Focused Academic and Athletic Excellence
Welcome to the Bridge Program, a progressive approach to combining the pursuit of focused academic and athletic goals for 8th, 9th and 10th graders. The Bridge Program consists of a full school year of studies and athletic training all held at Stop It Goaltending. Brian Daccord, the founder of Stop It Goaltending, Boston University Men’s Hockey Goaltending Coach, as well as a former NHL goalie coach and scout, is the program founder and each year selects a small group of eight male and four female dedicated goalies determined to propel their development. The results are remarkable as demonstrated in this video progress report. Interested goalies are encourage to fill out the application form below.
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BRIDGE SCHEDULE
A Sample Schedule of the Daily Bridge Program
7:45 AM – 8:00 AM: Arrive at the PAD
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM: Primer
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM: Goalie On-Ice Training/ G-Lab
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: School Work
12:00 PM-12:30 PM: Video Lecture
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch (Pick Up Hockey)
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: School Work
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Off-Ice Training
4:00 PM – 4:15 PM: Bridge Dismissal
TEC CONNECTIONS ACADEMY
Student-athletes participating in the Bridge program enroll with TEC Connections Academy (TECCA) Commonwealth Virtual School, an accredited online school that gives students the flexibility to learn and prepares them to excel in school and in life with an award-winning curriculum, direct parent involvement, and caring teachers and personalized instruction. There are also private online school options available. Bridge participants will complete classwork and train at Stop It Goaltending Monday through Friday throughout the school year.
ACADEMIC SUPERVISION
Academic Supervision is provided throughout the day as part of the Bridge program. Students follow the curriculum set forth by their online school. The role of the supervisor is to ensure that the days’ academic tasks are organized and completed. The Bridge academic supervisor is not a teacher nor a learning coach. Their responsibility is that the student-athletes are following their academic schedule, keeping them focused, and providing communication to the parents and coaches. The supervisor is responsible for creating an environment and culture in which the goalies can succeed in the classroom. Each day the Bridge starts with a primer. These primers are to get the student motivated for the day, teach life lessons and ethics as they apply to hockey and life in general. Students use an organizer to plan their day as well as weekend assignments and events.
GOALTENDING INSTRUCTION
Goaltending Instruction in the Bridge Program at The PAD in Woburn is led by Brian Daccord and assisted by SIG Directors. The Bridge Program in Springfield, MA is directed by Jeff Walker. The training is a comprehensive, concentrated, compounding curriculum where technique is learned and repeated perfectly before moving on to the next skill. This training is demanding more from the mental component than the physical and includes traditional and progressive save techniques plus advanced systems and strategies, puckhandling and power skating. Training includes extensive use of video and theory as this is a major component of the program. Returning Bridge Plus goalies have already completed the one year Bridge curriculum. Bridge plus training is specifically concentrated on reading the play, the release with a focus on variability and creativity as well as intensive work on skating and mobility. The on ice and videos sessions break down how to see a play develop, calculate the options and react with the highest probability to make the save.
Brian Daccord has a remarkable record of training elite goalies, is a former NHL goalie coach, goalie scout and goaltending director for three different teams and is currently the goaltending coach at Boston University. He has helped develop over 25 NHL draft picks and scores of college goalies. Brian has traditionally trained 10% of all NHL goaltenders at one point in their careers, holds a Masters Degree in Sport Science and is the author of the books Hockey Goaltending, How to be a goalie Parent and How to be a Goalie and the creator of two apps.
Goaltending Instruction in Springfield is conducted by Jeff Walker. Jeff is the goalie coach at Western New England University, former head of research and development for the Arizona Coyotes and has been a Director at Stop It Goaltending for over ten years. Through SIG he has worked with some of the top goalies in the world as well as elite college and junior goalies.
COMBINED TRAINING
Combined training over an entire school year will produce remarkable gains in skill, technique, reaction speed, physical and mental growth, and self-confidence. The Bridge Program is designed for goalies to study and train intensively for one school year to prepare them to move onto a traditional brick and mortar school with an elite hockey program. Placement support will be provided ensuring goalies are in the right spot moving forward.
ON-ICE STAFF
BRIAN DACCORD | WOBURN
Brian Daccord is the President and Founder of Stop It Goaltending as well as the goalie coach of the Boston University Terriers Men’s Hockey Team. He recently served as the Special Assistant to the General Manager and Director of Goaltending Operations for the Arizona Coyotes and prior to joining the Coyotes spent five seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs in goaltending scouting and development. He has a Master Degree in Sport Science, is the author of five goaltending books and developer of two goalie apps. Brian is also the founder of the Bridge Program, the Stop It Goaltending GCG Prospects Event, and the Goalie Lab.
JEFF WALKER | SPRINGFIELD
Jeff Walker is Stop It Goaltending’s Director for the Springfield, MA location. Jeff Works as the Assistant Coach for the Western New England University Men’s Hockey Team. Jeff spent the past 2 years as the Head of Research and Development for the Arizona Coyotes along with serving as a Goaltending Consultant for the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL) in the 22-23 season.
Jeff has trained professional, college, prep school, high school, and youth goalies and currently conducts goalie lessons at MCU Training Center in Agawam, MA. Jeff has worked with the Stop It Goaltending PGD and DHNL programs as well as the GCG Men’s camps since 2013.
ADDITIONAL STAFF
DAN NEWTON | UFIT
Dan Newton has trained extensively with goaltenders through the off-ice programs at Stop It Goaltending. Dan was a 2-time captain of indoor/outdoor track at Stonehill College where he received his Bachelor’s of Science in Healthcare and boasts a 6-year streak for holding the school record in the shot put. He has worked the past eight years inspiring his clients to achieve greatness beyond the walls of the gym. Dan is a Certified Fitness Trainer with AFAA and has extensive knowledge of strength conditioning and athletic performance.
KELLY WILLING | UFIT
Kelly holds a B.S. in Sports Movement Science with a focus in Exercise Physiology from Salem State University. She is also a Master Sergeant with a 22-year career in the United States Air Force where she oversees the State of Massachusetts as the Master Fitness Instructor. Kelly is also a Nationally Certified Personal Trainer with ACSM and additionally holds the following certifications: AFAA Group Exercise, Johnny G/ Mad Dog Spinning, HKC Kettlebell, TRX, Sports Nutrition, Certified First Responder and CPR/AED certified.
KERRY KILDUFF | UFIT
Kerry has vast experience in leading group fitness and her personal approach toward her clients is second to none. Kerry holds a B.S. degree from the University of New Hampshire in Health Management and Policy and is a Nationally Certified Personal Trainer with ACSM. She additionally holds the following certifications: AFAA Group Exercise & Kickboxing, Johnny G/ Mad Dog Spinning, Mat Pilates, ShockWave, TRX, Les Mills Body Combat, a Spartan Group X Coach as well as coursework with NASM Nutrition and CPR/AED certified.
TESTIMONIALS
“The Bridge was an amazing experience for our goalie. The healthy balance of schoolwork and practicing what he loves made it much easier to start each day. The program structure has just the right amount of studying and training. The coaching staff was top-notch and always open for conversation with both students and parents. We feel that Brayden has grown immensely in the classroom, on the ice, and in life. We would recommend this program to any family that is considering this for their student-athlete. Our son’s quote “this was the best school year of my life!” – Brayden Holt’s Family
“The Bridge program provides stability and continuity in a safe environment. In terms of goalie development, the program was amazing and my son has come out of it with confidence and skills he did not have going in. As a person, he has grown, matured, and made great friends.” – Donna and Dan Griffin
“When John started at The Bridge, I never doubted that he’d improve his goalie skills, and he has – tremendously! What I hadn’t expected was how much John would grow into a mature, responsible young man. The “life lessons’, as I call them, that Daniela and Brian teach the kids have made a huge difference in John’s character. After only a week in the program, John started holding the door for me – Daniela had taught him that, he said. Brian taught him how to shake hands and look a person in the eyes when introduced. These are just a couple of examples! I will always appreciate how both Daniela and Brian have taken such a strong personal interest in the kids and have gone above and beyond what I ever expected.” – Cristina Feeley
“Avery had a fantastic year attending the Bridge Program and it was clear when comparing the before and after technical videos that the focused training was lights out. The professional instruction during the on-ice and off-ice workouts clearly enhanced her speed, technique, and strength. Thank you, Brian, Andrew, Daniela, and all the Stop It Goaltending staff for providing Avery an amazing year, during a very difficult year, and providing her so much confidence and character strength to support her.” – Tim and Jennifer Olson
“Camden loved every day. We noticed that he not only matured as an athlete but as a person. He is more dedicated to the process of improving as a student and a goalie, through his dedication, preparation, diet, and recovery. We look forward to what may lie ahead for Camden, as he works towards his goals, and have comfort that we have you both in our corner to help him achieve them. We will miss the day-to-day interaction next year, but know that Camden has the fundamental skills to move ahead.” – Heather and George Shanahan
“A year of The Bridge has made our son a better all-around person. It’s important for us to start with this statement because we took it as a given that, with the expert guidance of Coach Dac, Coach Razor and the entire supporting staff he would be a better goalie. And he is a better goalie (by leaps and bounds), but he is much more because of The Bridge.”
- He is more independent and self-motivated.
- He is stronger (much stronger physically) in his body and mind.
- He is happier, having found new friends and a real passion.
- He is more confident, but not cocky.
- His grades were great and our experience with online learning was good.
All of this while being so well supported by Daniela Daccord in the classroom where she helped, coordinated, and held him accountable where appropriate and let him take the lead and grow when she knew it was right. To top all of this off our son’s Bridge year was all during COVID – where the care and ownership taken by the Bridge staff and impressed upon the Bridge Goalies saw them train and learn in person all year long with no closures and a happy and healthy class. The Bridge has opened doors, literally and philosophically for our son and we can’t wait to see what comes next.” – Pete and Stephanie Henry
“My son was just in The Bridge class and said it was the best! He loved going to the PAD every day. He learned what it takes to be a goalie and he’s determined to #Get Better.” Thank you! – Becky Pearl
“I just wanted to say thank you so much for everything. It’s pretty tricky trying to navigate the prep school process and I couldn’t imagine what it must be like for you & Pat to advocate for the whole group with multiple schools. Thank you for all of the conversations and the guidance you have given me. It’s given me peace of mind and helped me to make informed decisions. I don’t know how you do it all, wearing the many hats you wear, but you sure have been amazing. As I have Said before, Delia loves the Bridge Program and absolutely loves your coaching. She has grown a lot over the year and is very proud to be a Bridge Goalie.” – Anne Logan
I wanted to drop a quick note and say thank you this past weekend at the national Waterloo pee wee tourney in Waterloo Quebec Ryan was awarded the top goaltender award. The Eagles lost 2-1 in the finals (5-1 on the weekend) but what a difference we have seen in Ryan. He has come light years from where he was at this time last year when his team went 1-2 in Waterloo. This is all the Bridge and what you have done with Ryan over the course of this year! Thank you for all you do every day to make these kids better both on and off the ice ! – Robert O’Leary