There are many debates in sports around the most important position on the team. So what about hockey?
The most important position in hockey is the goalie. Without impeccable goaltending, your team will not win many games. If another position player makes a big mistake, their goalie can bail them out. They are the last line of defense.
The complexities of the goalie position run deep. What about goalies makes the position so special?
Why is Goalie the Most Demanding Position?
It is no surprise to hockey fans the goalie has the hardest job on the ice. When watching them warm-up, stretching by performing the splits and doing tight ice drills is part of the routine. Extreme flexibility and always being mentally sharp are key qualities. If you have an off game, your team loses. If another player has an off game, it is hardly noticeable.
Goalies have to be in great shape. Yes, all professional athletes are at the top of the world in being able to perform with their bodies, but goalies add another layer. There are 82 games in a regular NHL season, and the top goalie will play most games. The physical taxation of 60-minute games takes a toll on their body. They are not skating up and down the ice, but they are wearing 10-15 pounds of gear that constantly soaking up water.
Goalies do not get a break outside of period intermissions. If you have watched a game, you have seen a water bottle on top of the net so the goaltender can easily access some liquid juice while they are playing (and constantly sweating). Teams that make it all the way to the Stanley Cup must have a decent backup goaltender. Because first-team goalies can only play about 70% of the games, this proves the physical demands of the position.
The physical nature in itself is demanding but try the mental capacity as well. Yes, the players must be smart and know the game of hockey, but I am referring to the mental battle to stay focused and positive during the game, not to mention the reflex and reaction time. If you are a visiting goalie and you get scored on, get ready for the chants to ensue. It is not uncommon for signs to be made and pushed against the glass, throwing some jabs at the visiting goaltender.
A goalie is constantly watching and analyzing the play in front of them through their mask. Teams will do homework on the opposition, knowing what plays they like to run, who shoots most often, who passes more than shoots, etc. Analyzing the data in front of them allows their quick reflexes to move their bodies to the right position, giving themselves a good chance to make the save. If the goalie is out of position, you are not going to save a puck from going in the net, no matter how good your reflexes are.
Is Goalie the Hardest Position in Hockey?
With hockey being the most important position in hockey, you could also argue it is the hardest position as well. We already went over the demands, which in itself could make it the hardest. Also, it is hard to make it to the top levels because teams only carry 2 goalies on the active roster. Right now, there are 31 NHL teams with a few more on the horizon. That means there are 62 goalies at the top level. It is hard to succeed at any professional level, but the goalie is up there at the top.
Another reason goalie is the hardest is because of the scrutiny and critiques that follow the position. There are no games off. You have one bad game and teammates and the press will start questioning your skill level. Put a few bad games together, and you might just earn yourself a seat on the bench next to the coaches for a few consecutive games. The goalie play is talked about before and after every game. There is so much mental pressure put on the goalie from outside forces, it makes it extremely difficult to win.
If the goalie makes a big mistake, the result is points on the board for the other team. There is so much pressure put on goalies to perform even at a young age; one goalie plays at a time, whereas players are battling for 20 other spots on the roster. They play all 60 minutes, play close to all regular-season games, and looked at for leadership in the locker room. Top NHL goalies are rewarded with nice paychecks, further showing their high value. A physically demanding position both mentally and physically, the player keeping the pucks out of the net is the heartbeat of the team.
What Makes a Good Hockey Goalie?
Skills pay the bills, and it is no difference between the pipes. What makes a good goalie is how fast they can develop the needed skill set to perform at the NHL level. Most goalies do not see the professional level until their mid-twenties. This is why you see goalies get picked later in the draft, usually in the third round. This is hard to compare against the earlier writing. If it is the hardest position to play, you would think they would be high picks in the first round.
Other skilled positions will go first and you can see those kids in the NHL earlier, sometimes even at age 18 or 19. The reason is their skills are ready to perform for their team. It just takes longer to match their skills with goalies that can stop their shots. Another common way for goalies to be good at their role is experience in Europe or Russia. It is very common for teams to draft players from other countries, let them play in their foreign leagues for a few years, then bring them over to the states.
A big factor that contributes to making a good hockey goalie is their positive attitude. I know that sounds elementary, but goalies must be mentally resilient from the start. If the goalie is confident, so goes the team. If a goal is scored on him or her, and they start moping around and hanging their head, the team will be deflated. They must be positive and have a ‘forget the past, on to the next play’ mentality.
Another obvious but key point is stepping up in big moments. Fans remember the players that made ‘the play’ in a critical point in the game. This can define a goaltenders career. They have to step up in big moments. If a key goal scorer misses a shot or plays below average in an important game, no one really remembers. If a goalie lets the puck sneak through one too many times or has a below-average game, you know they are going to hear about it. If they step up and make the saves, they will go down in history as a great goalkeeper. They cannot fold under pressure.
Are Hockey Goalies Crazy?
You might wonder why this is a legitimate question, but if you listen to broadcasters enough or stick around the sport, you will start to hear comments about the personalities of goaltenders. When asked if their goalie is quirky or weird they will usually respond, “think about it, they are signing up to get rubber shot at them at speeds over 100 mph. Who signs up for that?” Great point.
Between the superstitions that some goalies may have, to comments they make in interviews, you can conclude that they might be the fun one in the bunch. You can research weird quirks and tendencies NHL goalies have had over the years, and you will find some gold. You will find everything from dyeing hair before every game to kissing goalposts every game to attacking a referee during gameplay.
Before 1959, goalies did not wear masks. Think about that. Yes, I know shots were probably not whizzing buy at 100+ mph, but still, rubber coming at you at any speed is a little daunting. Goalies are a different breed. They love their gearing, painting their masks to reveal their personalities, they study the game harder than anyone and are unpredictable with the words that will come out of their mouth next.