Old Dogs Session # 2 Recap
After Session #2, March 3rd
Dear Adult Goalies,
Thanks again for the turnout last weekend. We had lots of ice and you all battled extremely hard in what is probably one of the most exhausting clinics we'll have (until we get to Butterfly slides and shuffles).
As for our 3rd Session in the series, I'll be introducing the butterfly. This will include both the mechanics of going into a butterfly from our ready stance and basic recovery or what is termed a backside-edge recovery which is the staple of modern goaltending. There will be quite a bit of up-down movements in this session, but since we'll keep lateral movement to a minimum this time, I don't expect it to be as strenuous as last week. The main focus will showing how the modern goalie can use the butterfly and how to get from our stance into the butterfly in the most efficient way possible. I'm hoping that this session is the one many of our veteran goalies can make the most use of. While I understand the prevalence of the butterfly in the game, I don't consider it a style (although I may slip that term in accidentally on occasion). I consider the butterfly a save-technique or a tool that goalies can use to stop certain types of shots. I'm not much for the idea that goalies should butterfly all the time. It would the same as pulling out your 3 wood from your golf bag on tee shots and then on the fairway and, if you were lucky enough to make it that far, on the green as well. Goalies should use the butterfly as a conscious choice that fits the circumstance.
The date and time for the 3rd session again is March 10th 9:30pm at Shearwater Arena.
Please email me confirmation as soon as you can so I can book shooters.
As a recap to session #2, I'd like to highlight a few things. The essence of the shuffle makes it a very difficult lateral movement to perform well and efficiently. First of all, weight transfer from leg to leg must be spot on otherwise you will be driving your lead skate deeper into the ice. This will make every push that much more difficult. Also, to make sure we get good weight transfer onto our push leg, a strong leg recovery (pulling the push leg back under our center of gravity) is vitally important. One of the most challenging aspects of this is that it may force us into a higher stance that may seem not "shot ready". This is the main reason why I suggested we use a relaxed stance and shuffle when the play is on the outside and that we only deepen the stance when the play gets in tighter. The shift in stance depth came from our last drill where we had the shooters weave through the zone. Another time to commit to a deeper stance is when the puck carrier is starting to drive directly to the net.
If you want a good refresher on the lateral shuffle, take a look at Manitoba's Mind the Net video. It is a very nice breakdown and it highlights many of the mechanical points that we covered.
On the tactical side of using the shuffles, the drill really forced us to make our lateral move while maintaining depth. This leads to "riding the arc" as part of our positional awareness. Using the shuffle makes it very easy to use small adjustments to not only stay on our shot angle, but also to readjust our squareness and maintain depth. I scoured the internet to find some good examples, but it was a little difficult to get an example of something the general public thinks is as mundane as good shuffles from an NHL goalie. I did get a couple of clips of Cam Ward who I feel is an excellent goalie with a style that most of us can emulate.
Notice here too, his depth adjustments by starting deep and pushing out on the read of the play. There are also good examples of lateral shuffles in a relaxed but ready stance and then a shot-ready stance. I highly suggest on catching any game that Cam Ward plays on TV and watch very carefully how he uses movement in the game.
That is all for now. Feedback and questions are always welcome. Just let me know if I can share with everyone on my list.
Yours in goaltending,
Todd Bengert
