beedee

My first Rookie League game is this Sunday, I am excited. I'm sure the ability level of the skaters will be all over the place. Oh well, got to start somewhere. Also, my buddy whom has played goal all his life (and is 10 years younger) is going to give me some on-ice instruction at a StickTime on Monday. I am thinking of bringing the GoPro for that one. Side note, the same guy mentioned above works at Goalie Monkey and said I just missed Ryan Miller by 10 minutes yesterday when I was on my way to the store.

Thats a bummer man. Was there a defensive lapse by your team in the 3rd? Certainly looks like the offensive didn't show up for your team.

Has anyone tried the Nike Combat Compression series?

thanks p22! i dont currently use compression shorts, sounds like they would be a great investment. do the ones you use have the velcro tabs for socks? im currently using the baggy mesh ones from Warrior.

So I am still experiencing a lingering strain type of feeling behind my left knee, kind of at the bottom of my hamstring. I think it could be from overuse of those muscles? I played 3 times in net last week and skated out once. I'm doing my best to rest it up, and am taking this week off from clinics. Anyone else experience this? I don't recall hyper-extending my legs at any points during any of my sessions. The discomfort was at its highest point on Sunday and has slowly declined since then, but it hasn't gone away. I have been stretching every night, and been using a foam roller as well since Sunday. Thoughts?

thanks for the pointers psulion22! all the things you called out about novices and the BF push explains my poor technique when I first tried how to do it! that is exactly the advice i was looking for, proper technique when learning new moves. when i first tried it, i had no idea of what i was doing, but thinking back i had WAY too much weight on the front leg. i will try these again tomorrow night, now that i understand the proper way to do them. OR, regarding the socks. I haven't tried compression pants yet, but honestly the socks I use aren't all that hot at all, they are game-used LA Kings away socks, not sure the maker, but they breathe very well. I also like them due to the fact (like you mentioned) they keep the knee guards in place, not only that, they protect the insider liner of my pants so the velcro tabs won't tear them up. And yes, this thread is a God'send. I'm very happy you made it, I love coming here and seeing the new replies from fellow new goalies and the veterans who have been so helpful!

Speaking of knee guards, my buddy at GM recommended these to me and I have been using them since day one, they are great, and they don't slip. (i do wear them under my hockey socks). At first they kind of pinched the outer, upper area above my knee, but once you wear them a couple times that pinch goes away. http://www.goaliemonkey.com/bauer-goalie-supreme-knee-guards-sr.html

Man, thanks again guys. I really appreciate the feedback! I'm glad I am able to post here and everyone is mature enough to post constructive feedback for us noob tendies! I'm planning on doing a clinic again tomorrow night so I will be sure to work on all of the things mentioned! I also want to learn to do the butterfly push/slide, I haven't even tried it yet, but I have watched many videos on it.

Thanks OR, I plan to keep on trucking! I am really wanting to learn the position, this new venture has renewed my passion for playing the game! My knees are doing fine actually, I just turned 40 in November. I definitely need to stretch more and I think I over did it last week, played 4 times in 7 days. I am feeling a slight strain behind my left knee, so I have been taking it easy since Saturday. I'm hoping it feels better by tomorrow night, as I want to do the Wednesday night clinic at KHS! Thank you Hills! I totally see what you mean, and I think that is how that first goal got by me in the video, my stick was down, but it was resting on the heel, leaving most of it up off the ice! I hear ya on the butterfly needing to be driven into, I'm sure in time I will get that down. Really appreciate your pointers, thank you. Thanks Badger. Each time out I feel like I am getting better at keeping the stick down, and like Hills said, once I get that back up and straight, it will help me keep the stick flat on the ice. Regarding the C/A, I am not too sure of the size, it is either a medium or large. The side angle definitely shows that it is kind of bulky, being that it is the first one I've ever worn, I'm not too sure if I should be able to feel more mobile in it than I am. Although I do think I should be slightly more mobile that I am in it. I have looked everywhere on it and couldn't find a size tag. I got it from a buddy whom is maybe an inch taller than me, so I am leaning towards a medium? Here is a pic of the gear I am using, except I am not using that glove and blocker. The C/A is an older Bauer Supreme, not sure of what exact model though.

Alright guys, please go easy on me, here is some video from my very first game in goal (same game as the breakaway video I posted above). I have only had 3 clinics under my belt before taking the plunge. Only 1 clinic had a small lick of goalie instruction. First two clips are of two goals (not consecutive shots). The first one, I don't think it went 5-hole, but Im not too sure to be honest. Second one I was too slow to get over to the near post…and there weren't any of my team I was subbing for picking up BOTH guys wide open in front. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iow_3516Qc&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iow_3516Qc&feature=youtu.be

i forgot to mention that couldnt have asked for a nicer team to sub for, at the end of the game they hand out a momento (like what many nhl and minor league teams do) to the most deserving player for that game and they gave it to me! theirs was a rad WWF championship belt, I was touched that they did that for me, they were also saying how they couldnt tell that I was playing my first game ever as a goalie! What a great very first game in goal it was!

Thanks OR! My wife took a lot of video again so I have watched and taken note of where I can improve. Just saw the scoresheet for the game and I faced 29 shots.

i popped my beer league cherry this afternoon! we lost 5-2, but i can honestly say that 3 werent entirely my fault. gave up one in the first on a 2 on 1, it was the fourth shot of the game. the second i gave up 4, yikes.the second goal i had under my glove, trapped on the ice and the forward shoved at it and poked it in...D was nowhere to be found. 3rd one was on me, a two on one that i read well but didnt get my blocker over in time, 4th goal was a bad 5-hole, my stick was on the ice but i must have slightly lifted it. 5th and final goal was a rebound that came ofd the end boards and no D was there to tie up the guy in the slot and he got his stick on it and chipped it over my shoulder. I held them scoreless in the 3rd though! Even stuffed a breakaway, below is a link to a video of the breakaway! All in all I had a blast, it was lower level but the other team had some sandbaggers. I was nervous all day but once I took warmups the jitters went away! Cant wait til my clinic on Monday and Wednesday night! https://instagram.com/p/2M6kiruoTw/ one more link in case the instagram one didn't work: https://www.facebook.com/bret.davidson/videos/vb.720394257/10153428724084258/?type=2&theater&notif_t=like

im in the same boat as OR. no issues switching back to goal skates after skating out. i do think i will switch out my wax laces for regular cloth though on my goal skates.

thanks badger. i seem to do alright during drills and scrimmages regarding saves, I would say Im definitely above the 50% mark. Dont get me wrong, not saying Im great but Im also not Bambi on ice either.

Well I might jump in a low-level "copper" division game this Saturday at my rink. Some guys have been very encouraging in this goalie sub group i'm in on FB.

Thanks OR. Im planning on doing another clinic this monday and this wednesday again. Pick Up doesnt seem appealing at all to me due to the fact that no one plays defense at all. I played pick up this last Saturday night (skated out) and felt beyond sorry for our goalie. He was constantly facing 2 on 0 and even 3 on O. I do like how most of these clinics have included about 10 minutes of scrimmage time at the end. It has allowed me to get some game-like experience.

For those newer goalies here, how many clinics and/or pickup games did you guys play before getting on a team? I know everyones ability varies, but Im just trying to see how others approached it.

Tonights clinic at KHS was awesome! The coach really knows how to run these things, and genuinely cares about everyone that is on the ice. We started off with about 5 minutes of dicking around with pucks, shooting on us goalies. (4 goalies total tonight) We then went into various skating drills for the next 15-20 minutes or so...and he customized the drills to the goalies, which was sweet! After the skating drills we broke off into groups, with a goalie at each net (4 nets set up cross ice from each other in each zone. He had everyone (including goalies) put their sticks on the bench. We proceeded to do 2 on 2 with a soccer ball, that was fun! It really emphasized skating. After about 10 minutes of that we did 2 on 2 cross ice scrimmage. In order to shoot and have possealsion you had to pass the puck to the coach on the blue line, then he would pass it back into play...this then rolled into 3 on 3. I had a blast and am feeling more comfortable on the ice with each session. I really believe having a solid background in skating out has really helped me transition into goalie. Im still wanting to get instruction on the different types of pad slides and what not. I did practice VH and reverse VH during the scrimmage, so that was cool.I also worked on keeping my legs a bit wider, knees more bent, and a straighter back. Overall I felt great, I also was doing a great job keeping my stick down on the ice, it is slowly but surely becoming habit. I will be there next Wednesday for sure!

Thanks psulion22. I haven't had any formal instruction yet, so your feedback is much appreciated. I forget what was going on in the picture, but it does look like my glove hand was on the move. I know I struggled with what way I should hold it, like you said, i need to pick "up" or "out". I will focus on what you have said this next session tomorrow night. From what I understand, there will be actual goalie coaches at the clinic, so I am hoping to get tons of instruction and guidance.

haha, i knew i would get called out on that! thanks again man for your help in this new realm of hockey for me.

first action shot of me, this was my 2nd time on the ice as tendy. had a great workout, lots of skating drills, then 2 on 0, 2 on 1, and 3 on 3 o'zone scrimmage. i was the only goalie out there tonight and didnt receive any extra goalie instruction. the goalie instructor had a game that conflicted with our clinic. my wife took multiple videos and i can tell i need to keep my glove hand up higher, and my overall posture needs to be more upright. im having fun so far and look forward to improving with each session.

swapped it out for a bauer nme8 in medium. perfect fit without the discomfort that the medium ccm 9000 had. i tested all types of head movements and it stayed put!

thanks man. on my way to goalie monkey right now to resolve this.

anyone have issues with their mask kind of slipping down towards their eyes when crouched in the "ready" position? the backplate of the ccm9000 is convex and presses down on the area where my neck meets my shoulders and pushes the mask forward/down. i think i might need a smaller size.