In our 2nd installment of the Q5, we met with ECHL Greenville Road Warriors Goaltender # 30 Nathan Lieuwen. Nathan is a first year pro from Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada and drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 2011. He offers quite an experienced philosophy on things as a young 21 year old.
Q1: How has the transition from Junior to Professional (the WHL to the ECHL) been going, and what are the differences?
A: I played my junior thinking I was working as hard as I could, but now that I’m a pro, I see how much more work it takes to make it in this business. The transition has been thankfully pretty smooth but I had to learn quickly to have success at this level.
Q2: You have attended GDI National Development Camps (NDC) in the past and primarily worked with GDI Alberta’s Justin Cardinal, who is the Goaltending Consultant for your previous team, the WHL’s Kootenay Ice. What do you think has been the benefit of having a team of Goalie Coaches that you have worked with?
A: As a young goalie, there is nothing more important than understanding and mastering the fundamentals of goaltending. GDI and Justin especially, has been a key contributor to helping me improve on my mechanics and provide me with a strong base that I build my game off of.
Q3: Most of us struggle with managing the pressure of the position. Staying focused and confident in the face of adversity can be a difficult task. How do you handle the mental challenges of a game?
A: I have always enjoyed high pressure situations which has been a big help in the game of hockey. I have a routine I go through to get my mind ready for the game and certain words and procedures I go through to keep me in the zone during the game. On days where I’m on my game, I might use them a few times; and on days I’m not as sharp, I’ll use them more often to always bring my mind where it needs to be to play my best.
Q4: You were invited to the 2008 Canadian National Development Camp essentially trying out for the World Junior Championships. Having not been selected (though you were a 16 year old), you set a lofty goal and it was not reached, how do you deal with goal setting and what are your current goals?
A: I always have goals in mind when I play hockey. Motivation is what sets the best players apart from the rest. It’s not just important to set goals, but also to make a step by step plan to reach your goals. Even if I don’t reach a certain goal, I will create a new goal right away so that no matter what, I’m always working towards something. I always look into why I didn’t reach a certain goal but I believe it is always important to work towards a goal.
Q5: What are the keys to your game and how do you feel you have become your own best goalie coach?
A: The biggest key to my game is reading a play before it happens, and knowing how I will react to those options. I have always believed that each goalie is his best goalie coach. I take Ideas from each goalie coach I encounter and I apply and try to master the techniques and strategies that bring the most success.
Thank you Nathan, great perspectives. At the time of print, Nathan was called up to the AHL Rochester Americans. Best of luck for the remainder of the season!