Weight & Goaltending

[jf-laflaire]

Hi Everyone:

I thought this would be an interesting topic of discussion. I read in a GDI magazine that Cam Ward lost 20 lbs last year and played at a lower weight, closer to 175 lbs. Also, I read that Price lost weight too, going from roughly 220 lbs to 190 lbs. They mentioned they feel faster with the lighter weight.

Over the last 3 years I went the opposite way I went from playing at around 200 lbs (I am 6'3") to now at 217 lbs. I am not fat though, but do watch my tummy area quite a bit. My legs got bigger & so did my some of my upper body but not to a large extent.

The thing is, I feel quicker. With the extra strength I really feel I can dig into the ice & really push hard for reactionary saves and such. I really think the extra mass helped me be a better goaltender. I also notice I am ALOT tougher to move in the crease, forwards have a really difficult time pushing me around during scrums and such. My skating has improved, because of my strength I can be more precise with movements.

I could not imagine skating at a lighter wieght again.

How about you guys?

[Spidey]

Well weight is relative to what you gained or lost. IE if you gained all that in muscle or it was just a weight that is within the norms for your body type then I can see it as a positive as you stated.

But if the weight price lost was fat and while losing said weight gained some lean muscle then I could see it being an advantage.

I lost about 35 lbs over the last few months and noticed my movements get better, I was adding more muscle as well so the strength increased as well...

[sloth2946]

Originally Posted by jf-laflaire

Hi Everyone:

I thought this would be an interesting topic of discussion. I read in a GDI magazine that Cam Ward lost 20 lbs last year and played at a lower weight, closer to 175 lbs. Also, I read that Price lost weight too, going from roughly 220 lbs to 190 lbs. They mentioned they feel faster with the lighter weight.

Over the last 3 years I went the opposite way I went from playing at around 200 lbs (I am 6'3") to now at 217 lbs. I am not fat though, but do watch my tummy area quite a bit. My legs got bigger & so did my some of my upper body but not to a large extent.

The thing is, I feel quicker. With the extra strength I really feel I can dig into the ice & really push hard for reactionary saves and such. I really think the extra mass helped me be a better goaltender. I also notice I am ALOT tougher to move in the crease, forwards have a really difficult time pushing me around during scrums and such. My skating has improved, because of my strength I can be more precise with movements.

I could not imagine skating at a lighter wieght again.

How about you guys?

As someone who was a strong 220...with some extra unnecessary beluga blubber, and now I am @ 195...I am much faster now and fatigue a lot less.

There is an ideal playing weight for everyone....

Also, I was MUCH faster when I was 175lbs in college....of course I was younger, but there is nothing I can do about that until my time machine is fixed.

[xethicx]

I usually sit at about 190-200 and it fluctuates through the year. During hockey season I eat like a horse but I work it off quick. I like being around 190 but this winter I am going to make a push to be in better shape so thatll likely add some weight. I dont think Id have a problem being heavier if it was to build muscle.

[wortchillergoal]

I too lost weight and felt my play was better. i went from 231 to 197. I found myself much quicker, able to recover fasterwith less work, and my stamina is better.

[Ryeno42]

It's always good to have a strong strength to weight ratio.

[RichieRich]

Originally Posted by Spidey

Well weight is relative to what you gained or lost. IE if you gained all that in muscle or it was just a weight that is within the norms for your body type then I can see it as a positive as you stated.

But if the weight price lost was fat and while losing said weight gained some lean muscle then I could see it being an advantage.

I lost about 35 lbs over the last few months and noticed my movements get better, I was adding more muscle as well so the strength increased as well...

I agree with Spidey. I joined a gym four months ago. When I started I was at 270lbs and now down to 260lbs. Body fat was at 41% and is now down to 32%. Also my strength has increased. I do notice a consideralbe imporvement in my game and I play approx 6 times a week. No inflamation in the knees as my leg muscles and core do the work moving me around more effeciently. Also no aches and pains the next day.

[SNOW57]

sounds like the weight you gained wasnt fat. so in that area you'll be fine. are you quick to give the credit to the weight gain though, did you or have you been practicing more and getting out more or reading up more? cause i'm the same as the rest of these guys i play better when im lighter and as long as you have a decent sence of balance you shouldnt be knocked around the crease to much ever. (unless your flat out run over) or maybe you put the weight on by training.. if thats the case then your body would be bigger and quicker. kick ass though buddy glad you got mad game now

[flip]

I heard that for every 5 pounds you add, it puts more pressure on knees.

Just a thought
Flip

[hamstercaster]

Gaining muscle weight is definitly better than gaining "fat" weight but the fact of the matter is that more weight, no matter what type = more pressure on the joints. Sure your muscles will help you ease the pressure of your joints but you still get more pressure on your joints no matter what. It's not healthy for your joints to be 5 foot 8 and 260 lbs even if it's all muscle with a 10% fat index. I also need to lose weight and lots of it as I'm 280 on a very good day. I'm still fast for my size or so they say but I tire quicker during games specially if the tempo is high and I get many shots or have to do down and up often. But a moderate weight gain in muscle mass should definitly help. In one of my best dieting attempt in the early/mid 90's I had lost 50 pounds of fat but had gained 10 pounds of muscle.. I was in the best shape of my life and could play hour and a half games no problems... that was before marriage

[hammbone]

Interesting stories here.

JF Laflaire gains 17 lbs of probably mostly muscle and he feels a lot better and quicker than he did when he was 200lbs (probably no slouch then either).

Yet Ward and Price who are NHL calibre goalies and extremely fit, lose 20 lbs and now they feel better and quicker.

So where did they lose their 20 lbs from? Did they lose muscle weight? How does an elite athlete lose weight without sacrificing muscle mass or power?

And what is JF Laflaire's ideal playing weight? Was he under-weight before?

[Evilz]

I'm 5'8 and I weigh 152, I used to weigh 135 while playing Midget hockey 3 years ago and I have no idea if the added weight helped or not, and it seems like I gained it without trying. (freshmen 15!)

About Price and Ward, just because you're in the NHL doens't nessarly mean that your body is a work of art, it's possible to play at a very high level and still be over weight or have fat, but that's just my guess...

[SNOW57]

haha u guys remember that russian goaltender back from the world JR when fluery played and it was here in canada. he was HUGE double maybe even triple chin. but he was good and helped win russia the gold

[oogs]

So... if you're gaining muscle, does that mean you get slower? or can you still be strong and fast, continue gaining strenght, and still be just as fast?

[bc30]

Originally Posted by hammbone

Yet Ward and Price who are NHL calibre goalies and extremely fit, lose 20 lbs and now they feel better and quicker.

So where did they lose their 20 lbs from? Did they lose muscle weight? How does an elite athlete lose weight without sacrificing muscle mass or power?

I'm going to go ahead and speculate that they were not anywhere near to "extremely fit" as you imagine.

In my eight years in and out of a pro locker room, I can probably count on two hands the guys who were "extremely fit".

Coaches make players weigh in every day for a reason.