Skate saves "bad"....

[the iron goalie]

Being as I am one of the older generation of 'tenders, certain saves are in my arsenal that aren't used by most.....according to a post from Jukka recently, my skate saves are one of them that haven't been taught by many in about 10 years. Wednesday night I found out why.......I took a slapper off the cowling....it was "aboot" 3 inches off the ice so it struck me near the top of the cowling at the big toe area and kinda rode up under the leg pad.....it hurt like crazy.....I shook it off abit but got hit in the same spot within 2 minutes after the first one. Now I have a very badly bruised toe and base of toe....not broken luckily. Suddenly, kick saves with the pad facing the puck/shot seem like a much better option.

Any thought as to improving my kick save ability? Repetition is an avenue I am already taking. I tend to stand more upright than many goalies as I am 5'6" tall and get beat high alot when in a deeper crouch....also my movement is better when more upright (I believe a balance/center of gravity thing).

Any advice from you kick save ninjas would be greatly appreciated.

Gracias.

t.i.g.

[Pegleg pete 31]

Gotta admit thats a weird one. Once when in roller hockey I made a skate save but the puck bent my chasis. I had to call a timeout and get someone to pull one wheel off. After the game, i rebent the chasis and I finally decided it was time to get some new pads with some extra padding on the inside of the boot. I ended up getting some used Brian's Altras. I never had a problem since, even on ice. I still make a lot of skate saves.

How loose are your pads?

[MisterZero]

I wouldn't necessarily go with too upright a stance. Go with what's comfortable and allows your quickest reaction.

I, too, am an older (and not-tall) goalie coming back to the game and wrestled with this 'butterfly thing' when coming back to the game. I sought advice from Keeks and others on how to handle the low and to the corners shots. Skate saves felt almost like part of my genetic make-up.

Well it's taken almost two years for me to develop but, without doubt, a half-butterfly will reach further than a skate save and is immeasurably faster. Working on a very fast, REACTIVE half-butterfly has given me lots of confidence to STAY UP longer. But, it's important to be in a crouch which is comfortable and allows you to either butterfly or stay up on your skates. BTW, I'll still occasionally use the skate save from shots from the blue line as they're very easy to redirect towards the corners.

HTH (sorry for the life story)!

MisterZero

[gr8sav]

Most likely there isn't anything wrong with your kicksave. The problem lies with your save selection.
Depending upon the location of the shooter a full or 1/2 butterfly would be a better choice. While not my personal choice even a barrel block (paddle down) will save your toes. Granted you lose mobility by dropping to the ice, but you get a larger blocking surface (bigger than your skate) in front of the puck.
You will also have to take into account whether or not opposing players are around (for rebound control).
Other than a custom cowling, or somehow adding padding to the toe your existing cowling there isn't anyway to prevent this from happening.
gr8sav

[jens_iceman]

Never made a skate save in a game situation only on clinics and schools.
I think if you want to go with the skate save, GO with it !!!
I don't use it but I am sure that it can be as effective as any other save !!!!!!

[Timberwoof]

I had a coach who was always frustrated with me because I wasn't so good at using the skate save. I always practiced it during our sessions, but I never use it during games.

For me there are three things wrong with the skate save.
1. I makes me bend my leg in a weird way that doesn't feel good, and my knees don't like it.
2. I have only the width of the skate blade as blocking area compared to, say, the whole leg pad for a kick-save.
3. Once in that position it's harder to go back to a neutral stance for the next shot.

[the iron goalie]

Thanks for the replys. I have been working on using the kick save....doing many repetitions and concentrating on using them during warm-ups instead of skate saves.....it is getting better for me. I am finding myself in better position on the second shot although, when using skate saves there were fewer second shots (either the puck went into the net or MORE often into the corner). As soon as i am as comfortable w/ kick saves with the pad as I am with skate saves things will be good. Hopefully, my knees will feel better too!

Thanks guys!

t.i.g.

[stealth]

I'd caution people from avoiding a certain type of save from 1 strange incident. If that were the case, how many players would have abandoned the butterfly jus' cuz of one that slipped between their legs, or stung their knee/thigh by squeezing past the protected areas? Lets not be like wussies like soccer players, lol....
I dont see how a half butterfly can be faster than a skate/kick save, altho it certainly provides better blocking. Skate/kick saves should be used as a last ditch save on really quick/ really low shots.

[the iron goalie]

Good point! I haven't abandoned the skate save, I simply am trying to use the kick/half butterfly more effectively.

On that note, I played pretty well last night.

Thanks guys.

t.i.g.

[Nightfall]

I don't see a skate save as being bad...anything that keeps the puck out of the net. I need to work on my kick saves though and reacting to the shot better.

Just my .02 cents.

Good luck!