The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Minnesota Wild backup goalie, Josh Harding, will be at Flin Flon's Xtreme Hockey School to teach the finer points of puck stopping. "I will be coming at the beginning of camp for two days," said Harding, during an interview on his cellphone. "I'm excited. I don't think I've ever been to Flin Flon." What's bringing Harding is his friendship with former Bomber Dallas Fidierchuk, an instructor at Mike Reagan's school. The two discussed the possibility of Harding attending before, but it became a reality this summer. "I'm always willing to help out with camps," he said, "and may start my own." Harding stated he can help with little things such as focus, positioning, and how goalies can make themselves bigger in net. "I'm pumped," said Reagan. "I think it's a great opportunity for everyone involved in the school. It's good for the kids and inspires them more. "I'm happy for the school and kids," he continued. "It's a chance in a lifetime even for them to watch how he prepares himself." Reagan said this is a good chance to see what kind of person Harding is and find out how he made it to the big league. "He's projected to be a number one," Reagan added. "This could be the start of something good (with the camp.)" Reagan figures it would be neat for people to watch Harding, whom he thinks will be a big draw. Also, in having Harding be an instructor, Reagan hopes the presence of an NHL caliber goalie will increase registration. Presently there are 100 kids registered, including roughly 10 girls. "There is still time for people to register for the regular school and specialty clinics," Reagan said. Registration for the regular clinic ends on Aug. 20 and goes from 7-8 p.m. The specialty clinics go until Aug. 26. This is the first time Flin Flon's Xtreme Hockey School will have an NHL player instructing. The Regina native had a 2-1 record in three games for the Wild last season, collecting a shutout with a 2.59 GAA and 90.4 save percentage. While in the American Hockey League with Houston, Harding played in 80 games, sporting a record of 50 wins, 24 losses, three ties and two shutouts. The Wild's website states Harding placed himself in the NHL record books after becoming the first goalie in history to appear in a shootout for his debut. In his second game, he recorded a 2-0 shutout against the Chicago Blackhawks.
