The Size Myth

According to an issue of “Goalies World” magazine, the NHL goalies with the best save percentage and goals against average the past two years have been in the 5’10” to 6’ range.

While it is true, big goalies take up more space than smaller goalies, is the space that the larger goalie occupies, net related? The net is only four feet high so a goalie standing 6 feet tall is actually occupying two more feet of space than is necessary. A 1/3rd cup of water is smaller than a ½ cup of water, however both fill a ¼ cup. This example also holds true with the size of the goaltender when related to the size of the net.

Some may argue that the taller goalie is wider but this is not usually the case due to equipment sizing restrictions and the fact that most goalies are roughly the same width, across the body. Being big does not mean you look big or play big! Goalies of any size must play as compact as possible for if they expose large holes through the body they can become vulnerable and therefore small. Goalies, along with players and coaches, must understand the angles that the puck has available to it when the shot is released and fill that gap. Angles do not always mean depth; it is also the understanding of net access, around and over the goaltender by the puck. It is the understanding of, vertical and horizontal angles.

As outlined in a previous article, “From the Puck’s Perspective”, what the puck sees and what the shooter sees are two different things.

Most goalies will make the save at the top of the crease or about a foot further. Using the angle that the puck sees when leaving the ice even a goalie 5’6” to 6’ tall will have their shoulders covering the cross bar and more.

**HINT: Try putting a puck out between the hash marks, have a goalie come out to the top of the crease and go down in the butterfly. Lie down behind the puck and look at what the puck sees. You will be amazed at what you see.**

Shooters view 6’ Goalie

Pucks View 6’ Goalie

The pictured goalie, is 6’ tall, and positioned at the top of the crease. Notice how much of his shoulders are above the cross bar. A second goaltender, say 5’6” tall, positioned at the top of the crease can also not be beaten over the shoulders, by the ears, on a shot from the center hash marks. Despite the vast difference in height of the smaller goaltender, their shoulders, from the puck’s view and angle, will still be higher than the height of the crossbar.

Playing big and playing wide have more to do with the ability and understanding of center shifting or body activation, as outlined in “Advanced Rebound Control”. Being able to play big and wide has more to do with knowledge of angles in relation to the puck and gap control with the same puck, than they do with the actual size of the goaltender!

MTN is not saying that big goalies are not good, great goalies come in many sizes. What MTN is trying to dispel is that the big goalie covers more net. Yes, in the eyes of the shooter he is a bigger target but in the eyes of the puck and the 4’x6’ being protected, is the taller goalie at an advantage? Again, goalie equipment width is regulated and the difference in width of a short goalie versus tall is negligible. So, if a shot is coming from the blue line at mid ice, again, who covers more net?

If you are still having trouble with this concept let’s look at the math:

The blue line is 60 feet away from the goal line; the top of the crease is 6 feet from the goal line. That leaves a distance of 54 feet for the puck to travel. Assuming the puck shot is directed under the cross bar, a height of 4’. This means that when reaching the top of the crease the puck’s height will be 41 inches high(trajectory) in order to go in right under the crossbar. A goalie that is only 5’6” when in a butterfly position will have his shoulders at a height of 41.5 inches; higher than the puck’s height! A 6’1” goalie when down has a shoulder height of 46inches, naturally he is taller but the angle that the puck is coming from, he is protecting areas over the net. Both goalies are still covering the net opening and we haven't even factored into play the width of the puck (One inch). As the puck gets nearer the net, the angle of trajectory also increases, again assisting the goalie, big and small, in net coverage.

Once again, center shifting, understanding gap control and angles relating to the puck are more relevant than size.

So, why do coaches favor bigger goalies? Is it because they don't know better? That is why you hear comments from coaches like" You can't win with out good goaltending, but I don't know anything about it." Unfortunately, there are many goaltenders who have been told their entire career they were too small thus adopting styles of play that are overactive, causing more work than necessary. Were Grant Fuhr, Ed Belfour and Tony Esposito too small? By today’s standard…yes. It is time to give goaltenders both short and tall their due. Can they keep the puck out of the net and add to the team style and atmosphere? If so, hold on to them for dear life!

On a side note, can looking small to the shooter, yet playing big to the puck be a defensive asset to the goaltender and his team? The game of hockey revolves around puck possession. If your team has the puck you want to keep it away from your opponent. If your opponent has the puck, your team wants to take it away from them. So if an opponent shooter believes that he has open net exposed, will they shoot the puck? Yet if the goaltender is well positioned when this happens there will be a limited chance of scoring success and therefore, has the goaltender’s positioning made the opponent give up puck possession?