With its 50th summer concluded for 2023, Bertagna Goaltending has celebreated its final year as the longest active goalie school in the country. Since its 1974 start at the West Suburban Arena in Natick, MA, Bertagna Goaltending established a high standard for coaching goalies of all ages. It is estimated that more than 12,000 goalies went through the summer program since the camp was first launched.

“It has been a great run and I have enjoyed every minute of it. But I think it is time to wrap up this part of my coaching career,” said Bertagna. “I hope to stay active – and relevant – with youth and prep hockey coaching. I still have the energy for that.”

The first summer camp was run under the auspices of the West Suburban Arena and had the legendary Yale and Olympic coach Tim Taylor overseeing Joe as he launched his own efforts. Bertagna credits Tim and Tim’s own goalie coach, Warren Cook, with providing the structure needed to get the camp off the ground. Cook had enjoyed a college career at Dartmouth.

“Warren and Tim were very generous with their time and knowledge and that is how all of this started,” said Bertagna.

Bertagna hopes that former coaches, camp attendees and even anyone who shot pucks at the camp will stop by on Friday, August 4 at the Burlington Ice Palace in Burlington, MA. He has booked an extra hour of ice following the conclusion of camp on Friday, August 4, and hopes to take an impressive group photo of all who come back for the celebration.

The camp has coached goalies from aspiring mites to future NHL greats. Among his celebrated students: New York Rangers Stanley Cup-winning goalie Mike Richter, BU’s Rick DiPietro and BC’s Cory Schneider, who went on to NHL careers; Chuckie Hughes, who led Harvard to its only NCAA title; women’s hockey pioneers Kelly Dyer and Erin Whitten, and so many others.

Joe’s work at the camp, coupled with a lifetime of writing about goaltending, has led to other high visibility jobs as a goalie coach. He was Boston Bruins goalie coach from 1985-1991 and served Tim Taylor in that role with the 1994 U.S. Olympic Team. He currently works with Governors Academy goaltenders in the winter season.

---