I began my mission in 2008, as a graduate student at the University of Minnesota training out of the Minnesota Top Team gym in Eagan, MN, offering off-season development programs to junior and college-aged goalies. After eight years of seeing great results, and a lot of positive feedback from goalies and their parents, it became clear that I needed to extend my development philosophies to goalies of all ages. In 2018, I opened my first facility to create a place away from the rink, where goalies felt comfortable to be themselves around like-minded others in the goalie world. At Optimal Goalie, I see the person before the number, and I have an invested interest in every single goalie I work with. I pride myself on honesty, integrity, and being a stepping stone towards success for goalies on and off the ice.
Larry was born and raised in the Twin Cities area. He began his goalie journey at six years old when he started playing hockey, eventually becoming a full time goalie at thirteen. Larry was a multi-sport athlete playing baseball, football, soccer, lacrosse and ran track while growing up in Apple Valley, Minnesota. He played high school hockey for Apple Valley Senior High School, before moving onto junior hockey. After junior hockey, Larry attended the University of Wisconsin Stout, where an injury ended his competitive playing days. It was during this time that Larry got into the goalie coaching world and noticed quickly the lack of athleticism in the goalies he was working with. It was at that this time he knew his passion for off-ice development would be his calling card. At the University of Wisconsin Stout, he earned a bachelor’s degree in human development with a minor in psychology.
Upon graduating from the University of Wisconsin Stout, Larry attended the University of Minnesota where he directed all his studies in Kinesiology towards goalie off-ice development. He graduated with a master’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in sports performance and sports nutrition. Since graduating from the University of Minnesota, Larry has taught exercise science at several twin city community colleges and worked in higher education as an academic advisor.
Today, Larry has over fifteen years of experience in goalie off-ice development and has helped goalies from all over the United States improve their on-ice skills through his off-ice development programs. Larry also works for USA Hockey Goaltending as the goalie off-ice development leader for the state of Minnesota.
Optimal Goalie Performance Training
Boys Class AA Championship- Edina vs Eden Prairie (Audio Only 2019)
Interview at 1:44:00 of the broadcast
Contact Larry today at 952-270-5490 or larry@optimalgoalie.com