Goalies flipping out after soft goals

[tonguesOUT4life 17]

Are goalies really crazy? Have you heard a goalie talking to himself behind the net? I seen a 13 year old goalie at my cousins game throw some serious rage after a goal I guess they start out early....

[ktang 34]

I don't know if goalies are attracted to the position because they are quirky, or if they become quirky playing the position, or a little of both.

I'm leaning towards thinking that they become quirky playing the position, because defensemen and forwards that become goalies later in life seem less strange than the ones that have played in the nets all their lives.

[Law Goalie 147]

It's a bit of both. To become a goalie, you have to want something quite singular, or at least be agreeable to it if you step in (as I did) to fill someone else's spot. That said, goalies are made, not born; the stress that comes with playing the position does create some oddities of character.

Flying into a rage over a bad goal is never a good sign, but it's a fine line. If you don't show any reaction to a bad goal, your teammates may think that you don't care, or that you think it wasn't your fault; letting off a little steam, even if it's a brief stare at the ceiling or a shake of the head, at least shows some presence.

However, do not mistake a goalie talking to himself for a crazy person. Self-directed talk is, in fact, a vital part of performance in all forms of single competition (ie. not in a team), and goalies are on the border of that: part of the team, but alone on the ice. That self-talk can be internalised so as not to frighten your defencemen. Personally, I talk to my players so much during a game I don't have time to vocalise anything to myself, so mine is an internal monologue.

[LkptTiger 1]

I've known a couple decent goaltenders who I would classify as being "almost normal" - but they're in the minority, for sure. Most of the good ones are all pretty odd in their own ways. Some are unstable, some are drama queens and some are just loners (to an extreme degree).

Just hide them in the corner stalls in the dressing room (they usually choose those ones, anyways), stick them in the same room when you're on the road (which can get a bit explosive....you just need to remember: in the event of a discrepancy, your #1 is ALWAYS right, no matter what the argument is) and leave them be.

[sickwilly 37]

you just need to remember: in the event of a discrepancy, your #1 is ALWAYS right, no matter what the argument is) and leave them be.

That's a good one!

I'm a forward that likes to play net when the opportunity arises.... When I've put the pads on, I've found myself talking to myself, singing quietly or fidgeting when the play is in the other end. I think it's a way of keeping my energy and intensity up... If anyone was watching, I'm sure it looked pretty bad.

[Holy the Goalie 0]

I rarely flip out after any goal, unless it's painfully obvious that my team quit in front of me. I don't do because I'm a drama queen and need to throw a fit, but in order to let the guys in front of me know that I'm not happy with the way they're playing. I'm not going to chew them out, because I screwed up too if the puck made it into the back of the net; however, a little non-verbal communication can go a long way, whether it's slamming your stick on the ice, staring at your defenseman after he made a bone-headed play, or taking an extra second or two to stand back up.

Personally, the weirdest thing I do (I think) is the Patrick Roy-esque head shaking. Not because I want to emulate him or anything, but because I'm just a tad anal about certain things and my helmet has to fit just right DAMN IT OR I CAN'T FOCUS ON THE PLAY COMING TOWARDS ME BECAUSE MY HELMET IS OFF CENTER OR TOO LOW ON MY BROW AND I CAN'T FOCUS!!!

Ameh. Sorry about that.

[chk hrd 164]

I rarely flip out after any goal, unless it's painfully obvious that my team quit in front of me. I don't do because I'm a drama queen and need to throw a fit, but in order to let the guys in front of me know that I'm not happy with the way they're playing. I'm not going to chew them out, because I screwed up too if the puck made it into the back of the net; however, a little non-verbal communication can go a long way, whether it's slamming your stick on the ice, staring at your defenseman after he made a bone-headed play, or taking an extra second or two to stand back up.

just remember that next time a D or F looks at you for letting in a soft goal.

[chippa13 1844]

Cover story of the 1978 Complete Handbook of Hockey: "Goalies are the flakiest people".

[hamstercaster 2]

I just retired from a 2 year stint in the position which I took back after a 15 year hiatus. I don't consider myself flaky unless screaming at your posts, throwing your stick at the other end of the ice, singing lullabies to my pads or playing twister is considered to be flaky... Might have received one too many shot on the noggin I guess lol

[shotty 7]

when i was really young, my goalie punched me in the face with his blocker after we got scored on. i still to this day don't know for sure if it was my fault or if i was wrong place wrong time. either way, it was embarrassing. this guy was OBSESSED with kirk mclean, so he was easy to spot.... years (maybe 15) later, i run into him in a playoff match up. he's rocking a kirk mclean replica mask. we were killing them, maybe 6-1, and with 15 second to go, our team dumps the puck, icing waved so i go hard for it as its headed into the corner. he goes out to play it but holds it while i approach him, i guess he thought i wasnt going to pressure him, so he continues to hold it, and i strip it off him, then burst in front of the net and throw it in. he goes NUTS... mask off, glove off, coming at me with his blocker (again), i'm like "hell no, not again f***er!" and grab his super baggy sleeve to pin his arm down as the ref comes in. i dont think he recognized me, but jesus was he just as livid that many years later.

[furlanitalia 1]

Goalies are just a different breed, it's as simple as that.

[gxc999 7]

I've seen it before. Goalies have talked to themselves since way before I came along. However, I do know a good C/B goalie who is a surprisingly normal guy, although he prefers to play forward if possible.

[hamstercaster 2]

I play D the same way I played nets. I stay in front of the shot no matter what. Some people even shoot wide because they say they're afraid to hurt me. I just tell them to shoot it. The day I get really hurt is the day I'll stop block shots I guess. I see other players limping all the time after being hit by a shot that they tried to block or just ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time. Never happened to me. I just put my stick in front of my toes, put my legs together and go with the flow.

To get back on topic, honnestly, all kidding aside from my previous post, I considered myself to be a pretty normal goalie. I'd get pissed off at myself when I played poorly but never got mad at my teamates. I'd get mad at the opposition though if they rubbed it in or did stupid things like crashing the net/me, trying to trip me and such. Nothing would infuriate me more than a dumbass using the blade of his stick to try and pull my legs appart. It pissed me off if they scored but what pissed me off the most about this is that they could get me injured really easily. If it was a friend he'd get a general warning not to attempt that stunt again. If it was someone I didn't know, he would get his stick, leg, ankles or whatever slashed with the warning to not attempt that stunt again or risk to be beheaded lol. But some people don't know any better I guess.

I don't recall talking to my posts or even myself aside from the occasional pep talk after getting scored on. Now that I play Defense and/or forward, I still get pissed at myself if I'm playing poorly. I'm not claiming to be a star by any stretch of the imagination but I know what my habilities are and when I'm not playing up to my habilities, I get highly irrated and have been know to flip out from time to time. Does this have anything to do with the fact that I was once a goalie, I couldn't tell...