Private Goalie Instruction and Goaltending Training in Metro Detroit

Clayton grew up in Flint, Michigan, and has spent most of his life in competitive hockey. He played for Little Caesars Midget Major AAA, then three seasons of junior hockey in Ontario (GOJHL, NOJHL), Philadelphia (AJHL) and Rochester, New York (EJHL). In college he played for Liberty University (2011–2013) and Davenport University (2014–2016), reaching the national tournament every year for four appearances in all. At Davenport he won a regular-season conference championship (2015–16) and was named a GLCHL All-League Goaltender.

Clayton has been coaching goalies professionally since 2008. He personally mentors goaltenders from more than 100 teams and provides individualized instruction across the US and Canada, from amateur to professional. He spent 13 years as Head Instructor and Director of On- and Off-Ice Operations at a Metro Detroit goalie school before building Iconic Goaltending around his own objective way of teaching, one that fits every style of goaltender. In 2016–17, as Goaltending Consultant for Aquinas College's men's and women's varsity teams, he helped lead the men to national, conference and league championships with a 34-5-1 record, the first national title in program history. The Aquinas goalies earned league recognition for best save percentage and goals-against average.

Along the way, Clayton has had the privilege of training with and learning from high-caliber goalies including Jack Campbell, Scott Wedgewood, Zach Nagelvoort, Alex Nedeljkovic, Dylan St. Cyr, Bryan Hogan and Matt Kaludis.

That experience shaped the Iconic philosophy: proper fundamentals, built into daily habits that hold up under pressure. Clayton coaches the complete goaltender, covering technique, movement and reads on the ice, plus nutrition, physical training and mental performance off it.

“I am one of the best because I learn from the best.”

• Owner & Director, Iconic Goaltending: mentors goaltenders from 100+ teams across the US and Canada
• Goaltending Consultant & Goalie Coach, Oakland University (ACHA D1 & D3), 2018–present
• Goaltending Consultant, Goalie Coach & Assistant Coach, Aquinas College men's and women's varsity, 2016–17: Men's National, Conference and League Champions
• USA Hockey Selects Scout, 2016–17 and 2021–22; GDL Metro Detroit 51in30
• Head Instructor and Director of On- & Off-Ice Operations, Metro Detroit goalie school (13 years)
• Liberty University and Davenport University: 4 national tournament appearances, GLCHL All-League Goaltender, 2015–16 conference champions
• Junior hockey in the GOJHL, NOJHL, AJHL and EJHL; Little Caesars Midget Major AAA

• Trained with Iconic as a goalie, Fox Motors U16 AAA

Brandon “Coach Sarts” Sartor has been a goalie since he was 7. He never had the newest gear and never played AAA. He grew up in Tier 2 and AA hockey, mostly with the Macomb Mavericks 1998–99 team, and made the most of every season. Even on the hard days, getting on the ice always brought the joy back.

That work took him to Oakland University, where he played college hockey and met Coach Clayton. Without NCAA or junior experience, he earned a main training camp spot with the Mississippi Sea Wolves of the FPHL in 2024–25 and has drawn interest from FPHL and SPHL teams. After a stint with the Michigan Shadow in Fraser, he now plays for the Alpena 45ers of the MIHL. Come out and watch a game!

His message to goalies: you don’t need the best gear or a AAA background. Determination and hard work will take you far.

• Alpena 45ers, MIHL
• Michigan Shadow, Fraser, MI
• Training camp, Mississippi Sea Wolves (FPHL), 2024–25
• College hockey, Oakland University

• Roger Williams University, NCAA D3