As goaltenders, most of us have been taught two ways to move laterally in and around the crease, shuffles and T-pushes.
The shuffle is used when a goaltender needs to move in a controlled position staying set in his stance, the shuffle allows a goaltender to stay in his stance and ready for any oncoming shot. This works great when shooters carry the puck east to west across the ice or when the puck is moving behind the net. The only problem with a shuffle is it’s not the quickest way to get from point A to point B.
This is where the second movement goaltenders have been taught possibly comes into play, the T-push. This type of movement can be used in three different situations, the first is moving out from a post position or from the middle of your goal line out to a challenge position on an oncoming rush. The second is from a challenged position back to the post, and lastly is whenever a pass is made from the apposing team, passing the puck from one player to another. At Bandits we believe that there are problems with the T-push in two of these situations; moving back to your post from a challenged position as well as moving on a pass attempt.
Problems can be seen when a goalie uses a T-push. When a goalie wants to be on their inside edge however when a goalie executes a T-push they end up on what we call “rails” which means that the goaltender ends up on both his inside and outside edges. This creates the lead foot to turn away from being square. While in the T-push position, a goaltender cannot execute any proper save selection with any sort of control. In order for him to execute any type of proper save selection the lead foot must be turned back to square then it must stop the lateral movement (with the inside edge). The goalie must also transfer his weight back to the core of their body to stay controlled and balanced when coming back to a squared position.
Bandits Goalie School teaches its students a third way to move laterally, we call it the Hop Step. We believe that there are three advantages to using a hop step when moving back to a post from a challenged position as well as moving in your crease or in the white ice.
1. It’s quicker and have the ability when done properly to stay loaded in your stance and have the capabilities to move.
2. Goaltenders when using a T-push, open up and exposes the fivehole. With a hop step, the fivehole actually gets smaller through the motion then opens back up into the proper set stance.
3. Earlier in the article we discussed how goalies must have an inside edge to execute any proper save selection when performing a hop step, the goalie always keeps an inside edge and are in control at all times with their lateral movement
Contrary to belief, there are a lot of goaltenders in the National Hockey League that use the “hop step” and they might not even realize it. We’ve thrown this third type of lateral movement at all of our students to let them be the judge of how it might benefit their movement and overall game. The hop step is quicker and more effective then a T-push or a shuffle in certain situations as indicated throughout this article. Goaltending is a game that’s consistently evolving. Limiting oneself to certain mechanical movements while developing as a goaltender closes the book on being a student of the game!
Check out the video below to see the Hop Step being used by NHL goaltender Jason Bacashihua:
This article could be titled, "Why use the Hop Step?", but it doesn't address any mechanics of "What is the Hop Step".
I look forward to reading more.
Brett
Thanks...we're actually going to be shooting footage of this particular move and the mechanics behind it hopefully in the next week or two and post it up here with our articles.
Now that we have video capabilities, we're going to be doing a lot more of this with articles and having video to go along with it to show visuals.
For the meantime, please take a few minutes and watch the videos above as it will show the hop step in action.
Last edited by fiveholegoalie : 05-08-2008 at 09:50 AM.
First goalie I saw using the hop step was Tom Barrasso. He used it all his career as his method of moving laterally in lieu of the T-Push.
While many goalies in the NHL and other high level leagues might use it I personally am not sure of if I would teach it.
At the speed in which the game moves at the higher levels to leave ones feet, i.e. get their skate blades off the ice for even a fraction of a second, is that much too long for a high level player to snap one low on the ice, or pass around you thus furthering your time to react.
Again, guys like possible HOFer Tom Barrasso used it, but to me it is a bit like a skate save. Effective in the right hands, but probably not for everyone.
Also, and I am sure you've noticed this, but Jason in the videos there, is right leg dominant in his recoveries and it seriously hinders his mobility to the right. In video one whomever is shooting on the left side(Jason's right) gets him almost every time because he is slow getting over.
The hop step is something I personally use on rare occasions, especially when recovering from a 1/2 pad extension and then moving into the same direction as the extension. While I appreciate the description you have given as to when and why to use it I'm not sure I would want to teach it.
The video actually somewhat proves the apprehension I have regarding the save technique as Jason is scored on a couple of times low on the ice when it appears that his feet are 'locked in'. He is square but the low corner shot beats him cleanly and he does not appear to have a reaction or solution to it.
A t-push to that position would allow the back leg to be brought in tight to the thigh while fully sealing the low ice and taking away the holes, just as an example.
I understand your premise for teaching it and it's nice to see the accompanying video and it's further food for thought in this ever evolving game.
One last question: why does Jason almost always use a paddle down on the blocker side? He almost seems overly reliant on the technique and I noticed shots high over the glove leave him vulnerable on blocker side wraps...
Cheers,
Wellsie
Last edited by The Wall33 : 05-08-2008 at 08:21 AM.
First goalie I saw using the hop step was Tom Barrasso. He used it all his career as his method of moving laterally in lieu of the T-Push.
While many goalies in the NHL and other high level leagues might use it I personally am not sure of if I would teach it.
At the speed in which the game moves at the higher levels to leave ones feet, i.e. get their skate blades off the ice for even a fraction of a second, is that much too long for a high level player to snap one low on the ice, or pass around you thus furthering your time to react.
Again, guys like possible HOFer Tom Barrasso used it, but to me it is a bit like a skate save. Effective in the right hands, but probably not for everyone.
Also, and I am sure you've noticed this, but Jason in the videos there, is right leg dominant in his recoveries and it seriously hinders his mobility to the right. In video one whomever is shooting on the left side(Jason's right) gets him almost every time because he is slow getting over.
Many goalies in today’s NHL use the Hop Step whether they know it or not. Yes, the speed of the game has increased and we feel that this is another way to move explosively from "a" to "b". The hop step allows goalies to have explosive moveability while moving and also have the ability to load their feet to move into a half split, butterfly or even stay standing when they get to their destination point.
We do not PUSH this move on our goalies however we do show them that a 3rd movement is available and if they like they can incorporate it into their game as it might come in handy one day.
One last question: why does Jason almost always use a paddle down on the blocker side? He almost seems overly reliant on the technique and I noticed shots high over the glove leave him vulnerable on blocker side wraps...
Cheers,
Wellsie
I agree. If you look at Ozzy he does the same thing. In this type of situation (depending on where the shooter is located on the warp around) I would suggest to stay standing and tight to the post to force the shooter to the glove side and load the glove and left leg especially if that shooter walking out is a right handed shot. I think a lefty would be more prone to try stuffing the puck on the wrap around on the blocker side due to him being on his backhand.
Many goalies in today’s NHL use the Hop Step whether they know it or not. Yes, the speed of the game has increased and we feel that this is another way to move explosively from "a" to "b". The hop step allows goalies to have explosive moveability while moving and also have the ability to load their feet to move into a half split, butterfly or even stay standing when they get to their destination point.
We do not PUSH this move on our goalies however we do show them that a 3rd movement is available and if they like they can incorporate it into their game as it might come in handy one day.
I completely agree. There are guys like Brodeur, Vokoun and Dipietro who play more of a hybrid style game where they rely more on athleticism than being technically perfect that use this move. Where as a guy like Giguere, Luongo or Lundqvist wouldn't use it nor do I think they would be able to incorporate it in their game properly due to the system of down prioritization that they employ.
Not using it isn't a crutch and using it isn't necessarily an aid nor a hinderence...it's just another method that some goalies will use to get around.
When I was a younger sprite and more athletic, I know I used it from time to time. It was a carry over from my ball/dek hockey days.
I think Holmqvist uses this a lot, although it is sort of in between this and a crossover. I find myself doing it every once in a while because it is really quick. The only thing is that it takes practice or you might fall on your face.
Is it the Karaoke move? (spelling probably is wrong)
Like moving left: push off outside left edge, cross right leg and land on inside right edge on right foot while the back left leg swings out and lands on inside left edge?
Instead of shuffling, it looks like he's picking his leg up & "hopping" over. I guess if you have time to practice it, and you're comfortable with it, it might be effective.
My only problem with it is that, while you're bunny hopping across the goalie trail, you're committed to the move, and there's no way you can stop & change directions until you land!
Instead of shuffling, it looks like he's picking his leg up & "hopping" over. I guess if you have time to practice it, and you're comfortable with it, it might be effective.
My only problem with it is that, while you're bunny hopping across the goalie trail, you're committed to the move, and there's no way you can stop & change directions until you land!
I think that might be a little over the top. This move is beneficial when practiced and executed properly. Even if you commit to one side, you still have moveability with your edges to push yourself back in the other direction immediately.
Again, this move when done properly can help the goalie:
1. stay loaded in their stance and have the capabilities to move laterally.
2. With a hop step, the fivehole actually gets smaller through the motion then opens back up into the proper set stance.
3. keep an inside edge and stay in control at all times while moving laterally.
Again, T-pushes and shuffles are beneficial in certain situations but again this is another movement that can benefit a goalies overall game.
Instead of shuffling, it looks like he's picking his leg up & "hopping" over. I guess if you have time to practice it, and you're comfortable with it, it might be effective.
My only problem with it is that, while you're bunny hopping across the goalie trail, you're committed to the move, and there's no way you can stop & change directions until you land!
Yea. That is why you can only use it effectively in certain situations. If you let up a rebound at the top right of the crease and put the rebound in the left corner, you have to go all the way to the left post fast. Then you can do the "hop step" to get over as quickly as you can to get set. I think it would work in that situation because the opposing team is most likely still going to the puck and getting set for it, and for that short time you aren't really in danger of a shot. Unless, of course, there is a guy waiting for the puck in the corner, in which case you would probably not want to hop.
Last edited by fish taco : 05-08-2008 at 04:53 PM.
I got a good chuckle tonight when I did a hop step after making a save. It's just one of those things I do sometimes without conscious thought, which is probably what most goalies do...
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