By Bob Janosz
In today’s game, puck handling is an important but often overlooked skill for goaltenders. (This especially is an area of weakness for the majority of youth-level goaltenders.) They either leave too many rims or turn the puck over too much. In many cases, coaches—as well as goalies themselves—get frustrated with the turnovers so they are discouraged from handling the puck. This can lead to a lack of confidence and skill as goalie moves up to the higher levels of hockey. This article provides goalies with some simple tips to help them effectively move the puck.
Philosophy The goaltender’s job is to help start the breakout by “setting” the puck for a defenseman or by “moving” it to an open teammate. The goaltender doesn’t necessarily require a great shot to be proficient at puck handling, but it certainly does make life easier on clears and rims. For the most part, the goaltender will be making a short pass to their defenseman in the corner, or winger on the half wall.
Approach The goaltender should start just inside the top of the crease and anticipate—not cheat—as the player approaches center ice. Being too aggressive will lead to a greater distance to travel, whereas being too deep will cause the goaltender to lose speed by having to rotate too much to get behind the net. I recommend either the continuous T-Push or T-Push to C-Cut, as the best method of getting behind the net quickly to get set up for effective puck handling.
D to Corners The defensemen should make themselves available for a pass in each corner whenever possible. A common mistake is that the defensemen often follow the attacking forechecker and do not position themselves for a pass, which limits the goalie’s options. The defensemen should also skate back hard to allow the goaltender (and themselves) more time to make a play.
Face Up-Ice The goaltender should strive to face up-ice whenever possible. Obviously, this will make reading the forecheck much easier. If the goaltender does not have enough time to completely face up-ice, he or she should at least rotate enough to be able to see both walls. The goaltender should also look over his/her shoulder as they are going back to stop the puck, and not after they stop the puck. Most teams send two forecheckers hard, with the third forward trying to take away the strong side half wall.
- Backhand side – Try to stop the puck with one or both hands, with the top hand on the butt end to enable you to move the puck quicker. Pull the puck off the boards and face up-ice when possible.
- Forehand side – Stop the puck with one or both hands at the butt-end, and face up-ice.
Goalie faces up-ice and passes to the D in the corner
Communication It is imperative for the goaltender and defensemen to have simple cues to help in the decision-making process. Every team may have their own system, but some common cues are: Play It or Rim It, Leave It, Over or Reverse, or simply calling the Goalie’s Name if they are open.
- Play It or Rim It The goaltender plays the puck around to the winger, or he/she shoots the puck high and hard to clear the zone. (This is more of a last resort when there are limited options.)
- Leave It The goalie leaves the puck in a position where the defenseman can pick it up on his forehand.
- Over or Reverse The goaltender plays the puck to the opposite side that they are facing (usually a backhand pass).
- Goalie’s Name The defenseman who wants the puck and is open is the only player that calls for it. This is probably the easiest system to employ.
In summary, puck handling is an important skill for goalies to possess. He or she can start the breakout and cut down on defensive-zone time for their team, and can also help prevent their defensemen from receiving unnecessary bodychecks. As a goaltender, the keys are to have good communication with your teammates, read the forecheck, and execute the safest play.
Bob Janosz, Assistant Goaltender Coach of the Buffalo Sabres, is the Head Instructor of Janosz Goaltending Camps. From an article originally appearing in NY Hockey Online, March 2015. Published with permission of NY Hockey Online.
Not a bad article, but I do have a few things to add.
I have played in goal for some 40 years with a style that is a mash of Plante, Esposito, Hextall and Brodeur. To me, making a good clearing pass to a forward breaking across the neutral zone is as satisfying as making a big glove save. As the article states, coaches were infuriated when my incessant puck handling ended up in our own net. On the other hand, everyone loved it when i went into the corner and whipped the puck up to our lazy forwards dogging it back way up at center ice.
The biggest problem I found was that defensemen would see me with the puck as they came back. A defenseman coming back has without a doubt the worst view of the ice. They are barreling back, generally a few yards from the goal line, screaming for the puck, sometimes with a forechecker hot on their heels. And worst of all, they have their backs turned to everyone on the ice, save for me.
I always told the defense that they must clear wide towards the boards, and that I and only I will decide where the puck was going. Their natural inclination was to skate right at the goalie.
Another thing the article states is the using of the goalie’s name. I’ve had clever opponents solve that one and try calling my name. This also happened when I had an ex-teammate playing on the other side. Using names is better than simply calling for the puck, but I always told them, don’t count on a pass unless I can see you. I’m not winging it blindly on a voice call.
Finally, skaters need to have a plan (as stated in the article). Even in the pro game, most of the time a goalie plays the puck, it becomes a redundant exercise, as he’s usually playing it to a player coming back. There’s no point in playing the puck from around the crease to the blueline if a player simply brings it right back to where it started. I always told my defense to come back, to be an outlet, but that the forwards should curl at the neutral zone and look for a lead pass.
Excellent comment, Geoffrey. Thanks very much!