Handling Deflections

For goalies, handling deflections properly has proven to be one of the most difficult situations in a game due to the split-second reaction time that is required from them. Although working with tennis balls or reflex balls against a wall may aid in one’s capabilities to react quicker due to improved eye-hand coordination, this type of scenario requires just as much mental preparation as it does physical.

Move Up With The Puck – Move Back With The Play

One of the makings of an elite goaltender is the ability to judge the puck and the play. Many goaltenders become so focussed on seeing nothing but the puck, that at higher calibres of play, the opposition may be using the goaltender against themself. One of Goalie Army Academy’s teachings is that when the puck is being moved out of the defensive zone, the goaltender should move up with the puck while in their team’s possession. However, when the opposition has possession of the puck, the goaltender must move back with the play instead.

Moving back with and analyzing the play means better preparation for quick passes, potential rebounds, and of course, deflections. By widening the goaltenders focus and awareness of the possibilities around them, the goaltender will be able to see and judge their surroundings.

As a goaltender, I’ve always disliked the statement that goaltenders take longer to develop than skaters, but in theory, this statement does have some merit. Upon becoming a goaltender, every goaltender is taught to watch and focus on the puck, but they are missing a huge part of the game, ie the play(s). By being aware of the play, listening to coaches during power play, penalty kill, and breakout instructions during team practices, the goaltender will develop at a quicker pace in these areas. Unfortunately, more time is spent checking for understanding from skaters during these exercises than the goaltender. Therefore, a goaltender who seeks to improve their game must look for an understanding and the theory behind their own movements within their crease as well as that of their team, and opponents in order to study the game and learn from it.

Getting Behind The Stick

Making sure to be in the perfect position to take the puck to the midsection in the event of a deflection is not an easy task.

In the event that the opposition positions themselves in front of the crease, a goaltender must be cautious of their surroundings. For the goaltender, positioning themselves at the top of the crease directly behind the opposition’s stick increases their chance of taking the puck to the chest or core immediately after the deflection as this will cut off the angles available for the puck to travel.

On the other hand, the goaltender must ensure that they are not positioned too high in their crease if there may be an additional member from the opposition on one of the sides of their crease, ie the backdoor play. If this is the case, then being positioned too high, provides the puck carrier an additional option for a pass rather than deflection and may cause the goaltender to get caught out of position in the event of a quick pass. A prime example of this would be Tim Thomas of the Florida Panthers, NHL. Although a fantastic goaltender, Thomas left a lot of possibilities for the opposition by remaining so far out of his crease at times that it eventually worked against him when faced with quick pass one timers, and odd-bounce rebounds during his time with the Boston Bruins.

Using the scenario of having only one member from the opposition within close proximity to the top of the crease, the goaltender’s best option is to be situated at the top of their crease to cut down on the angles for both the shooter and deflection. In the event that the shooter happens to shoot a little wide toward the blade of the deflector’s stick, the goaltender’s best option would be to time a short butterfly block slide so that they have their whole core directly behind the blade of the stick upon contact with the puck. In deflection scenarios, we recommend that our goaltenders transition into a butterfly block to ensure that the bottom of the net has maximum coverage first. This will also allow the goaltender to remain compact and react outward for any deflections directed to the outside of the wall that they’ve created with their body. In the event that the puck is deflected to the higher portions of the net, we recommend that the goaltender transitions into a butterfly block, and reacts with their shoulders and arms in order to avoid creating too many gaps between the body and arms.

The pass option with the possibility of a deflection poses a dilemma for the goaltender however. The goaltender does not want to be caught off guard in the event of a pass, but also wants to lessen the chances of a deflection getting past them. Using an example of the deflector being situated just outside of the top of the crease, and having the receiver of the pass located at the “back door” (beside the crease, but close to the goal line), the goaltender wants to ensure that he is cutting off the angles from the shooter as well as remain set for the pass so that he/she may transition to a butterfly block slide. Therefore, given that the shooter is located between the blue line and the top of the faceoff circles, we recommend that the goaltender’s feet be located along the line of where the old rectangle line used to be within the crease. This method will allow the goaltender to remain positioned high enough within their crease to cut off the angles from the shooter, to butterfly block or butterfly block-slide into the deflection or to transition into a butterfly block-slide to meet contact with the shot originating from the back door shooter.

Practicing Deflections and Back Door Options

Most goaltending clinics don’t practice deflections, or deflections with the option of a pass due to the manpower required from clinic organizers. Therefore, it’s up to the goaltender to work on this on their own time. In addition to working with tennis balls and reflex balls against a wall, a goaltender can work with one coach or shooter situated between the blue line and top of the faceoff circle. The goaltender will begin in their ready stance and the shooter will shoot toward the sides of the nets. During this exercise, the goaltender will transition into a butterfly block slide to ensure that they are getting their body in front of the puck rather than just reacting with their limbs. This exercise allows the goaltender to train their mind and body to react to wide-angle shots from far, while visualising the opposition creating traffic in front of their creases. It will also allow them to time their slides and transitions into a butterfly block in order to remain in front of the puck. For back door training, the shooter would be situated at the back door with the goaltender at the top of their crease. The goaltender would then transition from their ready stance, into a butterfly block slide back toward the post.

Older, or more advanced goaltenders may wish to increase the distance between the starting and ending point of the slide by beginning at wider angles to challenge themselves (beginning in their ready stance while facing where the blue line meets the boards). Goaltenders may add more movements into these exercises to further challenge themselves. One way to do so is to simulate a couple of passes, prior to the shot. An example of this would be to perform standing movements from post to post, to centre, and then transition into a butterfly block to the back door for the shot.