Was That A Bad Goal?

Fundamentals and cutting-edge innovation continue to drive the goaltending community. The goaltending fraternity is incredibly close knit and fiercely competitive. Hockey’s spotlight always shines the brightest on the last line of defense. Often that spotlight exposes the slightest of imperfections.  Criticized, highly scrutinized and over analyzed. That’s life in crease. 

“Was that a bad goal?”

“Why can’t they just stop pucks, that’s all we need them to do is stop pucks.”

You would be surprised how often those phrases are uttered clandestinely amongst coaches, fans, hockey parents and unfortunately players and even teammates. It’s completely unfair and downright wrong to harshly criticize a goaltender when you have no idea what it takes to play the position. Instead of gaining knowledge and understanding of the position, people would rather continue to be negative and be critical of those that play the position.

Very few are experts when it comes to assessing, evaluating or even projecting young goaltenders. It’s extremely difficult to project those that play the position.

“They should have had that one, that’s a bad goal.”

“They will want that one back.”

Those phrases have become common place in hockey’s vernacular. People see the puck go in the back of the net and in many cases, they just assume and automatically default to those phrases. Why does everyone look at goaltenders and judge them on the bad goals instead of looking at the entire body of work? Is that make or break for some goaltenders from a scouting perspective?

What is the definition of a bad goal?

Longtime goaltending coach and consultant John Alexander outlined the following criteria surrounding bad goals.

“Goals from screen shots that have not been re-directed in any way. Goals scored on low net plays, wrap around, from a dead angle, net drives that don’t cross the royal road, would be considered bad goals,” Alexander said.

“Goals from a rebound given up to the same side as the original shot, goals scored on straight shots taken from the outside lanes or the area between the face-off dots to the boards, and goals scored on straight in shots taken from any location above the top of the circles would also classify as bad goals,” explained Alexander.

As far as make or break?

“It’s human nature to look for or seek out the negative as opposed to the positive,” said Alexander.

“Not understanding that the primary reason the game is played to score more goals than the opponent. Yes, that could be a make or break for the goaltender and positively as he/she moves beyond youth or Minor hockey, at that point it becomes a business with little if any concern for development unless it contributes directly to winning,” said Alexander.

“It’s easier to see their mistakes,” said longtime netminder and goaltending coach Trevor Nagle when asked the same question.
“I think non goalie coaches just don’t understand the full body of work that the position entails.”

“The position has changed so much and if you don’t keep up with the change you will get passed,” explained Nagle.

Nagle is quick to suggest more goaltending coaches are needed at the grass roots of the game and throughout the developmental process.

“There are plenty of private companies which is great, but in season goalie coaches for an entire season is where you can really make effective progress,” said Nagle.

From a scouting perspective what are the key lookfors when assessing and projecting the position, taking into consideration that young netminders need time to grow and development. The isolation and solitude of the goaltending position can be overwhelming. When it comes to goaltending everything is magnified. Knowing that going in when projecting young goalies definitely helps in the process.

What are the vital components when observing, assessing and evaluating young goaltenders?

“Even at a young age I look for body language, attitude, stance, skating and positioning,” said Nagle.

What’s the biggest misconception that scouts have about the position and young goaltenders when they are being evaluated?

“Well, I think one of the biggest misconceptions I have seen is game play, not enough consideration is taken from game play. There are young goalies who look great in drills, but might not carry over into gameplay, they might not have that hockey sense,” explained Nagle.

In your opinion why does it take longer for goaltenders to mature and develop?

“It is a really mental/technical position and I think it takes thousands of reps to get good at certain techniques,” stressed Nagle.

“A lot of the new goalie positions are not comfortable and it takes time and reps to get good at. Goalies need to have a reset button too, which isn’t easy,” he added.

Technique, poise, confidence, skating ability, hockey sense anticipation and battle and compete level, what’s the most important factor that people should look for when scouting young goaltenders and why are those aspects sometimes overlooked?

“Skating, positioning and body language are keys that I would be looking for in a try out process.

I think there is a lack of knowledge among some coaches about the goalie position and really don’t know what they should be looking for.”

“I like a goalie who stays in control for as long as possible, the position has changed, less is more,” Nagle said

“You want to be efficient and get yourself in the best possible position to make the save and then be in good enough control to possible make two or three saves.”

“A lot of non-goalie coaches want the goalie to challenge, the game is so fast, you need to get the angle first then depth if you can, the ability to read plays and understand the game is huge,” stressed Nagle.

Goaltenders and their parents deal with astronomical amounts of pressure, unattainable expectations all the while dealing with unfair criticism from others that have no idea about the position, financial and personal cost or the toll it takes on the player and family. If you have been around the game long enough, you will hear all of the horror stories associated with “hockey parents” but very seldom will you hear from “goalie parents.”

I think we all can agree hockey culture needs to change and it begins with the simplest of interactions between everyone involved.

Goaltenders and their parents often feel the brunt of those interactions, usually it’s subtle comments, but it’s those comments that pile up and create a wound that never fully heals.

It’s incredibly difficult to imagine the toll it takes on all of those that choose to don the pads.

They are always between a rock and hard place when it comes to playing between the pipes. Their impact should never be overlooked or taken for granted. They are often confronted and have to cope with an aspect of hockey culture is unique to the situation and position.

Goaltenders and their parents are unique, they aren’t perfect, but let’s face it no one is, so let’s all be mindful of their position within the hockey world.

Was that a bad goal?

Perhaps the next goal you see, instead of harshly criticizing those between the pipes, sit back and analyze the sequence, review the criteria of what a “bad goal” is before judging, yelling and screaming.

See you at the rink,