| Playing a sport on the ice is a tough challenge in itself. | | | | possible shot. |
| Playing as a goaltender is even more of a test. Ice | | | | 4. Communication - goalies should be the loudest on |
| Hockey Goalie is one of the hardest positions to play in | | | | the ice. Always talk with your defenseman and tell |
| sports. Opposing players trying to shoot a puck past | | | | them if there are any fore checkers coming at them. |
| you at speeds up to seventy miles an hour would be | | | | None of your defenseman have eyes in the back of |
| difficult for anyone. As a goaltender for the defending | | | | their head. Yell to them, "You have time!" or "One |
| ECAC Northeast Champion Nichols College Bison, here | | | | hard!" Be loud and communicate with your teammates. |
| are seven tips to help you reach your greatest | | | | 5. Ready Position - never be too relaxed on the ice. |
| potential: | | | | When the opposition skates past the midline (Red Line) |
| 1. Stretching/Pregame - before every practice or | | | | always be prepared for a shot. You never know |
| game you should always get a good stretch in. Make | | | | when you will have shot taken on you. It could be from |
| sure you keep your legs loose and limber to avoid | | | | the slot, point, or even from past the blue line. Teams |
| injuries. There are hundreds of different stretches you | | | | tend to dump the puck in the zone for a line change |
| can do by yourself to loosen up your legs before you | | | | and they might just dump it in on goal. Always be in the |
| get on the ice. You will not be able to play to well if | | | | ready position, ready for a shot. |
| you are on the sidelines with a pulled hamstring or a | | | | 6. Freeze the puck - do not hesitate to freeze the |
| groin pull. My first tip is very important, get in a good | | | | puck. When you feel your team needs a line change, |
| stretch! | | | | or even if your team is all out of sync cover the puck |
| 2. Warm-up shots - after you are stretched, slowly | | | | and get a face off. It can be beneficial to you as a |
| start moving around taking some warm-up shots. Ask | | | | goalie to slow the game down. If the opposing team |
| a few of your teammates to take some easy wrist | | | | has momentum, you should want to slow the game |
| shots on you, from close range and move farther out. | | | | down. The only time you should want to keep play |
| Make sure you are moving from your left and to your | | | | moving is when you are on a power play. When on a |
| right. Ask them to spread apart and rotate shots so | | | | power play you do not want a face off in your zone. |
| you are moving around. | | | | 7. Never get down on yourself - if you give up a goal, |
| 3. Check your angles - this is very easy for you to do. | | | | you have to forget about it. Do not let one goal ruin |
| While on the ice and in net, choose markers for | | | | your entire night. There are so many goalies that give |
| yourself to keep your angles correct. If you have good | | | | up a quick goal and get down on themselves. This is a |
| angles, the shooters have nothing to shoot at. They will | | | | big mental game, if you know you can play well you |
| have no option, but to hit you in the pads or in the | | | | will. Forwards are meant to score goals; it is part of |
| chest. Always use the end of your stick to tap the | | | | the game. Play hard for sixty minutes every game. |
| post behind you when skaters are coming down for a | | | | |