The Good 'Ol Hockey Game!

[NiX]

As of late my buddies have asked me to come out and practice with them. They play a in roller hockey league (skipped out on ice due to university and distance.) Now, I'm accustomed to being thrown in net. Why they do this to me is beyond me. I'm 5'6"/5'7" and I weigh around 100Lbs. I'm not goalie material with low end goalie gear. I do manage to hold my own, but when I'm down on the ground my chances of snapping that ball out of the air on the rebound shot aren't high.

We've done it twice this week and its been a blast. I admit I was stupid and didn't stretch anything. So, at this very moment I walk like tin man. At least everyone around me finds it amusing.

I'm looking to improve my game. I used to play goalie way back in high school with my buddies. I used to glove shit like there's no tomorrow and take one to the groin like nobody's business. I could probably take one to the old bag (not liking it of course), but my arms seem to be slow as fuck. Every time I throw my blocker up I tip the ball and it usually ends up going in.
Same with my legs. They're not slow, I'm just an unflexible bastard and can't get the opposing leg under to close the gap. Sucks to be me it seems.

Anyone else here play hockey? And if anyone plays goalie, tips! PLEASE!

[WayAbvPar]

I don't think my experiences as a soccer keeper would be of much help. I bet you get more bruises and less full body raspberries than I did =P

[NiX]

I've been plowed into the net a few times by guys twice my size. It's not a fun experience. Especially when you get knocked out from hitting the crossbar too hard. Now that was quite the experience.

You're right though, I do get more bruises than anything else. Some sensitive areas that aren't protected are my hip, shoulders and neck. I get dinged in the hip way too often. I'm starting to get worried as the keep moving up the solidity of the objects they shoot at me. We've gone from tennis ball to orange street ball. Next they want to use the official league puck (the red plastic pucks.) That won't happen until I get a damned chest protector and a cup. I got winded yesterday from a slapshot to the stomach. Not a fun experience when you've already been playing for 2 hours.

[Speedy Cerviche]

I play ice hockey, defence so I dont have many goalie tips. It sounds like your pads are really crappy though if you're getting hurt so much by the puck. Invest in some decent quality 2nd hand equipment that properly protects you. Hockey is the best spor and if you have fun, it's worth the purchase.

Positioning is very important for a goalie though, even more than leet reflexes. Work on being in the right place in relation to the net to cover the tough angles.

[Rodent]

Positioning is very important for a goalie though, even more than leet reflexes. Work on being in the right place in relation to the net to cover the tough angles.

Sounds about right, but don't be afriad to experiment with a more aggresive golie style aswell, it's not for everyone but it can really help when you don't have a defence to help you.

Of yeah, and better equipment sounds like a must. Atleast get a cup, they're not expensive.

[NiX]

Yeah, I think I need to be more aggressive. I find myself moving too far back into the net when I'm missing defense. Which has become a problem. Gives little to no room to stop top corner shots. I think I just have to get used to keeping myself at a certain distance during certain instances. It also doesn't help that I'm going from a street hockey net to a NHL size net. I do have a few questions..

The old poke check - I find this can leave you open because it takes away the use of your blocker and if your stick gets stuck you may have to ditch the stick in an attempt to keep the puck out. Question is: Is there a general guideline on when to poke check and when not to? I mean, I think it's obvious not to poke check when you're down men on the defense. Anything other than that?

In the situation that you know the ball is going low - Butterfly or slide? I know there can be many more factors in which. But, in general, say if there's no man advantage, which? I usually don't slide if there's a lot of opposing players on the net since it's much harder to get up from the slide. (Note: I can come out of a butterfly in about 2-4 seconds. Slide.. about 10 depending on what's going on.)

When to play the puck. Just in general. I tend to avoid it because everyone is on blades and if they don't expect me out, well, bad things can happen.

I'm supposed to go over to Play It Again Sports with a buddy (who plays goalie) and look at some gear. And, a cup is the first thing on my list. After that I think a chest protector will do me good.

The equipment I'm using now isn't too bad. I was pointing out areas of my body that have absolutely no protection at all. The hip hits have been from me being at the left side of the net and shot was to my right. Usually hits/grazes my hip/shoulder. It doesn't hurt that much, but I am worried about taking the hit way too hard. We played with some other guys at the rink last game and one of them grazed my shoulder and it hurt like a son of a bitch. I'm worried about one of those shots going dead on and fracturing something.

[HaemishM]

Dude, first gear after the cup (must protect the garbanzos) is a neck protector. Nothing like stopping a shot with a now crushed windpipe.

I'm no hockey expert, but based on watching the NHL, I'd say only poke check if you can get the puck/ball/whatever away from any of the other team's guys or to one of your guys. A poke is as good as a rebound to the opposing offense because it can get you out of position for the second chance shot.

I'm not a big fan of the goalie going out of the net to play the puck unless on a line change or a power play, but some can do it well. If you don't handle the stick well, don't do it any other time.

Makes me wish I could play some hockey, but I have no ability to skate on anything, ice, wheels or blades, much less hold a stick and shoot with it.

[NiX]

I haven't done any puck handling at all. I'll try that next time we hit the rink.

You should just go on foot Haemish. Despite killing every part of your body doing that, it's still fun. The guys we played a few days back were wearing shoes and our team had blades. The shoe guys owned us like there was no tomorrow.

Thanks for the neck advice. I think I'm "ok" for now. I usually keep my head down (especially when the ball is going head level) and the helmet is mighty big (chin piece covers half my neck.) But, I'll look into getting a neck protector.

I'm actually just heading out to go play. I don't think my legs will ever get a rest. They're in so much pain right now. Why I keep doing this to myself is beyond me.

[daveNYC]

Makes me wish I could play some hockey, but I have no ability to skate on anything, ice, wheels or blades, much less hold a stick and shoot with it.

I learned to rollerblade and play hockey at the same time.  It can be done.

[HaemishM]

Sure, if you aren't so awkward that a night of skating ends in a severely bruised ass. I am so freakishly left-footed that skating is "skate 2 feet, fall 4 feet" exercise.

[daveNYC]

Ass, knees, elbows, hands.  Yep, most of them were bruised or scraped up.  But they do sell pads, and bruises heal.  Heck, having the hockey stick helps a little, it gives you an extra balance point.  Although that does sort of gimp your skating style if you start to depend on it.

[NiX]

Use the blade of the hockey stick as a "point." (This is after you learn to just, y'know, rollerblade) When you go to turn put the blade of the stick down and try to move around it. Worked wonders for me. I still don't stop well though. That's why they came up with checking.

[Speedy Cerviche]

I wouldn't worry about poke checks, the only time you should use your stick is if a guy is behind the net and it trying to centre it out front through your crease, in which case deflect it before it gets to him (only if it's in ez reach). Like I said, just concentrate on the basics, which would be getting comfortable in the net so you know exactly where you are in relation to it, and which angles you are covering from that spot (this sounds simple, but it actually takes a very long time to develop that kind of instinct for any position/sport).

 The general rule is, the farther you go out, the more you decrease what a guy has to shoot at, but the more open you leave yourself to being deked out, you just have to figure out what works and what doesn't from a lot of practice, it would also help if you could find an experienced goalie to help give you pointers onw hat you're doing right or wrong (while you're playing, doing it over a message board really wont help much).

[NiX]

Yeah, I plan on getting my buddy to help me out.

As for the poke check and other advice, thanks. I'm just trying to get general tips so I can work it all in/remember it for the next time I play. Sadly, this is g/f & work weekend, so no hockey for me. Maybe monday. That's assuming I feel I can work my E3 stuff in without a problem.

[Jacob0883]

I played goalie in roller hockey for a long time.  I guess I have really played them all...  It is hard to give advice because there are many different styles, and some don't work for everyone.  From what I have read it seems like you are using a puck, and not a ball.  With a puck, I suggest the butterly approach.  With a ball, I would suggest the standing and going into butterfly only if you have too.  The ball is way to easy to lift, so ground shots don't seem to happen alot.  

I also would suggest getting a little bit better equipment because it can get painful and it will solve your rebound problem.  I saw you mention that you go back to far in the net.  It is good that you realized this on your own and are trying to fix it.  Goalies who play to far back give lower and upper corner shooters a hayday.

Sliding is a tricky.  If you slide I suggest using the stick to block.  Too many times have I let the ball slide under my pad because I THOUGHT it was flush with the ground.  With the stick on the ground watch out with angling it.  If you make a ramp the ball/puck will do what you think it will do.  Right over the shoulder and in the net.  As for the blocker problem I can give two suggestions.  

1.  Get a blocker with a curve at the top.  This will stop it from knocking it in so much.

2.  Screw the blocker.  Try to take the shot in the shoulder and have it drop into your catching glove if you are standing (I know you can't do this if you are in the butterfly).  The blocker is a free rebound shot for everyone.  Pucks, and especially balls, bounce off those things like they are a backboard.

Goalie is fun and painful at time. The good thing is nobody will outright blame anything on you to your face.  

P.S.  PM with where you play, I used to play with ron and the whole play it again sports team.  I played in a bit of tournaments with Ron.  Hell, Yuengling(spelling.. sorry) sponsored our ice hockey team we played on together.

[naum]

1. Practice skating. You can't skate you can't play, at least with any degree with of excellence, no matter what position you play. There's a whole bunch of skating drills you can do by yourself and on rollerblades you don't have the hassle of finding some quality ice time. If you don't have an experienced coach/ex-player to give you tips, go get a tape and then practice the drills. Setup pylons, do figure eights, the C/skull thing, other striding exercises. I always got to the rink early and frequently hung out all night (and morning...) to get extra time to practice my backwards skating. And it paid off, as I was usually the fastest backwards skater on the team (never was a burner forwards but as a stay-at-home D-man, it worked for me...).

2. Get some coaching - sign up for a short hockey camp or get some 1on1 instruction from someone who's played professionally and/or coached at a upper level. There's some fundamental stuff that isn't obvious to new players at any position, especially goalie.

3. Get some decent equipment. Goalie gear can cost a fortune but if you scout around you can pick up some quality secondhand gear cheap. With the proper pads, you shouldn't hurt from any shot, no matter how hard.

4. Play and have fun. Most open hockey deals don't charge goalies a fee and you can get season fees heavily discounted. Nobody ever wants to be short a goalie and while playing "hit the post/crossbar" can be fun too, a live goalie is much funner to tee of on.

5. You'll get a style of your own and don't be afraid to instruct your D-man on how you want things played. Traffic can be rough in front of the net, but if your D-man know how you prefer (i.e., do you like to handle puck or do you wish to let D-man always pick it up, how to handle 2 on 1s, etc...) and let them know when you screened. A good rapport between D-man and netminder can really make your squad play better than the talent level.

[NiX]

I worked through the gangs first game, so I couldn't see how they played. But, when I play with them, defense doesn't exist. Unless the puck is being buried in the crease, these guys don't know there's a net at the other end of the rink.
But, like I said, I don't know how they play in real games. They may just be practicing their offense and stick handling for all I know.

The number one problem with the blocker they're supplying me, the straps for the fingers are broken. The stupid thing flaps against my hand and I think when it's hitting the blocker the blocker is moving back and giving it the leeway needed to go in.

Often times I can pick up my mistakes and work on them, but I find I open up another mistake when it comes to changing styles. I've tried being aggressive, but until I get better equip, I've opted to steer clear of that kind of play. I tend to pokecheck more (keep me from having to put my half unprotected body in the way) and try to get in the way when they get in the crease or just outside it.