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P.O. Box 68
Williamsburg, MI  49690
(231) 267–9343 [phone]

By Todd Lightfoot, BTP Director Off Ice Operations & Goalie Coach
COPYRIGHT © 2008 All Rights Reserved

The future of the game in North America depends on the accessibility to the sport. There are a number of communities and programs that are taking great strides towards this by establishing trusts and scholarships, free equipment swaps, extended payment plans for registration fees, and more. Hockey associations are struggling to maintain their registration numbers let alone grow them. The current national/ global economic conditions only cast darker shadows over the affordability of the game. Rising energy costs drive up the cost of ice time, and the cost of playing the game. The hard truth is that the game of hockey is expensive and goaltending only brings along more dollar signs! Now that I've stated the obvious, I'd like to speak to the frozen facts of cost containment.

For our young goalies just getting their start at the game and position… Many hockey associations have equipment for the younger players. Association equipment is usually first come first serve. The first rule to savings is to be first in line on equipment day! Now, having said this, don't grab what looks like the newest gear… grab the gear that FITS!!! The BEST information for proper sizing is found at VAUGHN and I've provided the link for you at the end of the article. While looking at the equipment you'll need to check it for serviceability. Straps can be replaced; you can purchase new straps that are complete from just about any well stocked pro shop. Check the palms of the blocker glove to ensure that it is useable, and again, that it's the right size! The catching glove should be intact, the lace in the webbing may need to be restrung, but this is easily accomplished. The wrist cuff should have all of its protective plates in place and the adjustment straps should be serviceable. The upper body protection (integrated chest, shoulder and arm) should be as free from mold as possible, many areas have private equipment cleaning services that utilize Sani Sport machine that cleans and sanitizes equipment for a nominal fee. I recommend this for all of the equipment, regardless of ownership.

If association gear is not available, look for used equipment… again, proper fit is key. Don't fall into the buying it big so it lasts more than one season. Buy the proper size! If it sounds like I'm repeating myself on the issue of proper fit; you're right! Proper fit is a safety issue, proper fit is about being able to play the game without the additional issues that improper fitting gear can cause, right down to being able to play and enjoy the game.
There are a number of places where you can find used goalie gear! Start at the bulletin board at the rink, some pro shops sell used gear, Play It Again Sports and shops of the same nature… eBay always has goalie gear, and then there are the on line bulletin boards. I don't believe that I been on one goalie BB that didn't have a used gear section.

If you're going to buy new gear, find your nearest authorized Vaughn dealer! If you're not sure who that is… contact Vaughn direct, (their contact info is available on their web site) they'll be able to point you in the right direction. There are a number of companies that manufacture/ offer branded goalie equipment, however, I believe as do the rest of us at BTP, that Vaughn offers the best product available on the market today. Vaughn's been designing and equipping goaltenders for decades from the mite level on to the pro's! Vaughn produces the highest quality goalie equipment, they stand behind their product, and they're an established name in the hockey/ goaltending world. You'll find that resale is easier as well, especially if you take care of your equipment. Bottom line is… you can't go wrong with Vaughn gear!

There are some items of equipment that I recommend buying new. Pants for the most part are reasonably priced, I advise getting goalie pants for the added inner thigh protection. The helmet/ mask is the other item I believe should be bought new. You can save money buying the helmet and cage to begin with. There are a number of quality goalie masks available, however, they are more expensive, and we're trying to save money here! Fit is the most important here, to prevent potential head injury.

I've saved the issue of skates for last. Many parents want to know when it is the best time to get their goalie into goalie skates… I believe and advocate the idea that it's time for goalie skates when it's the only position that's being played. Having addressed this I'll move on. Younger goalies do not need to be in brand new skates, used skates that are in good shape will last as long as the foot fits into it… and at a young age that's not very long the way kids grow! Really, save money here, many skate shops offer used skates for sale, if you're real lucky, you'll find a shop that has a skate lease program… The important thing once again is PROPER FIT! Don't go large so they "grow into them!" Wrong answer, no one can learn to skate in skates that don't fit!

Finally, while keeping an ever watchful eye on the current economics and still believing that specialized training is essential and what we do at BTP… We are pleased to announce that we will offer to our 2009 students a registration "lay-a-way" plan! Look for more details this month when we publish our 2009 Clinic dates and locations!

Until then…. Remember… Play hard! Practice Harder!

Here is the link to Vaughn's Guide for Sizing… http://www.vaughnhockey.com/sizing/sizing.htm

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments regarding this article.
My e-mail is: todd@betweenthepipesgoalieclinic.com

By Jeremy Kaleniecki, BTP Director, On Ice Operations & Goalie Coach
COPYRIGHT © 2008 All Rights Reserved

Through out my years of playing and coaching I have picked up on as well as added to a goaltender's basic rules. These rules are: No goals through you, underneath you, and no poor angle goals. The reason for these rules is simple. Any goal going in under these rules is not forcing the shooter to beat you. It is only forcing the shooter to put the puck on net. In most game situations, any shot coming from the slot area is a rushed shot. The shooter is trying to get rid of the puck as soon as possible before he gets leveled. With this lack of time also comes a lack of ability to pick a quick corner thereby usually shooting close to the center of the net.

The portion of this article that I would like to focus on is goals going through the body. Most goaltenders in today's game have devised a blocking butterfly system that in it is very effective in preventing goals going through the body. This system, although effective, has caused some side effects that have been recently exposed. Most goaltenders especially at the younger ages are developing this blocking butterfly not as a tool or a save selection, but now as a complete style and means of playing almost all the shots. In turn the basic fundamentals and talent of redirection using the stick, and activity with the glove and blocker have fallen to the wayside. The perfect example came in the 2008 playoffs. Carey Price of the Montreal Canadians had a fantastic season and a great playoff run. This run came to an end in an almost coincidental fashion as the pattern of goals that were going in was in the upper corners over the glove and blocker. This pattern evolved from the style Carey plays (in to out).

Goaltenders who play "In to Out" have a primary motion of brining the glove and blocker into the body. Then if the shot begins to rise or go to the outer portions of the net, the goaltender then moves the glove and blocker outward toward the puck. This type of play is again effective for plays in tight but any forward who has the time to properly set up for a shot, they will on a majority of the shots get beat. Most goaltenders in today's game have one major habit when playing the "In to Out", that is as the play or player gets closer to the net, they tend to bring in the arms too soon. Most of the goaltenders doing this have no idea that they are doing it. Goaltenders who use "In to Out" also put themselves at one more disadvantage for a shot rising to the outer corners. That is they are adding an additional arm movement, which takes more time.

On the other end of the spectrum is the "Out to In" style. Goaltenders who play this style are becoming fewer and fewer. The game itself is too fast for any one goaltender to react and bring their appendages into their body. All goaltenders who play "Out to In" start and finish almost every save with their arms extended outward on every play and then brining them in if the shot is coming toward their body.

The question now is which style is better? Most coaches will tell you "In to out" would be the better choice due to the speed of the game. But then again, you are exposing the upper corners as we discussed earlier. Here is the solution, find the common ground. One successful technique is having the goaltender with their arms fully extended, then as the play moves inward they begin moving the arms in. Once their arms are with in 3-4 inches of the body, they stop and leave them there. This position of 3-4 inches off the body doesn't give a very big hole for a puck to pass through, but it does cover much more net and minimizes the space in the upper corners.
The bottom line is this; goalies have to be comfortable in the style they play. They also have to study the game and all their opponents. In turn they have to study their own style to find their weaknesses and play to their strengths. The one thing that I will always believe in is having strong fundamentals. Why are goaltenders not using their sticks to direct pucks? Why are they letting the puck hit their pad? Why are they letting the puck him them in the arm when it could have been caught? The reason is how they are taught. To any coaches out there helping out the goaltenders on their teams, don't lose sight of the fundamentals regardless of what is the hot topic of the month.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments regarding this article.
My e-mail is: Jeremy@Betweenthepipesgoalieclinic.com