Now that we have addressed the legs, the foundation of strong goaltending, we will address the key to save making: the hands and stick. As a goaltender, you would ideally want to make EVERY SINGLE SAVE with your hands or your stick. Is this likely, or even possible in a game? Probably not. However, if you make it your goal to get your hands on every shot off the ice, and your stick on every shot on the ice, you will be a much improved net-minder, because THE HANDS LEAD THE BODY.
With every movement you make in goal, your hands should always be first. When you shuffle or t-push, for example, your hands should go to first, then your body should follow behind. Your hands are much faster than your feet, and you may make a couple of saves by having your stick or glove quickly across, even if your body isn't there yet. Also, by keeping the hands always out in front of the body, we take an extra foot or so of angle away from the shooter without having to come any further out of our net. Top goaltenders attack every shot with their hands, and feel as if their hands "pull their bodies" into saves and slides.
The stick starts at a slight angle, creating a ramp effect that launches the rebounds up and away from the net. It moves in a semi-circle around the goaltender so that the heel and toe of the stick stay on the ice at all times. Once you have mastered this movement, controlling low shots will feel natural, and the stick should save EVERY SINGLE shot on the ice.
PRO SECRET: Start the stick with the heel just in front of the blocker side pad. This accomplishes two things. 1) It keeps the blocker from resting on top of the leg pad (it should always be outside the leg pad maximizing the amount of net coverage) and 2) It is much harder to move your stick quickly to the blocker side. Keen players often beat goalies between the heel of the stick and the toe of the blocker side pad. This secret of the pros eliminates the possibility of an embarrassing 5-hole goal.
Good hands in a goaltender can often make up for lack of positioning or technique, and they can bail us out of some hairy situations. By attacking every shot with your hands or stick, you will not only make more first saves, but better control your rebounds. Think of your hands and stick as your first line of defense. Your body and pads are just back-ups!
With every movement you make in goal, your hands should always be first. When you shuffle or t-push, for example, your hands should go to first, then your body should follow behind. Your hands are much faster than your feet, and you may make a couple of saves by having your stick or glove quickly across, even if your body isn't there yet. Also, by keeping the hands always out in front of the body, we take an extra foot or so of angle away from the shooter without having to come any further out of our net. Top goaltenders attack every shot with their hands, and feel as if their hands "pull their bodies" into saves and slides.
This goalie's hands are leading his body in a T-Push (but his stick SHOULD be on the ice).
A good goaltender can block a shot. A great goaltender controls shots by making saves. If a puck hits you in the leg pads, chest, arms, skates, or head, and the subsequent rebound ends up in the corner, consider yourself lucky! The only way to control rebounds consistently is through trained usage of the hands and stick.
The glove hand (which we will cover in depth in later articles) is our fastest asset because it is not weighed down with a stick or heavy pads. It can control rebounds by catching shots on the glove side, trapping them against our body or blocker, and helping the blocker to guide them away. Shots to the blocker side must always be attacked with two hands.
The blocker's job is to attack the puck, then rotate with the shot to guide the puck to safety in the corner. Shots tight to the body can be controlled by trapping the puck on the blocker with the glove. The glove can also assist the blocker to rotate to better control rebounds.
PRO SECRET: NEVER rest your hands on your pads when you may face a shot. The hands must be able to move freely in either direction instantly. Resting hands are slow hands!!!
This goaltender's hands take an extra two feet of angle away from the shooter, and are ready to move freely to the save.
The stick is our most valuable asset. We are, after all, hockey players. There are two places the hand should ever be on the stick: at the base of the shaft, with one finger on the paddle (so the stick doesn't rotate in our hand) or at the top of the shaft (for poke checks, sweep checks, and puck handling). The hand is NEVER in the middle of the shaft. This is an issue I see with many of my men's league goaltenders that must be corrected immediately. A goaltender's stick should also never be cut, as the balance built into the stick is more important than the height.
The stick starts at a slight angle, creating a ramp effect that launches the rebounds up and away from the net. It moves in a semi-circle around the goaltender so that the heel and toe of the stick stay on the ice at all times. Once you have mastered this movement, controlling low shots will feel natural, and the stick should save EVERY SINGLE shot on the ice.
PRO SECRET: Start the stick with the heel just in front of the blocker side pad. This accomplishes two things. 1) It keeps the blocker from resting on top of the leg pad (it should always be outside the leg pad maximizing the amount of net coverage) and 2) It is much harder to move your stick quickly to the blocker side. Keen players often beat goalies between the heel of the stick and the toe of the blocker side pad. This secret of the pros eliminates the possibility of an embarrassing 5-hole goal.
This gap between the heel of the stick and the blocker side pad is an enviting target for today's snipers. I know where I would shoot!!!
Good hands in a goaltender can often make up for lack of positioning or technique, and they can bail us out of some hairy situations. By attacking every shot with your hands or stick, you will not only make more first saves, but better control your rebounds. Think of your hands and stick as your first line of defense. Your body and pads are just back-ups!
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