5 replies to this topic

[mockingduck]

anyone has an opinion?

i m not that good, but i have been playing as a skater for one year....but suddenly my cousin told me to become a goalie...but the thing is i already got all my gears for skater, what am i gonna do with my gears if i become a goalie..?

for the information, my eyes are not perfect, i use glasses in the classroom
please any advice that can convince me to be a goalie or a player from anyone..
thx

[Duckette]

anyone has an opinion?

i m not that good, but i have been playing as a skater for one year....but suddenly my cousin told me to become a goalie...but the thing is i already got all my gears for skater, what am i gonna do with my gears if i become a goalie..?

for the information, my eyes are not perfect, i use glasses in the classroom
please any advice that can convince me to be a goalie or a player from anyone..
thx

Ok, as a goalie who has a brother who is a Forward/D-Man, I can give you some insight. It all depends on your personal abilities and preference. I wear glasses in the classroom as well, but that does not bother me. I am still fine on the ice. I'll just type up some things that I think are important for each position.

Skating - Skating is VERY important for both positions. Don't think by playing goalie you will get out of skating. The skating is completely different and quite frankly, learning to skate for goalies is much harder than it is for skaters because you are relying more on your edges than you are on actually moving yourself forward.

Flexibility - IDK if you're a guy or a girl, and IDK how flexible you are. Girls are usually more flexible and I use that to my advantage in the net. I can go into the splits and contort my body in every-which-way to make a save. If you are not someone that is flexible at all, I do not recommend goaltending. You'll seriously hurt yourself if you cannot slide out to make a kick save.

Shooting - If you've got a good shot, then stick with playing as a skater. That's a skill you can always work on as well as your skating. If you're absolutely horrible and just have no hope, goaltending (or just defense) might be for you. You don't have anywhere near as much stick handling, but the stick handling you do have is completely different.

Gear - You say you have player gear. You can always sell it at a local 'Play It Again Sports' store. They buy all used sports equipment. I would suggest, if you are buying goalie gear, to try it on in a store with the help of someone that works there that IS a goalie and knows what they are talking about. Goalie gear is all about preference, but if you pick the wrong things, you wont be protected enough. Once you try it on in store, order it online. It's much cheaper. BUT, at the cheapest, you'll be looking at pricing like this:

Leg Pads - $300-$500
Skates (depending on Junior or Senior sizes) - $200-$500
Helmet - $300-$500
Chest pad - $250-$400
Pants - $150-$300
Glove - $150-$300
Blocker - $85-$250
Stick - $40-$275
Bag - $80-$150

For me, I spent somewhere around $1,805+ and that's only because I got gear at the end of the season when it was on clearance.

The only positive (money-wise) of being a goalie is in 90% of the leagues, they charge Goalie's either half price or some-what less than players, and for open practices, goalies are free (usually)

If you have only been playing as a player for a year, stick with it. Trust me, the grass always looks greener from the other side. One year is not long enough to decide. You have to be absolutely insane to be a goaltender, especially when you're playing from High School level and up. They pucks come at you hard and no matter HOW much padding you have on, you WILL get bruised and can always end up with serious injuries. Goalie pads don't protect from everything.

In the end, it's up to you. If you only wear glasses in the class room, it shouldn't be a problem. I have a pretty bad astigmatism and I can't see much from far away, but I'm fine on the ice.

I'm not gunna lie to you and say goaltending is easy. It's not. It's a lot of work and it takes a lot of energy to drop into a butterfly and pop back up. If you have bad knees, I highly advise you DON'T pick goaltending.

I guess over-all I'm saying stick with player for at least another year. Try to get into a Rec league if it's not too late for this summer where you can develop your skills. If you still wonder about it, borrow some gear from a friend who is a goalie, go to an open practice (they're usually called 'Skate and Shoots') and try it out.

It's your decision, just give yourself time and don't let others pressure you into it. If being a player was your first love, stick with it. I usually go with my gut instinct.

I hope that helped

[LightItUp4126]

If you decide to be a goalie, and want a cheap way to purchase the equipment, then you should check out HockeyMonkey.com. Just go to a sports store and try on the equipment first, and then order it online for a cheap discount. Same equipment, they just sell it cheaper with advertisement money.

But personally, I would never dream of being a goalie. I'd wake up in a cold sweat about the saves I should have made. In the long run, it seems better for my mental health to be a forward haha.

Duckette's right though, it's entirely personal preference, and if you feel comfortable on the ice with another 100 pounds weighing on you, then by all means, give it a shot. The only way to go is up at the beginning.

[Duckette]

For online gear, I suggest the following sites:

Hockey World.com

Goalie Monkey.com

Hockey Giant.com

I recommend them in that order. Hockey World usually has the best selection of goalie pads (IMO) for the best prices and they deliver their gear within 3-5 business days.

[jigglypuff]

I have to agree with Duckette, that if your not flexible its a problem, I've been playing in goal since I was very little and I've been told when I'm older my hips will be shot. But you can play a more stand up style which is less stressful on the old legs.

A good test you can do to see if your up for it, (I love this test ) Yet someone with a whole load of tennis balls and let them pelt you with them! and she how many you can deflect catch whatever. This also shows you the type of brusing you'll get if you play to a high level.

Also the BEST place for equipment is Dukes hockey in Toronto. They have the latest stuff and they customize at an ok price but the service is amazing!

[GO DUX]

As a goalie flexability is huge. You have to keep in mind the transition to goalie from skater is long and hard you have to be willing to work at it for possibly a whole season before you have any success.

You should decide based on your skills, strengths and weaknesses what style you wan't to play, Ex. Like Jiggy using a strong and wide butterfly or be an idiot and stretch out on the ice when a player comes near you (cough) Hasek.

On the equipment matter I wouldnt invest in equipment until you know whether or not you wan't to be a goalie it can be expensive so it's best to know for sure before you invest in expensive gear.