Goalies

The Role

The goaltender is the most specialized position in hockey. You face shots from every angle, read complex plays in fractions of a second, and your performance directly determines the outcome of games. Goaltending is as much mental as it is physical.

Stance

Everything starts with your ready position.

• Feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, weight on the balls of your feet
• Glove hand out in front, slightly above the waist
• Blocker hand alongside the body with the stick blade flat on the ice
• Chest up, eyes level — don't hunch forward
• Stay compact but relaxed — tension kills reaction time

Movement

Good goalies don't make spectacular saves — they're in position so they don't have to.

Shuffles:

• Short, lateral movements to track the puck across the ice
• Keep your feet under you — never cross your feet on a shuffle
• Stay square to the puck at all times

T-pushes:

• For longer lateral movements (post to post, across the crease)
• Push off the back leg, lead with the front, and reset quickly
• Maintain your depth — don't back into the net

Butterfly slides:

• Drop and push laterally for cross-crease passes
• Keep your upper body upright and square
• Seal the ice with your pads — no gaps at the five-hole

Angle Play and Depth

Cutting down angles is the most important concept in goaltending.

• Challenge the shooter by moving out of the net toward the puck
• The further out you are, the less net the shooter sees — but don't overcommit
• On plays behind the net, stay tight to your post and seal it
• Read the play to know when to be aggressive vs. when to back in
• Use your crease markings as reference points for depth

Butterfly Technique

The butterfly is the foundation of modern goaltending.

• Drop to your knees with pads flared to seal the bottom of the net
• Keep your hands up and active — don't drop them with your body
• Drive your knees to the ice, don't sit back on your heels
• Recovery is key — practice getting up quickly from the butterfly
• Use the butterfly selectively, not as a default response to every shot

Reading the Play

Positioning means nothing if you can't read what's happening.

• Track the puck at all times, but be aware of players away from it
• Anticipate passes — watch the passer's eyes, stick angle, and body position
• On 2-on-1 rushes, take the shooter and trust your defense to cover the pass
• On breakaways, stay patient, stay square, and force the shooter to make the first move
• Communicate with your defensemen — you can see the entire ice

Video Resources

Video content for this guide is coming soon. We're curating the best YouTube instruction on goaltending — check back for updates.