Teen Goalie Applies for Design Patent to Shutout Opposition

Athletes are always looking for a competitive edge.  Only a few, however, have the motivation and know how to create an edge all by themselves.

One such athlete is high school senior Trevor Leahy, who is a hockey goaltender for Pingree School in Massachusetts.  As reported on Boston.com, Leahy recently used computer skills he learned in a graphic design class to sketch new leg pads that blend into the goal netting behind him.  He wanted pads, a trapper, and blockers that are white with a raised double-stitched design, just like the goal.  As Leahy said, “When the shooter comes down and only has a split second to shoot the puck, they’re looking for net.  If you put the net on the pad, they’ll shoot at the pad instead of the goal.”

Darren Stomp, a custom pad maker from Ontario, designed Leahy’s equipment but it wasn’t the first time goaltenders asked him to make other cosmetic designs.  However, as Stomp said, “It might be the most clever idea.  I don’t think there’s any question it will work, although to what degree depends on the shooter and the situation.”

Leahy applied for a design patent last February, and it is pending.  He received the pads on November 29, and began using them in practice and then in games.  Since then, he has registered two shutouts and has a goals-against average under 2.00.

Pingree coach Buddy Taft said, “It all makes sense.  I’m not sure if there’s any effective way to test their success, but he’s played pretty well.”

One of Pingree’s top scorers, Matt MacDonald, said that the illusion is effective when there’s a scramble in front of the net and they need to shoot quickly.   “When you’re in close and you don’t have a lot of time to think, it does catch your eye, and you do shoot toward it sometimes.” 

As to what will happen to the pads after this season is unclear.  Leahy said he would like to play hockey in college, and wants to market the idea.