What do the Quebec-born goalies do that makes them so successful in the NHL?
Traditionally, goalies were always taught to stand up. With the exceptions of Glenn Hall and Tony Esposito, most goalies played a stand-up style. In the early 1970’s, Soviet great Vladislav Tretiak, like Hall and Esposito, played a butterfly style. The outstanding play of Tretiak and the bond formed between himself and the hockey mecca of Montreal was of great consequence to the future of French-Canadian goaltenders. The increase in statistical analysis and the discovery that about 90% of shots taken on goal were on the ice or a foot above also were influential in popularizing the butterfly style. Patrick Roy soon emerged, as did his goaltending coach Francois Allaire, with the Montreal Canadiens. Now we have the success of Roy and Allaire mixed with the fact that Tretiak is coaching summer camps for young goaltenders in the Montreal area. Allaire and his brother Benoit also conduct summer camps in Montreal. It is my belief that these men have had great influence in refining the butter
