural shot stoppers purely do!).

Mason plays a style that is unique to his physiological nature and inherent talents, a sort of Pat Jennings of hockey, with his long limbed lackadasical approach, a lot like Triggs (who could probably also be playing if he wanted to, given his level of talent!). For goalie coaches and developing goalkeepers alike, he is a goalkeeper to inspire, encourage and learn from, if England hope to ever have another star goalkeeper in their midst. Rather than copy literally, it's important to focus on the goalkeeper as their own goalkeeper, rather than the "next Simon Mason" as England hockey seems to be obsessed with, though!

Cardiff sticking with Dudley

Not knowing much about the North conference, I will problably skip through the other conferences for profiling the national league goalkeepers in action. I will try and wrap up the ambitious rundown of all the goalies, in spite of the season already been well under way!

And in the West conference of the English national league, Cardiff starter Ben Dudley is providing the Welsh team a chance at performing to the same level they did last season, as they won the league and played in the playoff format, in which they lost out to Wimbledon and Sheffield in the end. Like many teams, his status is pretty much undisputed, although Cardiff gave their young deputy a run out in the Euro Hockey League as Cardiff made their debut in that format of the tournament.

Dudley also has a pedrigee outside of goalkeeping, helping coach with England juniors and their goalkeepers. Dudley is very vocal and commanding at times, although like a lot of national league goalkeepers, this isn't an ever present or consistent feature. And he also struggles with some basics, as a lot of goalkeepers at this level do, but is at least constant with his game all season out. One of Monarch's main user, he was using them before Monarch signed up George Pinner.

Loughborough missing Gibson

With the new national league season getting under way in England, it seems one team is not doing as well as perhaps they should be, is Loughborough. That could be due to their star starter Harry Gibson, who is on international duty, being away and therefore the same quality of saves not being made on a regular basis. It's quite a step up to this level, with the psychological requirements of mental strength and concentration levels as well as the ability to make those top level saves that others may not be able to reach or get to, and Gibson's deputy doesn't have the same experience levels as he does. The side have lost both games 4-1 in his absence (as far as I know!). Gibson being away with his junior side for internationals means that Loughborough are at risk without the same quality of goalkeeper and a change for the back four to get used to as well.

Gibson himself did go through the grindstone as expected of any young goalie getting a taste of this level, and will be away again with the build up to the Junior World Cup, so hopefully they will be able to defend more concisely as a team in his absence to ensure they get started with getting the points they need for their campaign this season.