Goalie etiquette...

[RadioGaGa 162]

Maybe a stupid question...but something I was just wondering.

After a goal is it expected that the goalie will fish the puck out of the back of the goal? You almost always see them do it.

If it was me...I'd be taking a little skate to the corner...deep breath, gather and re-focus...(especially if it's a shoftie) and let the ref or lineman get it.

[dalebert 8]

I'm not a goalie but I always thought when they fished it out it was more out of anger (being upset if that fits better) that they let one in. I could be wrong though.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I'm not a goalie but I always thought when they fished it out it was more out of anger (being upset if that fits better) that they let one in. I could be wrong though.

You definitely see that from time to time...guys who kinda fling it back towards center...some guys just calmly turn and do it.

[dalebert 8]

That's exactly what I was referring to. The first part at least. Then again I've also seen the goalies who calmly turn and grab it also sit there on the ice and let the ref come in and grab it. I'm gunna sit back and let a goalie give some insight haha.

[Law Goalie 147]

There are only two circumstances in which anyone but the goalie should fish the puck out of the net:

1) the goalie physically leaves the net (eg. skates to the corner, or over to the bench, or leaves the ice and you hear his car starting in the parking lot, etc.); or

2) the goalie remains in the net but pointedly ignores the puck to the point of actually denying its existence.

In those cases, and only those cases, it is acceptable for the referee to fish out the puck, or for another player to pass it to the referee.

Possible exemption for a running-clock game, or a game with time on the clock but about to run out of real-time: there, an opposing player may approach the net and try to fight the goalie for the puck. The phrase "from my cold, dead hands" may come to mind in these situations.

Generally, I'll just coolly slide it out to centre ice like nothing happened - good or bad goal, doesn't matter.

If I'm really pissed off I'll fire it right into the stands. This only tends to happen at the end of an especially exasperating game. Refs do not like this.

[mrusse01 0]

Woooo....I think it's really pushing it for an opposing player to fish it out of there. If it's your own d-man, you'll probably get a dirty look from the goalie most of the time.

[Law Goalie 147]

I did have an opponent try that on me once.

It didn't go very well for him.

[dalebert 8]

There are only two circumstances in which anyone but the goalie should fish the puck out of the net:

1) the goalie physically leaves the net (eg. skates to the corner, or over to the bench, or leaves the ice and you hear his car starting in the parking lot, etc.); or

2) the goalie remains in the net but pointedly ignores the puck to the point of actually denying its existence.

In those cases, and only those cases, it is acceptable for the referee to fish out the puck, or for another player to pass it to the referee.

Possible exemption for a running-clock game, or a game with time on the clock but about to run out of real-time: there, an opposing player may approach the net and try to fight the goalie for the puck. The phrase "from my cold, dead hands" may come to mind in these situations.

Generally, I'll just coolly slide it out to centre ice like nothing happened - good or bad goal, doesn't matter.

If I'm really pissed off I'll fire it right into the stands. This only tends to happen at the end of an especially exasperating game. Refs do not like this.

Law Goalie..Thank you for that, This was the first post of the day I read. The goalie leaving the ice part had me laughing nice and hard. Great way to start the day and for that I thank you!

[kvnwos 0]

i always fling it towards center after i let one in. just makes you feel a little better i guess

[DCott 0]

It all depends on my present attitude to the refs. If they aren't bothering me, I'll pull it out and leave it in front of the crease. However, if they are pissing me off, I will do little things to get back at them. I never fling it out to center ice because that's to obvious. I do like to either sit there in the crease and watch the ref bend over and get the puck, or sometimes I'll even pretend to try to pull it out with my stick, then "give up" and leave. Small victories :P

[tomh7 2]

Flinging it down the ice is a good way to get a penalty, especially if your team has been chirping at the refs all game. As a ref, I would perfer to just fish it out of the net than have every player on the ice tap the puck as I am trying to retrieve it. As a player, I just leave it be when the whistle blows unless, on rare occasion, I might be in a position and mindset to simply bend down and pick it up to hand it to the ref.

[crazylegs_9 0]

With my temper(part of the reason my goalie experiment lasted 8 games), A few times, I smacked the net backwards, and the puck layed there, so no one really had to fish it out of the net.

[Law Goalie 147]

I don't see how sending the puck out to centre is in any way disrespectful of the refs; I've never had so much as a look askance at it.

Intentionally hitting the scoreclock, certainly.

J-mo: we like to call that move "The Timmy Thomas Tirade."

[tomh7 2]

Sending it toward center is not usually a problem. Flinging it out of disgust is. I've had goalies shoot the puck all the way down the ice and then throw a fit because their team restarted play shorthanded. I am just saying that anthing more than a casual sweep toward center is open to interpretation. Most of the time the ref will just let it go so as not to incite a riot. That doesn't mean ref will necessarily be happy about it which may influence a boarderline call during the ensuing play. The refs are human and really don't get paid enough to deal with most of the BS they put up with when doing men's league. As a ref, my preference would be for the players to just leave the puck alone when the whistle blows unless you are going to hand the puck to the ref. In most cases this also help the ref get play under way quicker because he doesn't have to wait and try and figure out what the player's intentions are. Also, I see a lot of times when the player will sweep the puck to the wrong side and the ref has to go and retrieve it. This causes the player to migrate to the wrong faceoff spot causing more delays while they try and figure out what is going on.

[Law Goalie 147]

Gotcha. I was certainly describing a casual slide out to centre rather than a flinging down the ice (which is purely a dick move, both to the ref and one's own team). The point of that is to be casual, as I said, to act like nothing happened.

For my part, whenever I've caught or smothered the puck I always flip it to the ref as he skates by. The only time I'll hang onto it and make him come to me is if I need a word about something.

[Tricky4L 0]

A friendly piece of advice from some stripes....

I wouldn't do anything more than just pushing it out in front of you. Making any kind of shooting motion could end up getting the keeper tagged by a soft-skinned ref or a pissy linesman. Couple months ago my ref had to toss a keeper who I genuinely think was just trying to shoot it back towards center but had a bad release and caught the goal-scorer in the head and then clipped off a couple other teammates which set off a nice lil brew-ha-ha. Even worse was these teams were battling for the last playoff spot, and that powerplay ended up resulting in the game winner. Stupid reason to give up a powerplay. Just grow up, be an adult about it, and quit making us chase after it. You'll most likely catch some breaks from the officials during the game as well if your not an ass about it.

[theWB 2]

I remember reading about one of the old NHL goalies who refused to get the puck out of the net after a goal. His logic was that he didn't put it in there, so why should he get it out.

[McDougalfaschnitzer 32]

I think the problem is when the ref is skating towards the net, and then the goalie shoots it away from the ref causing inconvenience. If it were me, I would just leave the puck in the net and stay in the crease. No need for me to skate to the corner for time out for being a bad boy :D