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"We have coaches from the youth affiliate levels all the way through pro hockey," said Lassonde. "They are selected to come to the camp because they are great teachers, have a lot of experience, understand USA Hockey goaltending development principles and are passionate about the position and want to give back." The staff also included Lawton Zacher, a goaltender for Northeastern University men's ice hockey team and a 2026 Mike Richter Award semifinalist. "I decided to come out to give back to the players and be a good influence, and also to learn a little bit myself and see what the young kids are learning so I can stay up to speed," said Zacher, a Buffalo, N.Y., native. "I'm still playing, I'm still in the game and I'm learning with them. It creates camaraderie. I also can give them advice on how to approach practice, how to be not just good, but great, and how to pick things up quickly and trust in your coaches to continue to grow." One of the most unique positions in sports, what makes goaltend- ing so different is also what brings goalies together as a community, both on a national scale and at events like this. "It's definitely different than other positions," noted Zacher. Andersen added, "We are just a little bit tighter friendship wise, because we are just alone out there." For Ryan, the camaraderie between the goalies was one of the best parts of his camp experience. "A highlight of the camp has been meeting all these kids, and all these coaches, they are all very special and have helped me a lot," Ryan said. "(The goalie community) is different, it's tight knit. Everyone supports each other." Countless current NHL stars took part in USA Hockey's Boys Player Development Camps during their development journey, from 2026 Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Swayman to 2026 Stanley Cup champion Brandon Bussi. This summer, USA Hockey's Boys 15 Goalie Camp laid the ground- work for the next generation of stars to follow in the footsteps of Swayman, Bussi and countless others. P SUMMER 2026 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 33