Goalie Disposition

[z-man]

What is your mindset and disposition when you play? I really do not have an agressive mindset and I do not get really "fired up" during a game, no matter what happens. I am almost always feeling the same, win or lose. I can't remember ever breaking a goal stick over the crossbar or on the ice. I don't really celebrate when my team scores (or even when I score, if I am playing up). I am not really indifferent, but I don't really wear my emotions at all. I would not characterize myself as super competitive either. I like to win, but I take it in stride and don't keep track of stats, etc. I do notice that I almost always play fairly well if I am enjoying myself, and my consistency rides on that. If I am not having fun or the mood is negative, I am still trying but I do not play with my head in the game. I am also not superstitious about anything, I have no real routine. I drive to the rink different ways, I may eat mexican food two hours before the game, may or may not nap, etc. Sometimes my teammates knock me for my apparent indifference, but that is usually only in a period of losing which is only my fault to the extent that I am 1/15 of the team, and I am a believer in the team concept wholeheartedly. I never blame anybody and neither do I really absorb blame either. I feel that a 1-0 loss is no worse than a 7-0 loss because a loss is a loss, but it is how the team plays together that I am primarily concerned with. I am interested to hear about your disposition because I find the psychology of athletes interesting, of course goalies specifically.

[MillerTime247]

I stay pretty relaxed and try to joke with the refs, other team, my team. This helps me stay calm and not get too serious about what I'm doing. I do however try to do the same things before I play. Wear same t-shirt, not eat prior to a game, dress in the same order, etc.

[leafy_1331]

i try to keep the atmosphere light and jokey around the crease when the play has stopped, but during the play, i'm unusually intense. also do a few breathing exercises during the play if i feel that i'm thinking too much

[alw]

Very intense, in a light hearted way....does that make any sense? I try to keep my mind clear but am a very intense and competitive player. This will sound strange but the rare times I vent frustration it is usually over a save that I made but was not happy with. After many years playing I think I used that as an outlet instead of getting mad about goals scored. So basically I stay pretty level and focused when scored on but if the puck bounces off my glove and produces a rebound in the slot instead of making a clean glove save that is when I tend to have any temper tantrum that I am likely to have. When a goal is scored I just line up, look to center ice, and wait for the puck to drop....no emotion. I do love to talk out there, especially with the other team. Guy slams home a great corner shot, I usually tell him it was nice goal.....takes most people completely off guard. Pretty soon there telling me what a great save I made on another play. I get pissed at myself but never direct the emotion towards the other team or my game, that is just fuel for them. Generally speaking I play hockey now for fun, but none the less I am out there to win 100% of the time and it shows in my personality on the ice. Let's call it quiet, or controlled intensity. Funny how people accidently crash into the net how quickly they get out of there and are trying to apologize, I think the look in my eyes sends a message when I am on the ice. As for physical play, I have never been in a fight I wasn't willing to back away from and let my defenseman finish!!

[Squealagig]

I'm usually relaxed. Occationally a little too relaxed and forget to stop the puck. I just go out. have fun and try not to think. I always screw up when I think, especially when I'm thinking about trying not to think.

[Detfreak]

I get worked up way to much sometimes and am very protective of my crease... I usally keep my cool but I hate those Bure cherrypickers.. I'll wait till there about 10ft out doing there little deak moves on a breakaway then rush them Hasek style...Hextall was my goalie hero so I guess I have a mean disposition which doesn't bother me since I don't like fowards..

[RRG]

I guess I have a pretty intense disposition. I am not one of those guys swearing and throwing my glove, I am more of a focused intense. After every stoppage I try to make a concious effort to get my heart rate up. I feel I play at my best when I have that slightly panicked feeling deep down. When I get scored on I get over it fast, I usually just skate out of the crease and look to center ice waiting for the face off.

[Jimb0-79]

I get really nervous before each game. I always want to win, but feel I'm never good enough to stop anything. I'm really intense(too intense sometimes) in the game, the opposition is the enemy, teammates are my brothers(especially my D).

When my team scores, I feel a sigh of relief. "There's one more goal I can give up I guess" I always says to myself. When I give up a goal, I always blame myself... Breakway, one-timer, cuff-ups, its that damn five hole again, or that split second hesitation to not covering up that rebound, that lazyness of sliding around and not using my stick as first contact at low shots. I admit I have broken(or tried to) my stick being mad at a stupid goal. When we win, I'm proud of my teammates and myself of what we've accomplished. When we loss, I blame myself for making stupid mistakes on each of those goals.

I'm kinda of superstitious, if you can call it that. For example, I've always dress from my right to left, it be skates, pads, gloves, chest pads. And I enjoy skating away from the crease and hit the goal line on the boards. That's about it.

From what I've read, zman. Do you still enjoy playing? Because I felt like that several years ago when I decided to stop playing hockey for awhile. You know, no emotion going into the game at all.

Anyway, this is my first post. I am so glad I am able to post!!! I've been lurking this forum for quite awhile.

[Jaeger29]

I used to be a fiery, stick-slamming, glove-throwing goalie. I was good; but I was losing my focus and wasting my energy. (Plus, my wife - then girlfriend - hated to watch my frustrated displays of aggression.)

I've since worked to get past that, and mow I'm all about having fun. I do my best, I enjoy myself, and I have fun. I crack jokes - often to the other team. I don't hold any ill feelings towards the other team - their job is to score on me... and my job is to stop them. They're not the enemy. If they hack and chop, I let my teammates address it. I can't be bothered with petty chippiness; it takes away from my enjoyment of the game. I've been out of the net for a little while, but coming back with this attitude, I've noticed a big improvement in my game... and I'm having a heck of a lot more fun.

[stripes]

Intense, intense, intense. Fiery and noisy, temper flaring, encouragement-yelling, even growling at face-offs (that gets you some weird looks but man, it focusses you in like the tendrils of your mind are wrapping around the puck before it leaves the ref's hand.)

And then, every once in a while, a much calmer game. Sometimes I can pull a good game off in 'smooth' mode, and sometimes it's good to keep the other team from feeding off your display of emotion. But usually, it's fire and brimstone.

After all, I'm on the ice to be unrestrained, and be ultra-competitive, so that I can be a little easier to get along with the rest of the time!

[Mr6Vezinas]

I just usually go out there and try and have as much fun as i can. If i do get a little miffed, the thing i do while in net is to sing to myself. THAT gets me some weird looks from players from both teams on the rink.
"He is weird, but hes the goalie, so its ok."

[gr8sav]

In the lockeroom before the game i do what it necessary to help the guys get ready. Sometimes its joking around and keeping everyone loose, sometimes it is more intense.
On the ice i try to stay calm and focused. I have had a ref ask if i ever get excited about a save. I usually do not get involved with scrums in or around the crease after the whistle. I am of the firm opinion that if you give anything away to the other team tey will try to use it against you.
(example) - if the other team knows that tapping (not to injure, but enough to feel it) your catcher with their sticks after you cover the puck will make you mad then they will continue to do it and try to make you lose focus.

[BilldaCat]

Weird. I find a play a lot better when I'm angry. I just get that adrenaline rush and feed off of it.. I hear so many goalies say to keep cool and all, but my play noticeably picks up a notch when I'm pissed off. So to get to that state of mind, usually I'll end up trying to start something with people who are even near my crease, deliver some slashes, get them to hit me back, just to get the juices flowing.

I know I'll take some heat for that, but (shrug)

[Theif]

I have a disposition very similar to RRG. I'm intense (sometimes too intense) and I love that panicky feeling because it makes me ultra focussed.

After a goal I try and shake it off and focus on the present. I can't change what just happened, I can only focus on the present and future. I find that works really well.

I'm also quite vocal. I communicate pretty well with my "D" and cheer the loudest when we score. I play with my emotions on my sleeve. It doesn't help me play any better; it's just my personality.

I'm also a leader on my team, so I have to try and remain as even-keeled as possible. The last thing my teams needs is a loose cannon in goal. I try to stay positive, but I'm also very intense and emotional on the ice.

[Cagey]

Playing angry is too distracting for me- I had a coach, a very stupid one who made me do push-ups if ever I used a b/f , and i didnt play at all well thinking about how he didnt know a thing and I have to do what I do if im going to stop the puck, embarassing pushups or no.

After he left, I played well because I wasnt doubting, thinking about the minutiae of my game, or distracted by anger: I was talking to the D, I was exploding to the puck, I was focusing and I was coolly pretending I was a monster goalie.

Now, left to my own devices- new coach doesnt claim to know goalkeeping one whit and our gaa is 2.10 so we're the least of his worries- i can go into games against much more experienced players and when I stop them and they swear at themselves, i get charged up.ta-DAA!- i'm not ACTUALLY a monster goalie- it's just little ME that stopped ya! Go ahead, do it again! -OH! too baaad...