Netminder Przemyslaw Odrobny has been an integral part of MK Lightning’s EPL title challenge this season, but he’s also working hard to develop the club’s next generation of goalies.

Odrobny currently coaches netminders in the town’s junior network – MK Storm – once a week for up to an hour, teaching skating techniques, positioning and speed.

With several players in the current roster having begun their career with Storm, the senior set-up is aware that organic development is just as important as recruiting talent from further afield.

Lightning’s Assistant Coach, Lewis Clifford, came up through the Storm’s ranks and is now the organisation’s Head Coach, while current players Edward Knaggs, Leigh Jamieson and Jordan Hedley are all products of the system.

“Usually we start with a warm-up then technical skating without shots and stretching – then we start exercises in nets with the forwards shooting,” said Odrobny.

“At the end, a little work on quickness then somtimes we have some fun – tag play or goalie games.

“We always record the sessions using a tablet then I show them straight after the session what they did well or need to improve on. It’s so important to see for yourself how you’re doing – I know myself how useful it is.

“I can already see improvements – they are a really good group but there is still work to do. In two to three months we should be able to see even bigger improvements.

Lightning boss Pete Russell added: “In the UK the question on import goalies comes up all the time and it’s a great debate.

“Przemy is a great goalie – he moves well, fills the net and makes the game look easy. To have him working on the skills he has learned in different places in the world is fantastic for our future stars.

“He is doing a great job and is very focused on working with the younger goalies and helping developing them in any way possible. It’s a huge positive and can only help our future goalies in Milton Keynes improve their game.”

(Image permission: Tony Sargent)