r/hockeygoalies

I’m firmly in my beer league era and I am looking for any suggestions on pregame rituals that help you get ready for puck drop. My issue lately is I start slow which leads to a couple early goals, after which I settle in and play well. So far this season I’m averaging ~2.5 GA in the 1st period on a total GAA of ~4.5.

We only have 3min of “warmup” time on the ice before puck drop and that’s just not enough time for me to get a good ice stretch and feel enough shots to be locked in at the start.

Anyway, help!

Hello goalies,

I live in a hockey city in Canada and I noticed that there are more spots for skaters than they are for goalies. I’ve had to fight for ice time and improve in order to be asked to play on a team or be invited routinely for pick-up and it’s become an unusual stress point for beer league.

I’d also like to think that the position has become much more popular with the protection of modern equipment where it has become less about taking out the sting and more about controlling the rebound.

I thought I was doing the community a favour getting back into the position but it turns out - it is a competition and I find myself having to fight for ice time. It feels like the equivalent of trying to get a quarterback position - one spot for someone who heavily influences the game.

Is anyone in a similar predicament? I feel like there are so much more goaltenders than ever before and the ice time does not come easy.

I am using a set of Bauer X5 pads and blocker with a CCM eFlex 7.5 catcher.

I absolutely love the 580 break but protection could be a bit better.

I have an opportunity to purchase a brand new Bauer Vapor 90 with Hyperlite 2 graphics (so matches the X5s) for $399 CAD, which puts it in the price range of an eFlex 7.9 ($379) and the new SV Pro 90 ($399).

The pro eFlex 7 at $600+ is out of my price range.

Was just wondering if this is a no brainer vs the eFlex 7.9. Only reason I am hesitant is how much I like the 7.5 so might consider sticking to CCM.

Anything other than the pure hockey sale ontop of their clearance items?

What are the best certified cages in your opinion, I have to get a new one, I feel like the certified cat eye is my personal favorite but what do you recommend?

I’m planning to start ice hockey soon and I’m stuck between the choice of being a player or a goalie and I’m not sure which to choose

This is one for the older goalies and I'm curious how many younger goalies heard this growing up:

***When the goalie loses his stick, a defenseman should give his stick to the goalie.***

Obviously this sounds bonkers in today's game, but in the pre butterfly days, this was a real tactic. The wisdom being, a goalie needs a stick to stop shots on the ice.

I'm 33 and still have memories of my bantam coach yelling this out. I stopped hearing it once I had a real goalie coach in highschool around 2007, but I'm curious how long this prevailed.

Have you ever done this and how old are you?

I got the thinned out version and didn’t think much of it, but now that I’m starting to face way better shooters I feel it lacks control completely, and anything that goes of the top or outer right just makes it flap over if I look at it in slo mo.
Do I really have to go out and buy the thick version mehhhh

I've grown up playing street hockey and I shoot right handed, and I want to get into a men's league and play goalie as it's been a dream of mine for many years. I'm right handed as well, so I was wondering if anyone who plays goalie has any advice. Do I go with the conventional setup? I'm somewhat used to this because I've played with this stance before, but I hate how my stick is on my weak shooting side. Or do I go for a right handed glove, have more dexterity for catching and lose some dexterity on my stick side? I feel like the shooting instincts are a more fundamental skill and I should build around that, but let me know what you think.

So I'm in the market for a pro level chest protector. I've been fine the past couple years in my Bauer Elite, but now that's breaking down and there seems to be a power creep in my D3 league of guys who can shoot hard, I'm starting to feel a lot more shots. No bruises or any lasting effects, but it's a good shock to the system.

Ideally, I'd like to spend around 200 bucks, so I'm settling for used and I've found some decent ones in my range. Based on features and adjustability, I feel like the Warrior RX4 Pro is kinda the sweet spot I'm looking for. Unfortunately, haven't found one...been finding a few RX3 Pros and I'm leaning towards pulling the trigger on getting that, but I recently came across a G4 Pro that is in better condition (only worn 4 games) and seems to have a lot of the same features.

Is there any major benefit to getting a chest protector made in the last few years vs almost 10 years ago? In this case, it seems like the RX is built off of and has almost the same exact features of the G4, but if I expand my search to other brands is a V8 pro carbon that much worse than a V10?

Edit: Obviously still gonna go to Pure Goalie Monkey and try stuff out, maybe pay more and get something there. Custom is out of the question since I'd like to be in something better by the start of my season in June.