PU grads mold future goaltenders

Fiander, Halpern, Bertoli make camp fun, valuable

By: Lisa Zola-Delibro
   Some things just go together like music and dancing, children and laughter, moms and "Eat your vegetables."
   In the hockey world two players go together, having a huge impact in youth hockey today. Princeton University graduates Craig Fiander, Director and Founder of Textbook Goaltending, and Jeff Halpern, nine-year NHL veteran currently with the Dallas Stars. Along with the support of other talented players, the pair are making a difference in the lives of youth hockey players both on and off of the ice by focusing on the fundamentals of the game, life, and having fun.
   For the ninth straight summer, former professional and 12-year Princeton goalie coach Fiander is running the Textbook Goaltending at Ice Land in Hamilton.
   Young goalies ranging in age from 7 to 18 received high quality training from goaltenders Zane Kalemba (PU’s starter this past season), recent Wesleyan University graduate David Scardella, Hun School head hockey coach and former Middlebury College goaltender Francois Bourbeau, and several other elite level players.
   Student goalies also received top shelf shots from shooters such as PU graduate and Trenton Titans veteran Scott Bertoli, Titans’ assistant coach Vince Williams, Princeton head coach Guy Gadowsky, and local CVC standouts Pat Haig of Hopewell High and the Mercer Chiefs, and Chris Keresztes of West Windsor-Plainsboro North.
   "The ratio of instructors-to-students is excellent," Fiander said. "At times there would be one instructor working with one or two goalies. Our kids really enjoyed the off-ice chats, too."
   Goalies are able to view themselves on a television monitor after each session where they are critiqued by the staff. They also spent time at the gym for off-ice training and game playing.
   "The kids had lots of fun at the gym, too, which is what we want to see," Fiander said. The on-ice sessions were organized in stations based on the net minders age and skill. Campers did stretching and power skating as well as skill development drills. All of the student goaltenders were very excited about the talent of the shooters, especially Halpern.
   "The biggest thing for the kids playing hockey today is to have fun," Halpern said. "Hockey is a great sport that can help you with many opportunities in life."
   The NHL star knows that nutrition, education and getting enough sleep make a difference in the game and in life.
   "Most kids will get the education to stay healthy from their parents," he said. "They have to form and stick with good habits."
   As far as making it to the NHL, Halpern believes, "If you can make it (to the NHL) that’s good. But the skills you learn through hockey will help kids in school, college and life in general."
   Bertoli and Williams believe that kids should enjoy the game and focus on their education. Williams was told at a young age to use hockey, don’t let hockey use you, have fun playing the game, and learn as much from it as you can to take those skills off of the ice with you and into your everyday life.
   Bertoli, who will be getting married in August to his fiancee Erin, a pre-school teacher specializing in students with autism, feels that hockey is a great sport and there is so much that can be gained from playing.
   "Kids should try to play with the best possible competition so that they can progress," he said. "Players also need to focus on nutrition and their education."
   Bertoli has not made a decision as to whether or not he will be playing next season with the Titans, who are now the Trenton Devils.
   "I really enjoyed all of the years that I have played," he said.
   Several players chanted "One More Year" as Bertoli exited the rink.
   For many kids, playing Division I college hockey is a dream.
   "I have been playing since I was 2-years-old," said Kalemba, who as a freshman in high school played for Bergen Catholic and The Devils Youth AAA Hockey Organization, winning the titles for both teams that year. "You have to work hard on and off of the ice and not get sucked into the pressure. Keep it fun."
   Kalemba would like to play in NHL one day.
   "If you’re good, you’ll rise to the top," he said. "But no matter what, enjoy the game."
   Parents whose campers attended the week long instructional session were very impressed with the way the camp is run each year.
   "The camp consists of excellent instructors tempered with fun and friendships," said April Hacker, mother of goalie Joey Hacker. "Wherever he (Fiander) goes, we go."
   Many parents attended the skills competition on the last day of the camp to cheer on their goalies who were using their newly learned skills while competing for the top spot in each competitive drill.
   As for the campers, they thoroughly enjoyed the week of hard work
   "This camp is way better than the ones I have attended back home," said 11-year-old Mike Lavigne, a provincial caliber goalie who traveled all the way from his hometown of Rothesay, New Brunswick in Canada. "It’s way more intense and I learned a lot on and off the ice."