152010651
As a nimble netminder, Peter Dundovich has thwarted thousands of shots over the last two decades, finding favor with numerous clubs, including his beloved Philadelphia Flyers. Believing the art of stopping rubber to be the marriage of a flexible frame and a malleable mind, the 29-year-old has commenced coaching young goaltenders, with Rizzo Rink, 1101 S. Front St., his local location for bestowing education.
“I love working with kids,” the resident of the 2500 block of South Colorado Street said Monday at the Pennsport spot, where he has overseen a pair of camps, including one two weeks ago. “I’ve encountered some very capable players, more, in fact, than I’d expected.”
In situating the Dundo Goalie School lessons at Rizzo Rink, the Girard Estate dweller has returned to the instigative influence behind his career, as hockey soon iced baseball and soccer for his attention when he debuted there as a first-grader at St. Monica School, 1720 Ritner St. Leaving behind forward duties for heavily scrutinized goalie chores three years into his odyssey, Dundovich absorbed the pressure quickly and has advocated for similar diligence among his charges.
“I felt I had some sort of natural ability,” he said of his initial stint as a stopper. “As I grew up and especially through traveling and playing for solid teams, I realized a great part of the preparation is mental. That’s been big in conveying to the kids.”
Drawing registrants from South and Northeast Philly, his sessions have addressed the physical and cerebral elements of occupying the space between the pipes and have found him granting what he lacked as a boy, formal training. As goalies usually garner the glory for victories and frequently reap regret for defeats, Dundovich is stressing youths’ need to acquire perspective, with one’s mindset as important as a skillset.
“Experience rules over all,” the athlete, who will serve as the head instructor for upcoming Rick Heinz Goalie Camp tutorials in California and New Jersey, said. “There’s always going to be some heavy thinking involved as a goalie, but I’ve learned to block all the doubt out and just play. That’s what has been the most helpful to me in adding coaching to my ways of showing my love for hockey.”
His admiration for the fast-paced pastime quickly compelled Dundovich to envision it as his vocation. With copious knowledge of the history of goaltending, including the feats of Flyers greats Bernie Parent and Pelle Lindbergh, and receptivity to being a focal point in games’ outcomes, he advanced enough to merit a roster spot with the Little Flyers and delighted in how seriously the sport came to influence his decisions and demeanor.
“I had a great sense of commitment early on and really wanted to get better each time out,” Dundovich said. “By 11, I had the desire to be a professional even if I wasn’t sure how any plan would work out.”
Playing against stacked clubs as a secondary education pupil, he helped Roman Catholic High School to win two titles before entering into the insightful world of junior hockey. That four-year opportunity offered numerous occasions to weigh his talents against other stars’ gifts and included chances to appreciate a wider range of experiences, with the humorous viewing of a moose in his Montana yard among the most memorable. Having devoted so much to his sporting identity, Dundovich enriched his scholastic existence by majoring in business then kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts Boston and Framingham State College, respectively. Upon vacationing in his father’s native land of Croatia as a collegiate, he landed an unexpected job with a culturally diverse club, growing as a student of the world and of his obsession.
“The opportunity fell in my lap,” Dundovich said of his European stay. “The style of play was so good, and I contend that getting the exposure intensified my appreciation for what I was trying to do.”
Federal Hockey League gigs with the New York Aviators and the Thousand Islands, now Watertown, Privateers, brought him renown in the United States, with an eventual call up to the Trenton Titans placing him in the Flyers system. He eventually actualized his boyhood dream somewhat by becoming a practice goalie for the Orange and Black, with the last two summers yielding what he has termed “a blast” and “the time of my life.”
“The guys have been awesome,” Dundovich said. “The experience has been equally incredible because it’s helped me to see myself in a different light and uncover parts of me that I hadn’t known I could tap into.”
As instances of right timing have helped him to flash his form to make big saves, he holds out hope that he can one day join his hockey heroes on the Wells Fargo Center ice. If he falls short, he will have no regrets and plenty of gratitude.
“What I’ve done could be as good as it gets for me,” Dundovich said, “and if that’s the case, I can sleep peacefully.”
Noting that experts and fans are devoting more attention to the rigors and rewards of goaltending, he is enjoying being able to encourage children with as much gumption as he had when first putting on pads; therefore, being a mentor has also involved staying a student.
“There’s plenty to learn, especially as the game evolves,” Dundovich said. “It’s mandatory to stay positive because with hockey, you can’t take anything for granted.”
For more information, contact pdundo31@yahoo.com.
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
152010671
152010661
