In my mind, one of the goalie-issues least addressed by coaches today is PRACTICE HABITS. Face it: Goaltending is one of the most difficult positions to play in all of sports. Only two or three goalies will make it onto an entire roster of 20-plus players and only one goalie at a time plays in a game. Coaches tend to focus more on the players. Add to that the fact that, once you get to certain elite levels, the differences in goaltending ability appear miniscule, and this results in every move being scrutinized and no mistake ever going unnoticed. For goalies, more so than players, it takes a certain level of precision and focus to be consistent and successful.

So, what’s a goaltender to do? I recently found an article by Brian Daccord of Stop It Goaltending in Goalies World Magazine, with some terrific ideas. The article on "Efficient Practices" lists 8 steps that should be utilized in practice to maximize a goaltender’s development and positive habits. I would like to share them with you here in the hopes that you will work these into your own practices this season and beyond.

Brian Daccord says, "So many goalies think they are working hard at practice, but they really aren't. The first step to becoming better at practice is to raise your mental focus. So many times one drill can lead into another and goalies can get into a complacent rut. Here is a list of things that you can do in practice to maximize your time on the ice:

1. Keep track of your goals against in practice by segments of ten shots. Challenge yourself to stop nine out of ten for a .900 save percentage. If you give up a couple of goals early in your ten count then bear down and don't get discouraged. If you have a run going, don't get complacent...get the shutout.

2. After a shot is taken on net and there is a rebound, don't take your eyes off the puck. Follow it and recover just like Sidney Crosby was about to pounce on the puck. Get square and set for every rebound, just like a game. Also, ask your coach to give you an added couple of seconds to follow your rebounds in drills.

3. If a rebound is lying in front of you, cover the puck like an opponent is about to stab at it. If it is a little too far out of reach to cover it then knock it away with a sense of urgency. Play every puck like it is a game situation. Too many goalies just push pucks to the corner when they are lying in front with no purpose.

4. Make every drill a goalie drill. When the coach is explaining the drill, imagine what goalie techniques and systems you will utilize to maximize your own performance. Go into each drill with a desired outcome and you will get more out of it.

5. Imagine that there is an NHL scout sitting in the top row of the stands and this is your chance to show him what you've got. Show him your passion for the position and enjoyment of the game by your effort and enthusiasm.

6. Communicate with your teammates throughout team concept drills. Don't just wait for games to get vocal. Yelling instructions and helping teammates will get you more involved in practice and get your teammates used to having you assist them.

7. Integrate with other players in practice. Goaltending can be a lonely position sometimes. Chat up your teammates; challenge them to score on you! The better the relationships that you can build with your teammates, the harder they will play for you.

8. Practice for real. Do all the drills hard and try to get better with each shot, each drill and each practice. By doing this you will earn the respect of coaches and players, but most importantly, you will develop self-respect.”

These are all great things that you can do to help yourself. And if you have any doubts about the benefits of practice, just think about the 2004 season of Calgary Flames goaltender, Miikka Kiprusoff. That season, as a member of the San Jose Sharks, Kipper was third string behind Vesa Toskala and Evgeni Nabokov. His only on-ice time with the team was practice time. In fact, the team trainer kept stats for him in practice in the hopes of keeping him sharp for the time when an opportunity would finally arise. That opportunity did come towards the end of the season when Calgary Flames starter Roman Turek was sidelined with a season-ending injury. Frantic to find a replacement, Calgary called San Jose, Kiprusoff was shipped to the Sharks and he was immediately anointed the starter in the midst of a heated playoff push!

End result? Because he was ready, Kiprusoff nearly single-handedly propelled the Flames to the Stanley Cup finals, displaying one of the most dominant performances in Stanley Cup playoff history. The Flames were eventually ousted by the Tampa Bay Lightning, but Kippers’ run created the opportunity for him to be a starting goaltender in the show for years to come. All because he practiced like there was no tomorrow.

See you in the crease!

Mac

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