by Aris Jameson

Created on: May 28, 2008   Last Updated: April 03, 2010

The ice hockey goaltender is the most important position in the sport, requiring flexibility, agility, intelligence, and most importantly, mental and physical strength. Every goalie prepares for games in different manners, but there are some consistent aspects that appear in most pre-game routines.

The first component of preparation for a goaltender occurs before he or she even enters the ice surface. Most goalies are very superstitious about equipment and get dressed in an extremely meticulous fashion. For example, some goalies will always put on their left skate first, while others will not speak with anyone on the team until they are fully dressed.

Goalies go through these elaborate procedures for two reasons. The first is due to their superstitions, as they believe that their pre-game rituals help them become mentally prepared. While it is not necessary to prepare oneself in such a precise manner, most goalies would agree that it is desirable to have sort of pre-game ritual, as opposed to dressing haphazardly and having no sense of purpose before the game.

Obviously, the aforementioned rituals are all aspects of mental preparation, but physical preparation is also crucial for a hockey goaltender, particularly during warm-ups. Goalies usually devote have of their warm-up skates to stretching and skating drills, as the position requires an amazing amount of flexibility. The most frequently used muscles for a goalie are the groin and hamstring, as they are constantly extending their legs to make pads saves. (especially butterfly and hybrid goalies) It is also important to stretch out the arms and upper body, as goalies must rely on their gloves and blockers to defend the upper half of the net.

The final aspect of preparation for a goalie is conditioning, moth physical and mental. Physical conditioning is necessary because, unlike the other positions in hockey, the goaltender does not leave the game unless he or she becomes injured or is playing poorly, so it is crucial for goalies to have enough stamina and endurance to make big stops in the third period when the game is in the balance.

Despite being overlooked, mental conditioning is just as important as physical conditioning for a goaltender. Much like a pitcher in baseball or a quarterback in football, a goaltender must have enough mental toughness to maintain his or her focus after an inauspicious occurrence, such as a weak goal or penalty. Mental strength is particularly difficult for young goalies to

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>