From The Crease: Controlling the pace of the game
By Steve McKichan –
There are many actions a goaltender can take that can control the pace of the game. Sometimes your team is reeling, tired and in need of a rest or some instruction from your coach. Long penalty kills, last minute leads and quick goals against are examples of situations where you must take charge and help your team get rested and organized.
1) Ramping pucks into the crowd – If you need a whistle you should smoother anything near the net, ice the puck or ramp up a hard low shot into the crowd. Pro goaltenders are very slick in this area.
2) Force a whistle – If you have covered a puck and the referee wants you to play it carry it in your glove towards an opponent who is close by. You shouldn’t get a delay of game call if the opponent is close by.
3) Loose strap – During a stoppage of play you can get a few extra seconds of rest by calling over one of your players. Start fiddling with a strap and only begin to really try to fix it when the referee begins to get impatient.
4) Net off the moorings – On scrambles in front, be prepared to “accidentally” knock the net off the moorings. A good time is when an opponent is pushed into your net or when you are moving back to hug your post. Watch that it isn’t blatant and be very careful in the last two minutes of the game.
5) Hole in the ice – When the play is at the other end use the heel of your skate and take a big chunk out of the ice. Do this just to the side of the net so it won’t trip you up later. During the next stoppage of play, scream at the referee or one of your teammates to advise them of the problem.
6) The Missing Contact – Unless the referee is on your Christmas list he will probably have no idea that you don’t wear contacts. By the same token if you do wear contacts, they probably won’t check your eye to see if it still in there. Again, get one of your teammates over to help you in your search for the elusive missing contact.
Your best friend – the referee
I am a firm believer that a good relationship with the referee will save your team dozens of goals against every year, and give your team the edge when it comes to questionable calls. We have all seen Ron Hextall go ballistic when he thinks a goal shouldn’t have counted. Do you think this helps anything? In reality the referees will likely try to call a penalty on Ronny later because he tried to show up the referee.
My Advice
There is no one on your team, including the captain, who will have the same opportunity to talk to the referee as you do. Every defensive zone face off he will be standing within 10 feet of you and every puck you smoother will bring him nearby. This is a great opportunity. Referees are supposed to be impartial, but they are human. If the referee likes you he will be less likely to call a penalty or a questionable goal against you. Early in the game start with the small talk, and even though the game is incredibly intense, stay low key and relaxed with him. Ask him if he is going out after the game. Ask him if his kids play hockey. Thank him for a helpful call. This advice may sound cheesy but it works. Screaming at the referee will never help you.
I can give you many examples of how this worked for me but what follows is the best one. My approach to the referee in this case didn’t help during the current game but later in the year I was rewarded. During the last minute of a game in the IHL I had a shutout going and our team had a safe three-goal lead. Famous NHL referee Don Van Massenhoven was standing against the boards as my defense tried to clear the puck around the boards. The harmless clear glanced off Don’s big skates right on to the stick of a Muskegeon Lumberjack. My shutout vanished and I skated over to Donny to thank him. I had a big smile on my face and he knew I wasn’t that steamed.
Don refereed another four or five of my games the rest of the year and on at least four occasions gave me quick whistles that saved me from a goal against.
The point is clear – if you treat them right, chances are they will help you later.