The job of a goalie on an ice hockey team is to keep the puck out of the net. He must use a combination of reflexes, balance and agility to move around his crease and keep his team in the game.
Stick Position
When the puck is behind your net, position yourself in such a way that the puck cannot deflect off your stick into the net if it comes out front quickly. Go to the post that is closest to the puck. Position your pad in tight against the post, with your side along the post and your arm wrapped around it to the outside. The key is to have your stick blade on the ice, at about a 45-degree angle to the icing line. If the puck comes out and hits your stick, it will not deflect toward your net.
Effective Communication
One of the main functions of the goalie is to communicate with his teammates during the game because the goalie can usually see everything that is happening on the ice. Be vocal, and talk to your teammates if they are screening you, if an opposing player is close behind or if a man is open in front of the net. Also, it is customary for the goalie to smack his stick on the ice to alert his team that their power play has ended and the opposing player is returning to the ice.
Using the Butterfly
The butterfly is a goaltending technique popularized by hall of fame goalie Patrick Roy. The objective of the butterfly is to minimize openings for the opposing player by dropping down to your knees and spreading your pads our to either side. Your head and shoulders remain tall, and square to the puck, and the blade of your stick is on the ice between your pads. Your catching glove should be open and just above your pad, slightly in front of your body.
Basic Goaltending Stance
The goalie stance usually gets modified as a goalie gains experience and finds her own style. A good guide to follow when starting out is to stay low, with your knees bent and weight evenly distributed on the balls of your feet. Your body is square to the shooter, you are on the inside edges of your skates, your gloves are a little in front of your body and your stick is in front with the blade flat on the ice.
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