The International Goalies’ Union-How it all Began!
Welcome to The International Goalies’ Union’s Behind the Mask Newszine!
Before we start with all-new issues, we thought you would like to learn the history of the newszine by revisiting the past.
Netminders who had subscribed to the printed newszine back in the late 1990’s may remember having these. Perhaps they’ll bring back fond memories of yesterday. Younger goalies can see this issue for the first time.
It all started the way anything we strive for starts… with a passion. My passion is goaltending. I wanted to have another outlet to express the desire to stop pucks. I had the stories and ideas, along with a love of drawing goalies (which started as a second grader, illustrating goalies making spectacular saves on the inside of schoolbooks during class).
I didn’t own a computer back then, so the typewriter was my way to get the stories out. After I did the drawings, I’d cut and paste each page by hand. I’d then go to the copy center, where I’d make copies of each page, then take them home. There, I’d lay the 11×17 double-sided pages out on my living room floor. With an old-school, long-reach stapler, I would assemble the newszine and then mail it out.
Along with the newszine, I was also silk screening my own goalie-themed shirts (my trade was screen printing). With today’s technology, the T-shirt production has been turned over to print-on-demand companies like Amazon. This now frees me up to create more designs, along with expanding to other merchandise, such as stickers, hats, and more.
Years earlier, and to an extent, even today, I aspired to be a syndicated cartoonist. Every feature I submitted met with a polite rejection slip. However, there was one cartoon that did offer a glimmer of prospect, Sports Kids. A small syndicate picked it up. There was just one problem… I didn’t know much about most of the other sports… and it showed! They couldn’t sell it, and it faded into obscurity. Funny thing, while creating the comic, I found myself drawing a certain little goalie. Create what you know and love, for you are being true to yourself.
That’s when Small Saves was born. I never looked back. 2026 marks his 35th anniversary.
With Small Saves appearing steadily throughout the years, I’m very excited about the Int. Goalies’ Union returning!
This newszine is meant for goalies everywhere. From the youngster just discovering the position… to the retired seasoned pro. We’re all puck-stoppers, and we all have a story to tell…
Before the all-new editions of the newszine come out in our quarterly format, what better way to introduce the return than with past issue #4.
We’re starting with past issue number 4, to coincide with the month of summer. Enjoy.
To have an article included in an upcoming issue, reach us at:
…and that was how the original issue looked way back in the Summer of 1999! I’d like to continue the theme to show our past issues (there were four in all) when our Fall issue comes out. But if you have a story or idea to add, please feel free to contact us!
See you next issue!
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