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| By Joe Bonvie, Goaltender with the U.S. National InLine Team
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| It's been said that the goaltender is the last line of defense. Over time, however, the goaltending position has evolved into a much more active role. The
goaltender is no longer expected just to stop the puck. He or she is expected to be more involved in the play. In fact, coaches at all levels are seeing
the potential benefits of their goaltenders contributing to their team's breakout. In essence, the ice and inline goaltender who has mastered the ability
to stick handle and shoot the puck has become a strategic weapon, especially during breakouts.
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 TIP #1
Handling and shooting the puck in game situations requires practice and constant communication with
teammates. Like a defenseman, the goaltender must be knowledgeable of his team's "system" and have a
sense of where his defense and forwards set up within that system. Knowing this gives goaltenders better
options to pass and decreases the chances of a miscommunication that could lead to a turnover.
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 TIP #2 The goaltender should communicate with her teammates that she is going to take control of the puck from an oncoming teammate or make the teammates aware of her intentions to pass the puck to them. By talking with teammates, the goaltender decreases the chances of a miscommunication and allows them to either get in position for a pass or cover for the goaltender as she sets up a play.
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 TIP #3 The goaltender should be aware of his skill level when handling the puck. Knowing one's limitations with the puck will enable the goaltender to react effectively to those situations he is confident in and allow him to target areas for improvement.
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 DRILL #1
The first drill was taught to me by Hall-of-Fame goaltender Phil Myre. Place
five pucks, spread out evenly, at both near side faceoff dots and in-between those
dots. The goaltender starts the drill in his 5-point stance to simulate and reinforce
game-like situations, while facing the pucks at the left faceoff dot. He then comes
out of the crease as he would in a game situation and plays the puck off the glass.
When the goaltender has shot the puck, he moves backwards in his 5-point stance
to the center of the net, where he repeats this drill for the center and right faceoff
dot puck placements. The direction of each shot corresponds to the puck placement,
with right faceoff dot pucks going off to the right side of the boards and the
middle pucks going down the center of the ice. The goal of this drill is to
improve the goaltender's shooting ability and get him used to playing the puck
outside of the crease.
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 DRILL #2
The goal of the second drill is to improve the
goaltender's passing skills. It is a Give-and-Go and
1-on-0 drill that requires the full use of the ice or
court. Pucks are placed at the faceoff dots in each
end. Goalies are in both nets. Two lines of shooters
are set up in the corner at each end of the rink. One
shooter starts the drill off by skating into the neutral
zone and passing the puck to the goalie at the opposite
end of the rink. That goalie then returns the
pass to its originator before she reaches the far blue
line, where she goes in for a shot on the goalie. This
drill is then repeated starting with the group of
shooters at the opposite end of the rink who haven't
gone yet, so that the goaltenders have alternating
shots and passes.
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 DRILL #3
The third drill encourages the goaltender to get involved with the offense by practicing stopping the puck
around the boards and setting up for the pass. It requires the use of half the ice or court.
The pucks are located in the neutral zone with the coach or intended shooter. Skaters are positioned at the
near side blue line. The goaltender is stationed in his net in the 5-point stance ready for the shot. The coach's
options are to:
1) Shoot the puck around the boards, where the goalie has to come out of the net to stop it and initiate a
breakout pass.
2) Shoot the puck wide of the net so that the puck deflects out front, where the goalie has to gain control of
the puck and position himself to make a pass.
3) Shoot the puck on net so that the goaltender has to effectively trap the puck and set up for a breakout.
A variation of this drill allows for full ice/court involvement by making the skaters, once they have gotten the
pass from the goalie, skate down the opposite end for a breakaway.
Final note: The mastery of puck handling is becoming increasingly important to goaltending, and the new hybrid of
goalies that it is producing is making the game of hockey more exciting to watch and play. Coaches see the benefits
of a third defensman and their playbooks are, and will, show this advancement in goaltending. However, these skills
will only be developed through constant repetition during practice until they become second nature.
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