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What if getting cut from your hockey team turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to your career?

In this episode of The Goalie Mindset Podcast, Pete Fry sits down with former professional goaltender and Certified Goalie Mindset Coach Kevin Carr, who shares the ups and downs of his 12-year professional career and how learning to let go of past disappointments changed the way he played.

Kevin grew up playing AAA hockey alongside future NHL players like Steven Stamkos, Michael Del Zotto, and Cody Hodgson. For years, making the team was almost automatic. Then, just before his OHL draft year, he got cut.

It was a tough moment, but one that Kevin now looks back on as a turning point. Instead of blaming the coach or giving up, he took responsibility, got back to work, and eventually built a professional career that took him across North America and Europe.

Pete and Kevin discuss:

• Why getting cut doesn't mean your hockey career is over
• How taking responsibility can turn setbacks into opportunities
• Why comparing yourself to other goalies can hold you back
• The importance of having a clear picture of where you want your career to go
• How to let go of past mistakes instead of carrying them into the next game
• Why managing your mental energy matters during a long season
• How visualization can help goalies build confidence and prepare for big moments
• Why the lessons learned through hockey can help you long after your playing career ends

Kevin also shares one of the toughest stretches of his career. After finally earning an opportunity in the AHL, he found himself moving between teams and leagues, getting called up and sent down 13 times in one season. By the time it was over, he felt like he had let himself and everyone around him down.

Those feelings followed him into the next season, and he struggled to find his game. That's when he discovered Pete's mindset training and began learning how to move forward without carrying the weight of everything that had happened before.

One of the biggest lessons Kevin shares is that setbacks are speed bumps, not roadblocks. You can learn from what happened without letting it define the rest of your career.

Now, Kevin is helping the next generation of goalies through Kevin Carr Goaltending and his work as a Certified Goalie Mindset Coach.

🎧 If you've ever been cut, struggled with confidence, or felt stuck thinking about the past, this episode is a reminder that your next opportunity could be closer than you think.

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What would you do if you got cut from your hockey team at 16 and had nowhere to play?

In this episode of The Goalie Mindset Podcast, Pete Fry sits down with former NHL goaltender JF Berube, who shares his journey from getting cut in minor hockey to eventually making it to the NHL.

JF's path wasn't easy. After being released from his Midget AAA team, he found himself without a place to play because other teams had already finalized their rosters. Instead of giving up, he spent the next year training, working on his game, and preparing for another opportunity.

When an open tryout came around, he paid $50, showed up with his gear, and earned a spot in major junior hockey. Not long after, he was drafted into the NHL.

Pete and JF discuss:

• How getting cut at 16 became a turning point in his career
• Why focusing on what you can control matters more than worrying about the past
• How to keep believing in yourself when opportunities aren't coming
• What he learned from playing behind Jake Allen in junior hockey
• Why healthy competition between goalie partners can make both goalies better
• How to adjust your mindset and game when moving up to higher levels
• The importance of preparation, positive self-talk, and staying in the moment
• Why learning to disconnect from hockey is just as important as working hard

JF also talks about his first NHL game at the United Center in Chicago. With the crowd roaring during the national anthem, he took in the moment before reminding himself that, once the puck dropped, it was just another hockey game.

One of the biggest lessons from his story is that getting cut doesn't mean your career is over. Sometimes the opportunity you need comes later than expected. What matters is how you use the time in between.

JF now works with young goaltenders as a goalie coach, sharing the lessons he learned throughout his career and helping them develop both their physical and mental game.

🎧 If you're a goalie who's ever been cut, overlooked, or unsure about your next step, this episode is a great reminder to keep working, stay positive, and focus on what's ahead.

Stay up to date with everything at https://www.petefry.net/

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What if you started playing goalie at 14, spent most of your junior and college career as a backup, and still managed to reach the American Hockey League?

In this episode of The Goalie Mindset Podcast, Pete Fry sits down with former professional goaltender Dillon Kelley, whose journey is a great example of what can happen when you refuse to give up on yourself.

Dillon didn't take the typical path to professional hockey. He started playing goalie at 14, worked his way through high school and junior hockey, played NCAA Division III hockey at Adrian College, and eventually earned an opportunity with the Henderson Silver Knights in the AHL.

But getting there wasn't easy.

Dillon talks about getting cut from teams, losing starting positions, spending years as a backup, and even considering walking away from hockey altogether. Through it all, he kept believing he could play at a higher level, even when other people questioned whether he would make it.

Pete and Dillon discuss:

• Why starting goalie at 14 didn't stop him from chasing his dream
• How playing on weaker teams helped him develop faster
• Why being a backup doesn't mean your career is going nowhere
• How to handle getting cut or passed over without losing belief in yourself
• Why moving up a level shouldn't change how you approach the game
• The importance of having a clear goal, even when the path isn't obvious
• How staying prepared helped him take advantage of unexpected opportunities
• Why having fun and enjoying the process matters just as much as working hard

One of the best parts of the conversation is Dillon's story about his first AHL win. After years of fighting for opportunities, he finally got his chance with Henderson. He helped his team come back from a two-goal deficit, made several huge saves during an overtime penalty kill, and went on to win the game in a shootout.

It was a moment he had worked toward for years, and getting to share it with his parents afterward made it even more special.

Dillon also shares what he learned from the coaches and teammates who believed in him, along with why he now mentors young goalies who may not have access to the same training and opportunities as others.

His story is a reminder that you don't have to follow the same path as everyone else to succeed. You just have to keep working, keep believing, and be ready when your opportunity comes.

If you're a goalie who's ever been overlooked, cut from a team, or questioned whether you're good enough, this episode is worth a listen.

Stay up to date with everything at https://www.petefry.net/