USA Hockey’s National Goaltending and Women’s Defense Development Camp gathered a tight‑knit group of young net‑minders in Blaine, Minnesota, from May 18 to 21, creating a family‑like atmosphere that blends skill work with teamwork.
A Family on the Ice
The camp, now in its eighth year, moved this season to the NSC Super Rink after maintenance forced a shift from the familiar USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. Over the four‑day stretch, 31 coaches from every level delivered on‑ice drills, video analysis and exercises designed to sharpen skating, edge work, decision‑making and play‑reading.
Among the 25 goaltenders and 12 defenders in attendance, veteran leaders such as Ava McNaughton of Wisconsin and Annelies Bergmann of Cornell emerged, while Alli Altmann, the Olympic women’s team goaltending coach, pointed to alumni like Aerin Frankel as proof of the camp’s developmental pipeline.
The program culminated with coaches handing out top‑goalie awards on both the men’s and women’s sides and recognizing the best teammate, reinforcing a culture that values performance as much as partnership.
Beyond the ice, the camp’s emphasis on communication and synergy between goalies and defenders aims to translate into stronger defensive play for future Olympic Games, a goal that USA Hockey has pursued since the camp’s inception in 2019.