The Importance of Keeping your Hands Infront of your Body

Keeping you hands in front of your body is more important than you think. You always want to have your hands in front of your body because it will cut off more of the angle. It will also make things a lot easier for catching and blocking because you can follow the puck into your hands instead of always trying to guess where the puck is going to end up. When the play is in close it is especially important to keep your hands in front because having you hands out just a little bit will cut off a lot more angle than having your hand by your side. Keeping your hands in front will also make your movements more in control. When keeping your hand in front of your body, you don't need them to be way out in front of you but out just enough that you can see the puck into your hands.

Cam Ward for 6 Years and $37.8 Million

25 year old Cam Ward from the Carolina Hurricanes signed a 6 year contract for $37.8 million dollars which was announced by Jim Rutherford.

"It comes at a good time," Rutherford said. "We were hoping we could get Cam a long-term contract that would keep him with the team, and it's great to get it done before the season begins."

Ward was third in the NHL in wins with 39 and tied for sixth in shutouts with 6 last season. He established a new franchise record for goaltender victories in a season (39) and matched the franchise record for shutouts in a season. Ward posted a 2.44 GAA and .916 SV%.

Roberto Luongo, With a Rough Finish and a Tough Start

The last game that Roberto Luongo played in the playoffs was not a pretty one. Vancouver lost to the Chicago Blackhawks 7-5 in game six for the Blackhawks to move a head to the next round. He ended the season poorly. Expecting to start the 2009/10 season strong, it wasn't quite that. In the first period he allowed 3 goals on 7 shots, which wasn't a good start. Vancouver ended up loosing that game to the Calgary Flames 5-3. Near the end of the game Luongo looked like he was finding his groove. Lets just hope he has found it for next game so he can get his team back on track.

Stopping The Puck With Your Body

When it comes to making a save, I am a firm believer in making things as easy for the goaltender as possible. One way to do this is to try and stop the puck with your body as much as possible. Stopping the puck with just your glove or blocker is alright but if the shot gets tipped, it's going right over or under your glove. If your body is behind the puck and it gets tipped, it will still at least hit you. The only way you can stop the puck with your body is either they shoot it at your body or you slide into the puck. When you slide into the puck you usually need more time to react. You won't always be able to get your body behind it but if you can it will make your job a lot easier.

Poke Check

The poke check is not a very common move any more but if used properly can be very effective. You don't want to over use the poke check because then players will notice that and be expecting it. The whole idea of the poke check, it's unexpected.

When doing the poke check you need to be in your ready stance. When the player is within range, slide your hand to the top of your stick and poke it out quickly towards the puck. Keep your eye on the puck. Make sure that the poke check is done when the shooter is in tight and do it as quick as possible. Don't worry about the shooter getting tripped by you stick during the poke check; it will not be a penalty.

3 on 2's

A 3 on 2 is very similar to a 2 on 1 in many ways. You need to communicate with your defenseman, challenge the shooter, and don't over commit. But there are a couple of things that are different about the two.

On a 3 on 2 you always want to make sure that you are challenging the shooter because the other two should be tied up by your defenseman. Try and stay standing for as long as possible just in case the shooter tries to go around you. He probably won't be able to because of your 2 defenseman, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Have confidence in your defenseman. You got to know that he is taking the guy without the puck. If there happens to be a pass across make sure that you get across the crease as fast as possible for the big save.

Remember To Play K.I.S.S When Playing The Puck

The position of goaltending is consistently evolving. A goaltender will not be successful until they recognize their ability to control plays with their puck playing skills are key in the game of hockey. Goalies that consistently have confidence in their puck playing ability above and below the goal line become a valuable assist to their team. However, making mechanical mistakes while playing the puck can be costly!


When a goalie leaves the crease to play the puck, remember to not over handle the puck or make a bad decision with the puck especially away from the net. Goalies that remind themselves to play K.I.S.S will always be successful. K.I.S.S is a term used to Keep It Simple - Stupid when playing the puck outside the crease. Making a blind pass or trying to be flashy with ones puck playing skills will get a goaltender in trouble.


Goalies are their own worst enemies when playing the puck outside their crease. A flashy puck player will likely make rash decisions and pay for it by getting caught out of position. Whether it’s making a poor clearing attempt to a teammate or a bad pass off the high glass, why do so many goalies find the need to put themselves in these types of situations? Some of the best puck playing decisions a goalie makes are the simple plays that do not draw any attention to them while doing it. It’s common to see a goalie below the goal line trying to make a flashy, off the high glass outlet pass; hesitate, fumble the clear and scrambles to get back into the net while the other team finds a way to score. It’s seen way too often. REMEMBER TO MAKE THE SIMPLE PLAY!!



© Bandits Goalie School - 2009

2 on 1's

2 on 1's don't come around that often. But when they do, you need to be ready to make a big save. A couple of key things to remember are that you have to communicate with your defenseman. It's so important to let your defenseman know that you will take the shooter so he can pick up the extra man. Challenge the shooter to cut off all angles, and stand up as long as possible just in case the shooter decides last second to make a pass across. Don't cheat by being off angle so that you're a little closer to the open man. Be sure to keep your angle. Don't back in to fast or the shooter will have the whole net to shoot at. If there is a pass across butterfly slide across as fast as possible because it will most likely be a quick shot. Keep your eyes on the puck at all times.

Paddle Down Save

The paddle down save is not very common anymore but sometimes is the best save for the situation. This save should be used on long dump ins and wraparounds. You don't want to do this position when the shooter is in close because he will just shoot high blocker side and your blocker is on the ice so it will be hard to reach the puck.

When making this save one leg should be flat on the ice and the other extended out on an angle. The paddle of your stick should be flat on the ice. Your glove should be up above your pad open to catch the shot. Keep your head up so that the shot can be seen and stay square with the puck.

The Butterfly Slide

The butterfly slide is probably the most used save in the NHL today. It's so common because you cover the complete lower part of the ice and if out far enough you can have the whole net covered. When balanced and in control it is very easy to make saves from the butterfly slide.

When doing the butterfly slide there are a couple of things that should be remembered. First you want to load your push leg by crouching down for lots of power on your push. Next you want to look where you are going and make an explosive push across the net. Keep your stick on the ice and your glove and blocker up and out so that you are ready to catch anything or block anything. Make sure that your legs are flat on the ice and keep your body compact so that no pucks can slip through you. Always have a wide butterfly so that you get maximum lower net coverage.

The Importance of a Goaltender Staying Hydrated

In Goal Magazine has recently done a study on goalie hydration. The scientist conducting the study was Dr. Lawrence Spriet. He shows you just how important it is to keep hydrated to reach peak performance.


- Losing only 1-2% of your body mass can impair performance - that's as little as 2 pounds for a 200 lb. goalie - less for you fit types!

- Players lost on average 1.8 L per hour of fluid - to replace that fluid you would need to drink nearly two large water bottles. And certainly one full bottle to stay within the 1% loss of body mass.

- Goalies averaged 2.9L lost in an hour - 3 very large water bottles! The goalies did drink the most - 1.8 L on average - but they still lost on average 1.1% of body mass.

- You have to assume that these well-trained young men were taught in their careers about the importance of hydration - yet 1/3 of them still lost more than 1% of their mass.

- The players were not able to maintain adequate sodium balance.

- The players tended to choose sports drinks before practice and plain water during.

- Sodium Balance - Sodium replacement is essential for retaining ingested fluid and restoring fluid balance after exercise

- Suggest extra sodium sports drink to help replacement of sodium - drinking water only can be a real problem.


Goalies sweat the most, losing 2.9 ± 0.2 Lh–1, and this can be attributed to their constant involvement in the drills during the practice — other players, upon completing a drill, waited for 4 – 5 of their teammates to complete their turns before repeating the drill. This allowed the players a chance to rest while the goalies were generally involved in many or all successive repetitions of each drill. The sweating response would presumably be different in game situations, as goalies are only required to react to game play in their end while other players are continuously active during their shifts. This is supported by a study by Green et al. (1976) that demonstrated much smaller increases in blood lactate for a goalie (n = 1, +153%) than for other players (n = 7, +325% ± 16%) during a game, despite similar fitness levels.


Bottom Line - How Should a Goalie Manage Hydration?

The bottom line is that it is unsure how much this matters for non-elite players. The only way to be sure is to take your body weight before and after a game or practice - right before old-timers, not after that extra hour in the dressing room or local watering hole!

- If you are losing more than 1% of your body weight you have a potential problem.

- Sports drinks have little value before a game, but are exactly what you need during a game - the extra sodium versions.

- You need a well balanced meal right after the game - if it will be delayed there are many recovery shake options that are essentially chocolate milk!

http://ingoalmag.com/interviews/gatorade-sport-science-research-fluid-loss-in-goalies/

Stretching for Goaltenders

When it comes to being a goaltender, being flexible is very important. Not only is it important to be able to reach further for pucks, but you wouldn't want to pull your groin or hamstring and risk an injury. Most people overlook stretching but it should be done often to increase performance on and off the ice. The most important time to stretch is before a game or practice. If you do that you will feel a lot more loose and ready to make a save. You should also be doing stretches on your days off to reach peak performance. Each stretch should be held for approximately 30 seconds. Do this often and you will see a big performance difference in your game.

The Blocker Save

The blocker save is much like the glove save only on the opposite side, and you don't have to worry about catching the puck. The blocker save is a great save because you can control the rebound so easily and direct the puck exactly to where you want it.

When making the blocker save you need to start by keeping your hands in front of your body. Once the shot has been taken, put your blocker in the path of the puck. Make sure that you are following the puck to your blocker. Once the puck hits your blocker cock your wrist so that the blocker is facing into the corner, because where your blocker is angled, that is where the puck will go. Make sure you don't punch at the puck, let the puck come to you.

The Glove Save

The glove save is definitely the nicest looking save for a goalie. The glove save is the best save a goalie can make because it doesn't just look good or feel good, there is no rebound left for your opponent to knock in.

There are a couple of things that you want to remember when making a glove save so that you don't miss the puck or it bounces out of your glove. When the shot it taken you need to follow the puck into your glove with your eyes so that you can see and make sure that it is actually going into the pocket of the glove right where you want it. Once you feel and see that the puck is in your glove, squeeze your hand together so that it does not bounce out or just fall out.

Shots from Tight Angles

Shots from a tight angle always seem to be a goalies problem. You don't know if you should be in your regular stance or a narrow stance, butterfly or stand up, challenge the shooter or stay on your post.

There are a couple of things that you should always do when there is a shot from a bad angle. Make sure that you come out and challenge the shooter. If he comes in close then you can start backing up. Play nice and aggressive. Keep your stance a little bit more narrower so that you are square with the shooter and your feet are in line with the posts. If you use your butterfly, make sure that it is narrow and just in line with the posts so that when the shot is taken, you don't let out a big rebound out in front of the net.

Handling Deflections and Tips

Deflections are a big part of the game today. The better the players, the more deflections and tips there will be. You have no control if a puck is going to be tipped or deflected but there are ways that you can prepare for them. Here's what you can do to help stop deflections and tips.

- Stand up as long as possible

- Spot different people that can tip or deflect the puck

- Try to get close to deflector so if puck is deflected it can't go out of reach

- Stay square to the puck

- Stay low and compact so nothing can get through and you're like a wall

- Stay as big as possible so nothing can get past

- Keep your stick on the ice

- Locate and cover rebounds quickly

Screen Shots

As you progress to a higher level of hockey you will soon find that there are a lot more screen shots. There's a lot more because the shots are so much harder so they just pass the puck to the point and get guys in front of you. This is a very common thing as you progress through the levels. Most goals these days you see in the NHL come from the point with at least one of their guys in front of the goalie. You will not always stop them but here are a couple of things that you should do to improve the amount of screen shots you save.

- Get in a low stance to locate puck and look around player

- Stand up as long as possible, don't commit until shot is taken

- Get as close to the screened player as possible

- Cover all low areas because that is where most goals are scored

- Stay square to puck

- Keep stick on ice

- Use your butterfly, or paddle down save

- Locate and cover rebound quickly so there is no second chance

Catching vs. Blocking Shots

Being a goalie there are only two different types of saves that you can make. Either a blocking save or a catching saves. The blocking save just hits you and bounces off or drops, and the catching save is where you catch the puck so there is no rebound. It's pretty clear that you would rather make a catch than a block so you can hold onto your rebounds and there will be no second chances. If the puck is in close you don't have much time to react to the shot so you will probably just have to block it. If the shot comes from far out you should always catch it.

When blocking the shot you want to come out nice and far so the puck can't slip around you because there isn't much time to react. Next you want to go into your butterfly when the shot is released to get maximum net coverage. When in your butterfly keep your hands and knees tight and compact to your body and your legs flared outwards to get maximum net coverage. By doing this you will cover most of your net and when the shot comes you make the save, make sure you cover the puck up a quickly as possible.

When making a catching save, always make sure that you have a second piece of equipment behind whatever you're catching with just in case you miss the puck accidentally.

Goalie Communication

Being a goalie doesn't mean just trying to stop the puck. It also means you need to communicate with your teammates. By communicating with your teammates, your team will have a great advantage in your own zone especially. By communicating you will let your teammates know where the puck is or who is pressuring them when they go behind the net to retrieve the puck. It's very simple.

You can communicate in many ways. When the other team dumps in the puck and they have pressure, I will yell "Man on man on" and if there is no one then I will yell "Time, time". If a player from the other team or your team gets out of the penalty box, slap your stick on the ice to let them know he is out. By doing just these little things you can really help out your team a lot.

Beating the Breakaway

Breakaways are rare, but when they come, you need to be on top of your game to make the big save. Just by making a breakaway save you can turn the momentum of the game around in your favor. There are lots of options for the player to make when coming down on a breakaway, and lots of things for the goalie to think about when being faced with a breakaway like will he shoot or deke? If he does shoot will it be high or low? Or could it be a fake shot. There are lots of things to think about. You can reduce the amount of things by just doing one thing. Challenging the shooter.

Here are a couple of things that you should always remember when being faced with a breakaway:

- Be aggressive (on top of crease)

- Play shooter for the first shot

- Don't back in to fast

- Let the shooter make the first move

- If you are really fast you can give the shooter a little bit of room and then quickly take it away when they shoot

- 80% of breakaway goals are scored between the goalies legs

- Keep your stick on the ice

- Follow the puck

- Do whatever it takes to keep the puck out of the net