This article may not be addressing what you first assumed when you look at the title. I’m not talking about slashing, hitting and fighting. I’m not talking about guys trying to win the Lady Byng trophy for the most gentlemanly player.
As it relates to the goalie, the “clean game” is an easier game to play. In simple terms, a clean game is made up of plays and offensive attacks that are structured, predictable and allow the goalie a clean view of the initial shots and solid preparation time to assess the rush. Examples of “clean game” situations are long two-on-ones, neutral zone breakaways and open wing slap shots or clear point shots.
A “dirty game” is one full of scrambles, screens, traffic, broken plays, bouncing pucks, fluky outcomes, and offensive attack chaos.
Clearly, any game will feature some proportion of each of these game styles. This proportion may vary by period, momentum shifts or other factors like injuries or power plays.
Over the years, I have seen many, many goalies and generally speaking, the “clean game” element is handled appropriately by most if they are playing at the ideal level. Once the game turns to the ugly or “dirty” game side with chaos present, a goalie’s real potential is revealed.
Here, you find out what you are made of. Many beer leaguers could actually handle some pretty good scoring threats during the clean parts of the game but once the dirty game chances started to fill the net, their upward path in hockey was stalled.
What are the requisite skills and characteristics that a good “dirty game” goalie should possess?
What can one do to improve in this crucial aspect of elite goaltending?
The first core element is burning puck focus and “lock on” skills. If you are good here, you find the “dirty” pucks through legs, double tips, loose open-net rebounds and those funny bounce pucks that no one else finds. Intensely following every puck in practice from the moment of release, in-flight and off your body will truly help here. Many goalies sort of watch pucks in practice. That won’t cut it.
The ability to compete and battle on every loose puck in practice, no matter how hopeless will directly correlate to game success in this area. Just this week I did a private lesson at 7:00 a.m. and my little student quit on several pucks. It was too much work.
Try filling the water tank on a Zamboni for 30 years at 7:00 a.m. That is too much work.
If you watch most minor hockey practices, you’ll frequently see less than full battle mode on loose pucks.
Athleticism has a key role here in your success in the “dirty game”. That is why, as an NHL scout, I place a priority on a potential pros’ athleticism. Willing to battle for loose pucks will be fruitless if you have the movement skills of my grandma. You must develop power, strength and your overall athleticism in the dryland environment.
Finally, many goalies get surprised by some “dirty game” goals and they appear to be a spectator along for the ride. You must maintain an arousal level and recognize danger before it comes to you. Expect the unexpected.
In an ideal world, goalies would get nice, vanilla, clean games to play. This is not, and will never be the case. A good “dirty game” goalie is worth a high draft pick and you will recognize them when you see them driving to the arena in a Diablo. |