There is danger in every aspect of playing hockey and none more so than playing the position of goaltender. No matter how much courage a goalie has, the fact remains that he is on the wrong end of a shooting gallery and is subject to injury any time an opponent shoots the puck, even with all the protective equipment that is worn. A mask may provide the most obvious protection for the most vulnerable part of the body but it is the chest protector along with its adjunct arm protectors that provide padding for the core of the upper body. This equipment has undergone dramatic changes during the last four decades. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the goalie's chest protector was built along the lines of a baseball catcher's chest protector. It was thin and provided a layer of padding, but did little to take the sting away of booming shots to the body. Today's equipment is somewhat bigger and much stronger, allowing goaltenders to play with more confidence than his counterpart from generations ago.
What to Look for
Much like the goalie's blocker or skates, it is important for the goaltender to keep up with the modernization of the equipment and not to stay married to equipment simply because he has grown used to it. In the case of the chest protector, high-density foam and carbon fiber give the chest protector much greater strength without increasing the weight. As a result, a goaltender does not have to be concerned with muscle fatigue as a result of wearing it. The best chest protectors are hinged at the arms and don't leave any bare spots for the puck to sneak through and cause damage. The chest protector has a look similar to some sort of armor, but it is light, strong and breathable. They are significantly stronger than previous models at the shoulder and the collarbone area, which are particularly vulnerable.
Common Pitfalls
The best chest protectors go a long way toward eliminating the fear factor for today's goaltenders. A young goalie is always leery of the protection his equipment provides, but once he takes a hard slap shot directly into the protector--or even on its edges--he understands first hand that the protector actually works. However, it is important to check the equipment on a regular basis. If it somehow gets damaged or torn, it may lack the ability to protect and new equipment will be needed.
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