We are very proud of USA Olympic Goalie and former
Rage In The Cage Student Ryan Zapolski
Ryan Zapolski is at it again!
The following press release reflects all of this seasons accomplishments for my former goaltender at Mercyhurst University.
"Ryan is a great representative of our training" - Bill Wager
ZAPOLSKI NAMED REEBOK HOCKEY ECHL GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR
PRINCETON, N.J. – The ECHL on Thursday announced that Ryan Zapolski of the South Carolina Stingrays is the recipient of the Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Year award for 2012-13.
The Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year award is presented annually to the goaltender selected to be the best at his position as determined in a vote of ECHL coaches, broadcasters, media relations directors and media members.
Mark Guggenberger of Alaska finished second, followed by Idaho’s Josh Robinson, Joel Martin of Kalamazoo and Gwinnett’s Mike Lee.
The winner of the CCM Most Valuable Player award will be announced on Friday.
Zapolski, who was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team and All-ECHL First Team last week, and on Monday was named the Rookie of the Year, is the first rookie to be named the Goaltender of the Year since Alaska’sJean-Philippe Lamoureux in 2008-09. He joins Louisiana’s Frederic Cloutier (2001-02), Trenton’s Scott Stirling (2000-01), Hampton Roads’ Jan Lasak (1999-00) and Richmond’s Maxime Gingras (1998-99) as winners of both the Rookie of the Year and Goaltender of the Year in the same season.
The 26-year-old led the ECHL with a 1.64 goals-against average, a .942 save percentage and eight shutouts, while finishing tied for second with 27 wins and fifth with 2,378 minutes played. He set a new ECHL single-season record for lowest goals-against average, while tying the mark for most shutouts in a season and tying the second best save percentage in league history. Zapolski also earned Most Valuable Player honors at the 2013 ECHL All-Star Game, stopping all 17 shots he faced in the second period of the ECHL All-Star 7-3 win against Colorado.
The great Herb Brooks, 1980 USA Olympic team coach, is responsible for this very prophetic quote: "Gentlemen, the legs feed the wolf!"
The message I am conveying to my goaltenders and the players I work with is to be successful on the ice you have to be able to move quickly with great power and be able to stop or change directions in a split second. You will accomplish this by developing your leg strength through a series of training exercises I have detailed under the tab OFF ICE TRAINING.
We have added a new characteristic of a goalie under the "Knowledge is King" tab please check it out and then contact us for more information.
Lets talk breakaways/penalty shots
The phrase be patient is never overused in these situations. My rule for these plays is simple yet underutilized...Force the shooter to do what you want! As the shooter approaches, attempt to match his speed so that when you reach the top of your crease the puck will be no more than a stick length away. You have now forced the shooter into a deke as no shot is available to him. However, if you cross the top of the crease you will open up the net to a shot as seen in this video link: www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=csRRxfr8kJ0#t=17s
Your play once you have reached the top of the crease is to stop your retreat and set your feet for a drive back to either post. Remember if the shooter goes to his backhand chances are an elevated shot is on the way and you will need to be more aggressive in your lateral push to take away the top of the net. Keep your stick involved in the play. Too many goalies get sloppy with their stick and take it out of play. Remember six eyes on the puck at all times...the two in your head track the puck and are matched by the two in your catching glove and the two in the blade of your stick. If you keep six eyes on the puck at all times you will always be square to the shot...this is vital in eliminating the 5-hole and the top corner on the catching glove side of the net. By keeping six eyes on the puck you will have the ability to attack the puck with your stick in any situation, especially if the shooter tries to pull the puck back across after the initial deke.
ZAPOLSKI NAMED WARRIOR HOCKEY ECHL GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH
PRINCETON, N.J. – Ryan Zapolski of the South Carolina Stingrays is the Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Month for February. Zapolski, who also won the monthly award for December, is the first goaltender since Jayme Platt in 2001-02 to capture two monthly awards in the same season.
The 26-year-old went 5-1-1 with four shutouts, a 0.85 goals-against average and a save percentage of .971 in seven appearances in February.
Zapolski allowed two goals or less in six of his seven appearances highlighted by his four shutouts. He made 29 saves in a 2-0 win at Gwinnett on Feb. 1, 15 saves in a 3-0 victory at Orlando on Feb. 17, 32 saves in a 2-0 win against Greenville on Feb. 22 and 27 saves in a 3-2 victory over the Road Warriors on Feb. 23. He became the fifth goaltender in ECHL history to post three consecutive shutouts, and had a shutout streak of 212:32 over a five-game stretch.
A native of Erie, Pa., Zapolski was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2013 ECHL All-Star Game after stopping all 17 shots he faced in the second period of the ECHL All-Stars 7-3 win over Colorado. He leads the ECHL this season with a 1.68 goals-against average, a .939 save percentage and seven shutouts, while he is tied for third with 21 wins. His seven shutouts are tied for the second-most in a single-season in ECHL history, and is just one behind the league record of eight.
Zapolski has appeared in 47 career ECHL games with South Carolina, Gwinnett, Kalamazoo and Toledo posting an overall record of 29-13-3 with nine shutouts, a 1.90 goals-against average and a save percentage of .933. Prior to turning pro, Zapolski played four seasons at Mercyhurst College where he appeared in 109 games and went 48-43-11 with eight shutouts, a 2.77 goals-against average and a save percentage of .920.
Rage In The Cage is proud of Ryan Zapolski who was just named the 2013 ECHL All Star Game MVP after stopping all 17 shots he faced.
Max Strang was named Atlantic Hockey's Goalie of the Week on 1/21/13 after posting a 40 save shutout against UCONN. This is the second time this season Max has received this honor. All told, Max posted a 0.66 GAA and a .979 Sv% for the weekend. Way to go Max!!!
Please help me congratulate Ryan Zapolski, my former goaltender with Mercyhurst Men's Hockey, who is really making an impression in the ECHL. He was named Goaltender of the Week for the final week of December 2012 after posting back to back shutouts to end the month, followed that up by being named Goaltender of the Month for December and also named the to ECHL's All Star Team. Just to round things out Ryan was the runner up for Rookie of the Month honors.
Erie and Mercyhurst are proud of you Ryan!
WE ARE CURRENTLY SCHEDULING PRIVATE AND TEAM BASED TRAINING WITH NUMEROUS AREA TEAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS
BE SURE TO SIGN UP NOW TO SECURE YOUR SPACE ON THE CALENDER
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We offer one on one training with your goaltender(s)
This is done during your ice session with the complete cooperation of your head coach
Bill Wager
NCAA Div I Goalie Coach Mercyhurst College
Welcome to "RAGE IN THE CAGE" - The Ultimate Goalie Training Site. This site is a link to my Goalie Clinics and Private Lessons. My name is Bill Wager and I provide goalie training for all ages and skill levels. I was previously the NCAA Division I Goalie Coach at Mercyhurst College and I have coached players from beginner to pro.
I am based in Erie, Pa but I travel and teach in the tri-state area of Western N.Y., Northeastern Ohio and Western Pa. I also hold clinics and camps open to various age groups and levels in other parts of the United States and Canada. Beginning this year I am adding personalized training at your practice. I will be coordinating with your coach to provide goalie training during the first half of your team's practice then implimenting goalie specific drills both you and your team will benefit from throughout the remainder of practice.
A brief history for those of you who don't know me out there. I played my youth hockey here in Erie, then moved into Varsity High School Hockey as an 8th grader playing for Cathedral Prep. Following my sophomore year I played the next two years in the U.S. Junior A hockey leagues. I played my college hockey at The Ohio State University and eventually played off and on over the course of three seasons in the ECHL for the Erie Panthers and the Dayton Bombers.
I began my coaching career helping Cathedral Prep win the state championship. Following that highlight I served as the coaching director for Erie Youth Hockey for three seasons and as the organizations goalie coach for eight seasons. In 2001, I joined Mercyhurst Prep High School as Assistant Head Coach and Goalie Coach. After six years and four championships I stepped down to focus on helping develop my son as an elite goaltender. In 2008 I joined the Mercyhurst Lakers Men's Division 1 team as an Assistant Coach and Goalie Coach for three seasons, going to the playoffs every year. In 2013 I took over as Head Coach of the McDowell Trojans hockey program helping to lead the team to a 14-6 record and the playoffs after the team had not won a game the prior year.
My current goals are to help teach today's youth to become better goalies and citizens. It is my desire to give them the coaching that has been lacking in so many of the "Cookie Cutter" goalie schools. Attention to detail and instilling a will to learn are my trademarks.
Training Staff
Billy Wager - Communications Major/3.83 GPA
D-1 ACHA Varsity Goaltender/Asst. Captain
Mercyhurst University
