Markstrom: Swedes emphasize goalie coach consistency

The Vancouver Province profiles new Canucks backup goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who reveals an interesting insight into one reason why Swedish goaltenders may have enjoyed so much success.

The root cause stems from, as the article describes, the club system that keeps players under the same watchful eye; while also incorporating a high school curriculum that includes hockey.

“On Tuesday and Wednesday, from 7:30 a.m. until noon, we’d be on the ice and in the gym,” recalled Markstrom. “It was really good and made school a little bit more fun, too. And Sweden saw what Finland did and really committed to hiring full-time goalie coaches. For me, my goalie coach in the Swedish Elite League is one I knew him since I was five or six years old. That’s really the difference.”

The article also slides into the mentor role of Canucks goaltending coach Rollie Melanson, his impact on Eddie Lack, and the relationship between Lack and Markstrom.

Source: Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province