Use your sticks, goalies

By Bob Janosz

The goalie’s most important tool is their stick. The stick can direct rebounds to the corner, break up passes, and move the puck to a teammate or all the way down the ice. Equally as important it can also be used to stop pucks dumped in which will make life much easier for their defensemen. The earlier a goalie can become good with their stick the farther they will go. Hopefully the days of coaches telling goalies to stay in the net are over.

Before roaming around the net like a third defensemen there are some steps you should take to avoid embarrassing yourself and giving coaches ulcers. On a puck dumped in, you must first know where the rest of the players on the ice are. If you know your team will get to the puck first you can stop it and set it up for your defensemen. The first step is to make sure you can stop it. If you go back like you are going to stop it and miss, your defensemen will be caught out of position. The second step is to stop the puck in the middle of the back of the net. This avoids any chance of the puck taking a funny bounce off of you and into the slot. If the puck does take a strange bounce it will hit the back of the net and stay out of harm’s way. The third step is to pull the puck off the boards so your defensemen doesn’t get hammered trying to dig it out. One or two big hits and your defensemen will think twice about going down to block a shot for you. The fourth step is getting back to the net without colliding with your defensemen. Usually the goalie stays closest to the net and returns to the same side they left from. If you get really advanced, you can see what hand your defensemen is so they can pick the puck up in full stride on their forehand.

There are a variety of ways to move the puck if the other team is going to get there first. The puck can be moved with one or two hands forehand or backhand. One hand works for a short pass to a nearby teammate. Two hands would be necessary to move the puck high or hard. You don’t have to be able to handle the puck like Martin Brodeur to be efficient. You just have to move the puck to a teammate or at least to a safe zone where there can be a battle for the puck.

Poke checking is another skill that is often overlooked. The key with using poke checks is to not beat yourself. If you take yourself out of position to break up a pass and miss you’re giving the opposition a free goal. Another way to avoid giving up ‘‘lay-up’’ goals is to not telegraph the poke. A good player will notice as soon as you slide your hand to the butt end that a poke check is coming. It must be all in one motion from stance to full extension. Don’t be afraid to take out the players’ skates along with the puck, this is hardly ever called a penalty and shouldn’t be. Try to avoid poking on straight on breakaways; it rarely works against skilled players.

The stick can be used for many things besides stopping goals. It can also be used for stopping pucks dumped in, breaking up passes, moving the puck, and clearing away loose pucks. This all leads to one thing; less scoring chances against you. Handling the puck should be worked on in practice so in games it will be automatic. Your coaches and teammates will thank you and who knows, maybe you can even score a goal.

For information on Bob Janosz spring, summer, and eight-week camps or any other goaltending concerns, call Bob at (716) 308-9224 or email bjanny76@yahoo.com.

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