Featured Goalie – November: Jackson Pundyk

Having seen Jackson Pundyk in action over the past couple of seasons during team practices, games and our goalie training sessions, awarding him with Goalie Army Academy’s Goalie of the Month for November is long overdue.

A couple of years ago, when Jackson Pundyk came from the Ottawa Sting to the Ottawa West Golden Knights, it was obvious to the Knights’ coaches and goalie evaluators that he had an amazing work ethic and that he was willing to think outside of the box for his on-ice training and to work on his craft.  After making the Golden Knights, Jackson worked with the team’s goaltending coach, Ian Shaw.  Ian was then able to relay additional insight to our coaches about Jackson’s game play on a regular basis so that we could easily target areas for improvement during our time with him at our goalie training sessions therefore maximizing the effectiveness of our time with him.

Jackson’s skating ability is truly exceptional and anyone who has seen him play can attest that he has a way of making plenty of “simple” saves rather than need to make “big” saves.  To those who may not understand goaltending completely, it may appear as though teams are simply shooting the puck directly at Jackson and he’s able to absorb and control the puck with ease.  However, his ability to be in position and square to the puck regularly originates from his amazing footwork and the efficiency of his skating which he has worked very hard on.  Jackson has a great understanding of the need to control the play around him through his in-crease movement, and applies our R3E System’s philosophy of pushing with purpose – stopping set, enabling him to make the most difficult saves appear routine.

Having worked with Jackson over the past couple of years by supplying the Ottawa West Golden Knights Minor Hockey Association with goalie training services as well as having Jackson attend our goalie training sessions at the Minto Skating Centre, our coaches have gotten to know a polite, and mature young man off of the ice as well.

Despite his previous setbacks of being released from the Ottawa Sting, Jackson’s work ethic has never wavered, and he is consistently one of the hardest workers at our goalie training programs, leading him to be the top ranked goaltender in his league.  Jackson racked up 4 wins and a tie during regular season play while allowing only 4 goals against, resulting in his goals against average of 0.80 and earning 2 shutouts during the month of November.

Building on a tournament win in October for which Jackson was the top goaltender for wins and GAA, Jackson’s team attended the Pembroke Silver Stick tournament where he allowed only one goal during his two wins, earning him the top goals against average and 2^nd in wins for the tournament.

Jackson is a hard-working and eager-to-learn goaltender during team practices and goalie training sessions who we expect to see move up the ranks of minor hockey in Ottawa.  His mature attitude is also something which many high calibre teams look for in their athletes.  When combined with his elite-level work ethic, and amazing statistics from league and tournament play, Jackson proves himself worthy of future opportunities at higher levels of play down the road.  Please join us by congratulating Jackson for earning his place as Goalie Army Academy’s Goaltender of the Month for November.

Congratulations Jackson!