Lax Goalie Rat Podcast: Episode Summary

Guest: Brett Dobson (Starting Goalie, Saint Bonaventure & Team Canada)

Host: Coach Damon Wilson

## Episode Highlights & Key Takeaways

1. Accidental Beginnings & Box Lacrosse Roots

• The First Time in Net: Brett originally started out as a field player. He jumped into the goal for the first time as a kid when his team's starting goalie suffered heatstroke. Ironically, that same goalie now plays for the Saint Bonaventure women's lacrosse team.

• The "Face Mask" Rule: In minor box lacrosse in Canada, if a shot hits the goalie directly in the helmet, play stops and the goalie's team is awarded possession. As a smaller youth goalie, Brett would purposefully use his head to block softer shots to guarantee possession for his team.

• The Hockey Influence: Playing ice hockey as a goalie naturally translated to his lacrosse game, teaching him to comfortably get his body behind shots to corral rebounds.

2. An Unorthodox, Aggressive Style

• Cutting Down Angles: At 6'2" and 200 lbs, Brett utilizes his size to challenge shooters. Unlike traditional goalies who stay flat on their goal line, he plays an aggressive, high arc inspired by legendary goalie Dylan Ward.

• The Box-to-Field Transition: Moving from box lacrosse back to the field game each fall requires a physical adjustment. In box, getting hit by the ball is easier to absorb with heavy padding, whereas field shots require a quick mental reset to avoid bruises.

3. Living and Playing with Type 1 Diabetes

• Managing His Health on the Field: Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes shortly after taking up goalie, Brett utilizes an insulin pump on the field to monitor his blood sugar.

• Impact on Play: When his blood sugar drops too low, Brett notes his physical reaction time and hand speed drop significantly. He works closely with team trainers to keep fast-acting, gluten-free glucose chews on the sideline to stay sharp.

4. Setting the Goal for Professional Play

• The Hill Academy Experience: To elevate his game, Brett attended the prestigious Hill Academy in Canada—a gritty, highly focused sports school where students balance a rigorous schedule of morning workouts, practices, and academic classes.

• Representing Team Canada: Brett’s ultimate goal has always been to play professionally in the PLL and NLL, and to represent Team Canada on the world stage under head coach Randy Mearns.

• Choosing Saint Bonaventure: Randy Mearns recruited Brett to be his very first phone call and commit at Saint Bonaventure, creating a strong player-coach bond built on a mutual desire to win a national championship.

## Brett's Pre-Game Routine

• Early Morning Fuel: Wakes up early for a massive breakfast at the school cafeteria ("The Hickey") in full coat and tie to get in the zone.

• NormaTec Recovery: Puts on NormaTec compression/heat boots for an hour in the locker room to boost blood flow, increase lower-body agility, and settle into a structured mindset.

• Final prep: Wall ball, stick adjustments, active stretching, and visualization before hitting the field for warmups.

## Top Quotes from Brett

"I’m a big fan of team goals. I love when people write me off or give me bulletin board material about my play... It just motivates me to go out there, grind, and prove them wrong."

"In box lacrosse, you learn to be incredibly patient on in-tight shots. Canadian shooters are so deceptive with their stick skills, it forces you to build poise in the net."

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