Tim Thomas is one of the game's best skating goalies, but often remains on his knees when the play is behind the net. (Scott Slingsby photo)

Despite that, the Boston Bruins’ No.1 goaltender often stays on his knees when the play moves behind the net, an attack tactic that has increased since the lockout, and one most expect to see more and more of if the shape of the net is changed to create more room back there. Not only does Thomas typically stay down once the puck moves below the goal line, he often gets down as soon as the play moves down there, not waiting until it is brought to the net before he drops to his knees.

Just watch Thomas as this play moves back and forth behind the net against the Capitals in the first round:

Thomas was back on his knees to make this outstanding save later in the series, but this time it was originally in response to a wraparound. He then popped off that blocker side post with his pad to deny the ensuing opportunity in the slot:

Thomas isn’t the only NHL goalie going down early and staying there. Mike Smith uses a similar approach in Phoenix, though the much bigger Smith takes up most of the net from his knees, and pops back up more often if the play moves back across and out.

The philosophy is to simplify things when the play moves behind the net, and reduce the possibility of getting caught in the transition from up to down and vice versa. Former Ottawa Senators goalie coach Eli Wilson broke it all down in the April Edition of InGoal Magazine, explaining why his summer students like Thomas and Carey Price are often be seen playing on their knees longer than most other pros. Read the article and learn how to include this tactic in your game today.

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Showcasing yourself at showcases!

The third in a series of articles dedicated to helping you put your best foot forward in securing a spot with a junior team. Although directed toward older athletes, many of these tips will be appropriate for athletes of all ages trying to earn a spot on a team – in any sport. If you haven’t seen them yet, please check out Part I and Part II of the series today.

Coaches evaluate players at the Under Armour Hockey Showcase in Denver, CO

Its springtime and hockey seasons are finally over. You have already begun emailing coaches making initial points of contact…but you are always looking for more exposure. In the last five years or so, showcases have fermented to become the new norm.  Essentially, a showcase aspires to have roughly 200-300 young men show up to be scouted by multiple teams, all in one house. The concept being that instead of attending 12-30 tryouts over the summer, why not just show up to one showcase and be seen by them all at once?

Regardless of which showcase you choose, there are some things I have noticed over the years and want you to be aware of. First off, do your research and find out exactly who will be there and from what teams. Granted, most coaching staffs cannot attend every showcase out there; so many times they send a scout to do some bird dogging for them. While this is great and so forth, in MY opinion, having an actual coach from a team there carries more weight. The coach will have a better idea in terms of talent as to what he is looking for. As a bonus to you, they are there to communicate with. YOU can ask them any question you want and actually get a feel for them to help you decide if it’s the best choice for you (nothing is worse than playing for someone you have a personality conflict with). Granted, in defense of the teams that do send scouts, depending upon the time frame of the showcase the team may be in playoffs and coaches are unable to attend in person.

Showcases virtually contact every team on the planet to attend, because in the end it makes them look good in your eyes and offers exposure to you. Last year, I attended four showcases. At one of which I had the most clout in the building, another I was low man on the totem pole. Please keep in mind, they are a business and depend on the amount of kids that attend. Now, in all fairness to them, they also depend on the level of talent that attends. If the Showcase is a dud one year, the odds of many high level coaches showing back up are slim to none.  You also need to remember, showcases provide you with an opportunity for exposure.

As a coach attending a Showcase, it gives me a healthy sample of talent out there. But you need to remember I am also competing against every other team in the building for the top talent. The one thing I consistently see with showcases is that goalies (along with everyone else) get bombarded with tryout offers and from teams. I hear people actually complain about this and think teams are just blind mailing everyone to attend their tryouts. Essentially, in the end, that is the reason you attended the showcase to begin with isn’t it? Let’s be honest…had I or other teams not been there, how would we have been able to contact you about our tryouts to begin with? At the very least, you now know the team has seen you play and not just some open mystery invite. That fact alone makes Showcases worth it!

At one particular showcase, I had a particular goalie that I really liked ask me why I didn’t flat out offer him a spot on the team or at least a tender. He was curious as to why I wanted him to attend my tryout after just watching him for a weekend. His father questioned my motives and wondered if it was purely a “fundraiser” invites and if I was just trying to fill our camps. A legitimate question, and one that I gave an honest answer to, ”for one, I need to see you come in a battle for the spot, at the end of the day we cut kids we tendered for those that work harder and play better. Second, I literally just saw you stop pucks from the Sisters of the Broken and Poor. I need to see you face consistent actual talent from our level of play.” For those wondering what I meant by that last sentence, at the showcase the goalie was facing kids who were aspiring to play at our level (and many of them have no chance). I need to see him against our veteran returning players to truly gauge his talent. After all you are trying to prove to me that you can play on my team. In my eyes, the only way to actually verify that is to throw you to the wolves so to speak and have you face my actual team!

The first part of that answer is simple to understand as well. I have the ability to invite 24 goalies to tryouts…I am refining the system (considering I probably met and scouted over 150 at various showcases on top of the 60+ I saw over the season). Once you get to my barn, the system will continue to refine from that point until I get down to 3 or 4 for our training camp. I need to see you compete against others of your level to get a side-by-side comparison and make the best decisions. Granted, I am aware my tryouts are a little different than most as we do 4 hours of goalie only training, two of which are purely skating. Call it bag skating, call it endurance testing…I am going to push you to the limits to determine who is going to give me the best odds on the season. I will find the best-conditioned athlete and more importantly, the hungriest wolf in the pact. (More on this in coming in May’s article!)

So again, do your research (remember we talked about being honest with your talent level and where you want to play?) and figure out which showcases will give you the best odds for exposure. Also, keep in minds that because a certain person is advertised as being there, don’t forget to contact them directly and confirm they will be there. Many times, coaches commit to a showcase back in December, and then playoff schedules are released and their attendance becomes unlikely. Another nice thing about contacting that coach ahead of time is more often than not he will remember your name and pay extra attention to you; after all you did just tip him off before the show began. Figure out which coaches at the showcase are on the top of your list, email them directly and make sure to establish contact with them. Nine out of ten times any coach worth his salt is going to take advantage of this because you are essentially making his job easier.

Here is a list of 10 rules you should follow when participating in a showcase:

1. BE PROFESIONAL! From the time you get out of the car to hitting the ice to going home. Guys like me are notorious for hanging around the check-in table seeing you walk in the door. Ahead of time, coaches get lists from the Showcases, and begin our refinement process. Believe it or not, but the minute you walk in the doors you are being scouted!

2. DRESS APPOPRIATELY! Seriously, nothing makes me scratch names faster than seeing some kid with goofy hair in his face, flat brimmed hat on sideways, and his boxers showing. I’m not saying you have to walk in with a suit, but at check in a polo and khakis sends one heck of an impression at first glance. The rest of the weekend, rock your gym shorts and Under Armour…I realize you are an athlete. First impressions are lasting ones, dress as if you were on a campus visit and meeting the coaching staff of the Division 1 School you aspire to play for (Truth be told, they may be at that showcase!).

3. COMPANY: Ever heard the phrase “don’t bring your kids to an interview”? Same applies to your girlfriend and family. If you are getting a ride to the event have your parents’ drop you off at the door and walk in. Let them come in afterwards. I am all about meeting the family, but junior hockey is essentially about independence, tell Mom to let the chain loose for that weekend.

4. YOU talk to coaches: Please please please do NOT have your mother work the room figuring out who the coaches and scouts are. There is no quicker way to get the snip than having Mommy do the damage. Think about it, if she is doing it there, what is to make me believe she won’t be calling me after every game inquiring about your playing time?

5. BATTLE!: Wise words posted in every locker room at our tryouts, “You have no friends here, you are competing against each other for very few spots on our team…battle.” Don’t just float through the motions. As a goalie, I want to see you playing pucks, literally attacking rebounds and covering them, barking to your Dmen, cast that Poke Check like a fly fisherman, do it all baby. Remember, it’s your time to shine, don’t let someone else steal that light.

6. YES SIR: Not dude, bro, boss, chief, pops, or anything else of the sort. Show respect to coaches when they address you. And for that matter, YES not yeah…nothing sounds more insulting to a question than hearing a kid pipe off “Yeah”. And when asked a question, please do not respond “Uh-huh”, use yes’s and no’s.

7. CONFIDENCE: Truth is every coach there will at least look at EVERY player and goalie once. And the first day or two the issue isn’t so much as figuring out who the best is but rather figuring out who the worst are. From that point, if our list is weeded down from 250 to 25 (or in the case of goalies, 24 to 4) it makes life easier for us. How do you stay on that list? Confidence. Do you shake your head when scored on? Do you just breathe moxy and intimidation? Are you walking around scared in the halls or do you have that determined look that could make a lion hide behind a rock at the zoo?

8. RESPECT: This is a big one and I mean big one. In #7 we talked about the Sir effect and what not, but teams you may not be interested in at showcases will approach you. Still, take the time and listen to them and say thank you. If you are a little egotistical snot to that coach, he is going to walk back into the Green Room where the rest of us sit and just throw you under a bus. Simultaneously, 20-30 pens will make the same two inch scratch on the same piece of paper and you will have just wasted a weekend. A lot of times, lower teams feed off others (Tier 3 off Tier 2, and so forth) so relationships are there. We know each other and trust one another. They might be the guy that hypes you up the ladder so to speak. Something to keep in mind, don’t be insulted by teams talking to you that are not the level you are shooting for, if they are the only ones talking to you, it says something doesn’t it?

9. TALK to coaches: Do not be afraid of them, ask them anything you want. In theory, if you make their team they are in your life for the next 6-9 months. From a goaltending perspective, find out who they have moved on and who is returning. Who have they tendered or drafted? Do not be scared off by this either. Remember if anything, you get a ball park idea of what they have. Maybe, it’s a kid in your league and you know you are better than-so battle him for that spot. Do not think just because they have someone all bets are off. Put it this way, and I will use out skaters as an example, last year of the 11 players we tendered and drafted only 3 made the team. All other spots were filled with kids from tryouts including one of my goalies (who played over 20 games this season and had two NHL scouts come to watch him exclusively). Anything can happen!

10. PROMOTE yourself: Take the a few copies of the DVD from last article with you. If you went ahead and made a folder with your information, pictures, and articles bring some of those with you as well. When you figure out whom the coaches attending are the ones from teams you aspire to play for, give them copies! Also, try to arrange a time when you can sit down and talk with them ask for feedback. Always keep in mind, just because one particular coach/team cannot use your services does not mean they won’t pass your information along.

At the end of the day, remember it’s all about you and your future. Ten years from now you do not want to be sitting there thinking, “if only I had done this better” while watching someone you used to play against playing in the NHL. Make sure you take a positive professional approach to marketing yourself!

Good luck this spring, and as always…keep your chest square to the puck and stick on the ice!

- Coach Power

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The Stanchion, Zamboni Door, Ice Nipples and Excess Water are a few things that you can easily check in warm-up to be sure there will be no unpleasant surprises when the game starts.

There are several areas in your zone that you should carefully check before the puck drops to avoid any unfortunate surprises that could cost you a goal. Buren Foster photograph

While the range of warm-ups in minor hockey games is considerable, there are things not always done in warm-ups that may be of benefit to your goaltender and the outcome of a game. Let us look at four of these factors.

Stanchions have been known to cause bad deflections in the past. The most recent example that comes to mind is Game #5 of the Western Conference Final last season and Kevin Bieksa’s goal on Antti Niemi. During the warm-up, it can be important, especially when you are on the road, that your team practices shooting some rims into your zone both along the boards and around the glass. This may reveal a strange bounce, or altered direction, that may otherwise not have been detected. It may prevent your goaltender from being too aggressive in coming out to play the puck if he knows some strange and weird bounces exist.

The second area of concern is the Zamboni door. Despite best efforts, these doors do not always close completely flush with each other. Re-surfacing of the ice is also not usually the best in this area as a big pile of slushy ice is lying there as the rink attendant scrapes it off prior to closing the doors. The Zamboni tires also leave marks as they cross this area. Re-directs may once again cause the puck to go towards the front of the net. If any correctible problems are identified, bring it to the attention of the official or rink attendant.

Another factor to consider is that of ice nipples. These are nothing more than small elevations that can occur in the corners and behind the net. These should not really be a problem at junior and professional games with proper ice maintenance but I see it often in minor hockey. Depending on the barn you play in, condensation can drop from the rafters and leave bumps of varying size all over the ice. These elevations may alter angles as a puck is rimmed in along the ice. The puck may also bounce over a goalie’s stick blade as he comes out to stop the puck. The goaltender assumes the situation is under control but now potentially has to scramble to prevent a goal.

Another issue prior to puck drop may be that of excess water on the ice. Excess water can, and does, result in turnovers in one’s own end. We have all seen parents and coaches go bananas when this annoying problem adversely affects their team. If the game is about to start and excess water is present down low, behind the net, in the quiet zones or slot, bring it to the attention of the official. He will get the rink attendant to squeegee the affected area. Otherwise, he should delay the game until the resurfacing is frozen. It could prevent an unnecessary turnover and a goal.

Goals from these types of problems are fortunately not common. They may not declare themselves within the confines of a brief and limited team warm-up. So what recommendations do you make to your goaltender? If nothing declares itself then you have to play things honestly and based on what the situation calls for. If a simple rim is shot in you assume there will be no strange re-direct. You determine if you can get to the rim, stop and control it, and what the likely outcome will be as far as puck possession and a breakout. Sometimes staying in your net is the best decision; however, the more you play in a certain arena the more you will become familiar with the natural tendencies of the boards and glass.

Warm-ups involve stretching, passing, shooting and getting the goaltender comfortable in the net; however, assessing the boards, glass and ice in the end where your goaltender will play two of three periods, especially on the road in an unfamiliar barn, may identify some hazards that may prevent some weird and annoying goals that could be the difference in the game’s outcome!

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The 2012 Summer Camp edition of InGoal Magazine is here, with 84 pages designed to make you a better goaltender. (Click here to go straight to it).

There are too many highlights to list them, but each is designed to improve your game.

They include:

FEATURES

- Detroit All Star Jimmy Howard explains how parenthood helped his mental game.

- Dallas Stars goalie Richard Bachman’s drills to improve vision and puck tracking.

- Canadiens star Carey Price’s secret stick tweaking tips for better puck handling.

Equipment Reviews

- Bauer’s TotalONE changing game with pads that can adjust on the fly to your style.

- Warrior Ritual for Youth and Kids an impressive chip off the pro gear block.

- Reebok’s new P4 chest-and-arm provides mass-or-mobility alternatives.

INSTRUCTION

- Dallas Stars Goalie Coach Mike Valley on the importance of good visual habits are key.

- Rochester Americans Goalie Coach Bob Janosz simplifies the puck-playing process.

- Bandits Goalie School director Stan Matwijiw outlines positioning in one simple diagram.

- Former Senators goalie coach on staying down to simplify when attack moves behind net.

- Former Bruins goalie coach Brian Daccord offers 10 main keys to goaltending success.

- Maria Mountain of Revolution Conditioning helps prepare a proper summer training plan.

Be sure to check it out cover to cover and then come back and let us know what you think in the comments below.

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Carolina's Cam Ward unfortunately will not be playing in the NHL's equivalent of "spring hockey." While he would jump at the chance, playing from April-June is not for every family in minor hockey - and that's OK. Buren Foster photo, all rights reserved.

Some people really enjoy spring hockey. Other folk put their gear away for a while and participate in other activities. In this article, I will provide the reader with some thoughts from my personal experience as a goaltender and presently as a goalie parent.

Growing up in Saskatchewan I played hockey all the time during the fall and winter. If not organized hockey, I played all afternoon and evening under the lights of the local outdoor rink. I then skated home on the frozen roads. I never played spring hockey. When my team was eliminated in the play-offs, I put my gear away in the basement. I played recreational softball, baseball, soccer and competitive tennis all summer. There were no goalie schools at the time but I did go to a few boarding hockey camps, as I got older. When fall arrived, I was excited to get back to the rink.

For today’s goalie and parents things are seemingly more complicated. There are goalie March break camps, spring try-out camps, summer camps, weekend and PA day clinics. There are also many spring hockey organizations that will, for a significant amount of money, take your child to the most “elite” spring, summer and pre-season tournaments all over North America and Europe. It can become extremely expensive and time consuming. Nevertheless, some parents believe their child will fall behind the competition if they do not participate in this intense environment 24/7/365.

If you decide to let your child participate in spring hockey ask yourself the following question: What is the most important consideration here? The answer should be development and fun!

My eldest son, presently playing Bantam ‘AAA’ at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, played spring hockey only on two occasions. We only had ten skaters and one goaltender. You may say, “Wow… what a short bench!” It’s true but everyone got a lot of ice-time and all the parents were happy. My son played every minute of the twenty games. We reached two championship games out of four tournaments and won one of them. The next season we only entered one tournament and won an exciting championship game, which I still have on DVD.

Subsequent to other seasons we have been contacted to play for other teams as part of a standard two-goalie system. I always declined the offer. My decision was based on financial investment and what my boy wanted to do. I took into account the cost of gas, food and accommodations and the fact my son would only be getting fifty percent of the starts. When I did the math down to how much it was costing me per game (and the number of shots per game) I decided to go in another direction.

I decided development was still the most important consideration. We decided the money could be spent more effectively on private training. I am certain over time the money spent on private lessons has added up to more money, but all the time was productive and the instructor was entirely focused on my son. I also brought out older local ‘AAA’ players to shoot on my son and provide him with a greater challenge.

Another option we took over the years was to participate in Canlan Classic tournaments in Ontario. This organization presently also operates tournaments in three locations in the United States. For $100 CDN I could register my son for weekend tournaments several weekends over the spring as an independent player (i.e., he had no team for which to play). The tournament organizers would put independent players together based on age and make up teams so the kids could participate. You were guaranteed five games per tournament. This got my cost down to $20 per game. We would stay at the local community college for $80 per night and bring a lot of our own food in coolers. A lot of people like to camp or stay in their trailer or recreational vehicle. This will reduce your costs significantly! The independent teams were usually poor (compared to stacked spring teams) so my son faced a lot of shots and got cheap development. The boy understood it was about playing (i.e., the process) and not winning (i.e., the outcome).

Yet another option is four versus four or three versus three leagues. The idea for the goaltender is straightforward. There is a lot of open ice and your child will face many shots. Try to have your child play with older and better players so they face a more difficult challenge; However, do not put your ego ahead of your child’s safety by putting them in a situation where they can get injured or their confidence will be destroyed (“Goaltending is based on confidence and concentration. Confidence may be an overused word, but it is a key word for a goaltender” –Mike Vernon).

The final option is to go back to the simple days of my childhood. If you read the LTAD model articles, you will hopefully agree that you are not holding your child back by leaving the arena for a while. After a long winter of hockey, some people (like my son and I) grow tired of the “hockey scene” and need to regenerate themselves and their enthusiasm for the game.

My son swan almost to lifeguard level, played baseball, soccer, still plays ball hockey and received his first-degree martial arts black belt prior to leaving for Notre Dame College. I am certain you know that Wayne Gretzky and John Tavares played lacrosse during the summer. Did you know that former New York Ranger Dan Blackburn did not play hockey all spring and summer as a boy?  Did you know that Carolina goaltender Cam Ward did not really do a lot of off ice training until he reached the major junior level? How about Tiger Woods? Every day Earl Woods would drag Tiger away from the driving range and get him away from the sport for a little while. Earl understood that by setting limits, Tiger cam back the following day with renewed vigour to work hard and improve.

In conclusion, there is nothing wrong with spring hockey. You should make your own decision based on what is in the best interest of your family and your child’s own wishes. Just remember there is more to life than hockey and it’s a good thing to develop other interests and athletic skills.

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Brian Elliott has been using a journal to stay sharp this season. (InGoal File Photo)

So too is giving up a goal. Elliott had his shutout streak end at 163:53 over three games, a run that included a 13-shot blanking of the Minnesota Wild for his sixth shutout of the season. That matches the six goose eggs produced by playing partner Jaroslav Halak, who had to beg off weekend duties after coming down with the flu, leaving the duo one shy of the franchise-record 13 shutouts, set in 1968-69 by the tandem of Glenn Hall and Jacques Plante.

Individually, both Halak and Elliott are two shy of matching Hall’s record of eight shutouts, also set in 1968-69. Elliott is also tied with Henrik Lundqvist for the NHL lead with a .940 save percentage, and leads the League with an astonishing 1.56 goals-against average. Halak isn’t far behind in both categories despite a sluggish start to the season.

Clearly the Blues goalies are benefitting from a stingy defensive system – and incredible commitment to it – since Ken Hitchcock took over behind the bench. But seeing the fewest shots in the NHL isn’t always easy, especially when you are splitting up the starts the way Halak and Elliott are, so it helps to have a few secrets to stay sharp during down time.

St. Louis goaltending coach Corey Hirsch shared one of them in the latest edition of InGoal Magazine. It’s a simple trick Elliott has used this season, and one that can help any goaltender avoid slumps and get back in “the zone” quickly.

Read all about it in InGoal Magazine.

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Detroit's Jimmy Howard is one of the most aggressive goaltenders in the NHL often challenging beyond the blue paint - confident the Wings' defenders will cover threats behind him (Scott Slingsby photo).

Triangulation is categorized by Hockey Canada as a group tactic. It involves 3 attacking players and is commonly employed in odd man rushes. Most commonly this is a 3-on-2 rush. In this situation two attackers go wide with one being in possession of the puck. They form the base of the triangle (see diagram). The third attacking player is the high man and forms the triangle’s apex. Unfortunately this man is frequently left unchecked due to miscommunication or poor back-checking efforts which created the odd man rush to begin with! With the puck carrying winger going wide, a pass is commonly made to the high trailer. If the two wingers are appropriately covered the high man commonly elect to shoot the puck. He may shoot to score or he may shoot to create a rebound. However, this scenario can be discussed in another article!

Now let us look at things from the goaltender’s perspective. Initially, the goalie must recognize the situation and assess how well the D-men are containing the wingers going wide. The goalie must also respect the fact that a shot may be taken from a poor angle. If a pass is made from winger to winger then there is a serious breakdown in defensive coverage and the play has realistically evolved into a 2-on-1, but I digress. The goaltender must communicate with the “D” and let them know with basic triangulation that the “D” are responsible for the wingers and the goalie is responsible for the high man. This should allow the “D” to shut down any passing lanes. This is not to say however that the “D” should continue to collapse forever and turn a 3-on-2 with triangulation into an uncontested breakaway! There comes a point in as the play unfolds where (1) passing lanes are no longer available or practical and (2) the “D” therefore slow down their retreat and start to move towards the puck carrier . Once responsibilities have been established, it is time for the goaltender to challenge the high man.

I have seen too many young developing goaltenders not be aggressive in stepping out to take away open net at this point. Some have not received proper training. Some are too immature in their development to understand the importance of managing depth when time is available and the situation calls for it. Yet others over think the play and believe by being out beyond the blue paint they will get “burned” by a pass to the winger down low. Can this happen? Most certainly, and it proves two things: (1) Clear communication must occur between teammates and (2) a systematic approach must be established for common tactical situations by the coaching staff so everyone is “on the same page.” Everyone wants to blame the goaltender but no logically thinking coach would blame his keeper if the “D” are not capable of executing their responsibilities. Furthermore, I am not suggesting that the goalie be excessively aggressive which is ridiculous and ill-advised.

Triangulation is a commonly tactical situation with which all goaltenders must be familiar. There are many variants of the basic scenario describe in this article. However, if things go the way they should from the goaltender’s perspective, the high puck carrier will have to take a shot within a short time of receiving the puck. Goaltenders should realize when this is the case and take an extra step out to reduce some open net for the best players who only need a tiny open target to score.

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Roberto Luongo checks for potential scoring threat while playing on his blocker side post. (InGoal File photo)

Looking off the puck (LOTP) is a small but critical element to the success of any goaltender’s game. As the phrase implies, the goaltender takes a very brief opportunity to look away from the puck location to see what potential passing and/or shooting options are available to the puck carrier. The issue is not IF the goalie is going to LOTP but when to do it, with what type of frequency and for what duration of time.

The most common location to find a goaltender in when LOTP is with goal-post integration. The puck will be located either in the (A) QUIET ZONES down low or (B) along the half wall which some refer to as PERIMETER ZONES. In these areas of the defensive zone a puck battle frequently occurs involving two or more players. There is no immediate threat of a shot being taken or of a goal being scored. Hence, this is the perfect opportunity to analyze possible tactical options available to your opponent should they emerge with the puck. LOTP simply employs a technique referred to as “Head-on-a swivel”. The goaltender should look high on the strong side (1), to the slot (2), on the weak side (3) and of course to the back door (4) for the presence of an opposing player and the viability of a passing lane.

As the goaltender moves further from the goal-post (and more towards the top of the crease arc) the available options and tactical complexity increases. In such a scenario the goaltender may have to look to the weak side and down low on both sides (e.g. power play). However, as the complexity of the situation increases, the goalie should also rely on other stimuli to help increase his/her chances of success. These stimuli can be auditory, visual and kinesthetic in origin.

Auditory signals which help with anticipation include the sounds of skates moving, tapping the stick on the ice to receive a pass and of course verbal communication between you and your teammates. Visual signals rely on both central and peripheral vision. Central vision is that object on which the pupil is focused which is viewed clearly. Peripheral vision is everything else within your visual field, and although not entirely in focus, is still providing the brain with information about the location of certain players. Kinesthetic signals basically refer to an inner sense or feeling the goaltender may have about the way a play will develop (i.e., anticipation). Remember, ice hockey is a game of situations and these situations repeat themselves again, again and again. With intelligence and enough playing experience the best goaltenders have a sense of what is going to happen before it actually does! The goaltender always has to respect the puck carrier but can frequently LOTP to see how things have changed. This takes less  than a second at a time. Turning your head on a swivel is not even required as the goalie may just to turn his eyes within the mask for a fraction of a second.

What is it that separates the best from the rest? It is not size, mobility, power, speed, agility, or technique – although these are all required. The two main things are a great competitive spirit and play anticipation. Similar to chess, the world’s greatest goaltenders anticipate plays before then have fully evolved. “Looking off the Puck” and the other types of stimuli to which I have made reference can help any goaltender make better tactical reads and therefore more saves. Remember to LOOK OFF THE PUCK !!

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In recent articles I have discussed goal-post integration with respect to both stick and trapper positioning options with the goaltender standing on both skates, and also utilizing the V-H technique. However, when teaching goaltenders about goal-post integration we usually without much thought tell them to place their legs on a 45-degree angle to the goal-line. Where does this 45-degree angle come from and is it universally applicable ?

I have yet to read an article that explains the above mentioned teaching point in full; however, let us assume that since the slot is the prime scoring area (due to the best available shooting angles), you want the goalie to be at the top of the crease (or in the area) to reduce these angles of open net. The fastest way to get there is on your feet by performing a T-push in either a straight or curved line (although some would argue that sliding is faster !). This may be close to 45 degrees although I have never thought to measure it. Nevertheless, this is at least the logic I have applied in trying to answer this question myself.

It should be noted though, that pass-outs can be executed to any number of different angles be they to the strong side, high or low slot or anywhere on the weak side including down low. This is why the goaltender must “look off the Puck” to readjust his/her angle specifically to the location of the attacker’s stick blade. This is illustrated in the diagram below:

The diagram illustrates three different points of attack (A,B and C) where the opponent’s stick may be located. A 45-degree integration angle may be correct for an attacker located somewhere in the slot. However, as you can see, the further and lower the opponent’s stick is located on the weak side, the flatter, or lower, the angle between goaltender and goal line must become. This is based on the goaltender’s ability to read the play and make correct adjustments while hugging the post. If the goaltender does not have the correct angle on which to either push off or slide, he/she will neither end up on angle nor be square to the puck. If the goaltender chooses to slide then the length of the slide must also be controlled with excellent edge work. Many young goaltenders make a nice slide to the correct angle but then go past the target point by not controlling their edges. In these cases too much net is frequently left open on one or both sides of the net either by not having adjusted to the correct angle or overplaying the situation.

In conclusion, remember that hockey is very dynamic and that nothing remains the same for more than a few seconds, if that. Goaltenders must constantly be looking at what is going on by looking at the puck and “looking off the puck”. Pass-outs are a common tactical scenario that require goaltenders to readjust their integration angle so they can attack the target both on angle and squarely. Keep working at it.

Thoughts? As always, please hit the comments below!

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Dallas Goaltender Kari Lehtonen maintains his elbow inside the post on the trapper side. InGoal File photo.

In my last article on goal-post integration  and stick optionsI discussed  basic considerations such as skate positioning and the goal stick itself.  In this article we will discuss trapper positioning options both with the goaltender standing up and when using the V-H technique.

Let us first look at options when standing on your skates.  On the blocker side the traditional teaching is to have to trapper pocket facing the area behind the goal-line.  The purpose is to intercept pucks being passed out to the slot area.  I have caught many pucks in my time but arguably not enough to warrant using this set up.  Why?  First and foremost, most pucks on pass-outs are either pushed directly on the ice (outside the reach of the goalie’s comfortable stick range)  or are saucer passed just a couple of inches off the ice.  With a comfortable and neutral body position on the post, the goaltender will likely not reach these passes but would have to bend down to get them.  Also, depending on the location from which the saucer pass is coming, the goaltender may have to turn further from the front of the net (increasing the angle between goal-post and goal-line)  to reach those passes.  If the pass-out is successful under these circumstances an increased amount of open net will be available to a shooter in the slot.  The goaltender will have to turn the trapper back towards the slot which takes time which may not be available. A more progressive option would have the trapper facing the slot and back door area to begin with (Photo #1).

You forgo the small number of passes you might intercept for the purpose of having your trapper immediately ready for shots if the pass out is successful.

On the trapper-side post, traditionalists will have the trapper on the outside of the goal-post.  Some goaltenders position the trapper and elbow slightly on the inside margin of the post (Photo #2).  I disagree with this.  It can be very restrictive to have your elbow on the inside of the post when, for example,  you want to drop to your knees and cover a puck in close proximity to the post.  It is an error in my opinion but occurs commonly. Most coaches will have the trapper pocket facing the area behind the goal-line.   I am certain I have not caught more than a dozen passes with this approach over my Tier I minor hockey or senior ‘A’ career.  The benefit of this approach probably also becomes marginalized as the players become more proficient with their passing skills and learn your tendencies as a goalie.  A more progressive option is holding the trapper up facing the slot area.

Some goaltending gurus will have their students place their elbow on the inside of the post with trapper covering the surface area immediately under the crossbar for a quick release shot (Photo #3).  I like the idea of having the trapper facing the slot but the overall set up seems uncomfortable to me.

If integrated using V-H technique, trapper options are quite limited.  On the trapper side there is really only one logical location for trapper positioning.  It is on the top of the Vertical pad (Photo #4) to protect that small amount of net available under the crossbar.  On the blocker side, the trapper can be held at any height.

It may be sideways to intercept cross-crease passes (Photo #5)  or facing the slot to make beautiful reactionary-type saves as the goaltender slides out from the post or across the crease.

As mentioned in my previous article on goal-post integration, it is important to be familiar with all available options.  Use that which the situation calls for and that with which you are comfortable and  having success.

Let me know what works and doesn’t work for you and why in the comments section below.

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