AboutDina Solimini Expertise I can answer goaltending questions including: equipment, rules, positioning, psychology, drills, fitness, recruiting, etc. I can answer questions about American college hockey (especially Women's), Youth, and High School (especially East Coast/ New England area). I can answer some nostalgia questions for example: what was it like to play in all leather equipment? What was it like to skate in rinks that had chain link fencing instead of glass? I cannot answer specific statistics questions including College and Pro hockey.
Experience I grew up in New England and played goalie in the Youth Hockey program (including a Metro Team) from Mite AA through Midgets (pretty much the only girl in the programs). I played on my High School Boy’s team all four years.
I played 1 season at Boston College as a starter and finished the last 3 seasons as a starter at the University of New Hampshire. In my senior season we won the longest game in college history. We beat Providence 3-2 in 5 overtimes!
I also played with Team USA at different times in my career. I was also a 1998 Team USA Winter Olympic hopeful.
For the last 5 seasons I have coached several organizations as the goalie coach and second assistant coach. These levels include: Youth Hockey boys and girls and High School boys and girls.
Organizations Youth Hockey, MA
Education/Credentials BA and MS
;USA Hockey Level 3 Coach
Awards and Honors 1998 Winter Olympic Hopeful
1996 ECAC Champion
1996 UNH Female Athlete of the Year Nominee
1995, 1996 ECAC All- Tournament Goalie
1993-1996 Holder of several UNH goaltending records
1995 Member, Women's USA Select Team
1991 Teen Magazine Sports Girl of the Year Finalist
1990-1991 US Women's Training Team
Past/Present Clients Current: Youth Hockey, MA
Past: High School, MA, Rochester Youth Hockey, Rochester, NH, RinkSport, Inc., Quistgard Goaltending.
Question QUESTION: hi my name is Thomas Macdonald i play for a good hockey team but i would like to play A or AA any tips on how to prefect my game (training tips)
ANSWER: Hi Tom,
Before I can try to answer your question, I need more information from you.
What level are you and how long have you played goal?
What is your commitment to hockey? For example, do you play several days a week? Do you only play once a week? Do you do off-ice stuff? Do you enjoy practice as much as a game?
Once I find out a bit more about you, it will make it a bit easier for me to hopefully be able to give you ideas.
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QUESTION: I've been playing for about 9 years i play on a competitive team i play twice a week i would like to do off ice stuff during the off season.. i love to practice to improve my skills i would like to now how to train during the off season and during the season on ice and off ice
ANSWER: I'm sorry, what is your age and level (i.e. Bantam)?
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QUESTION: bantam i'm 14 i play B team
Answer Ok....this can be a very detailed and long discussion. Do you have access to a gym or a trainer at a gym? This would be the easiest way to get some training in off-ice. There are specific drills that can be done to improve hand and foot speed, for example: ladders and dots (see one of my previous answers to another person called "drills"; I think some are listed there). Of course weight workouts are really important and so is speed work out on a football field or track, etc. As for the weight lifting you would want to do full body workouts, but unless I'm working with you, I really cannot recommend exactly what is best for you.
On-ice can be challenging if you don't have a cooperative coach or team in that all they want you for is target practice. There are many drills you can incorporate into practice with the help of others and yourself. Some examples for yourself include recovery drills, puck handling, poke checking, and tie-ups. With a few other people, drills can include: tip-ins, tie-ups w/ digging, wrap-arounds, passing from the corner to the slot.
I hope some of these ideas help. Like I mentioned, trying to describe drills through email is tough. I can certainly do a few at a time, but it would take a while to come up with a full practice plan with descriptions.
