From The Crease: “The Hops”

By Carl Howell –

I have seen several young goalies around the state use the “hop” to skip across the crease to gain a new position.  I don’t mean a power-shuffle hop; they use a multi-step process to move rather than using the power shuffle, T-push or drop-step T-push. This reminds me of the goalies (not many left anymore who do this) who were taught highly-exaggerated foot movements to execute a simple T-push.  Steve McKichan and I refer to this as ‘Goofy Feet.’

It is kind of like the goalies who have learned the backside leg push and slide all over the ice on their knees, which I refer to as ‘Happy Knees.’  I have watched the hop very closely, even with some back-up University of Michigan goalies a year ago who used it.  My personal conclusion is that the hop is a silly fad that will go away.  It requires one and sometimes both feet to be in the air at the same time.  This makes it slower to transition back the other direction once the hop begins.

Every goalie I have seen using the hop brings their stick up off the ice as they move.  This is usually not a good thing. I am convinced that the hop requires more time to move than a power shuffle or strong T-push.  With both the power shuffle and the T-push, the stick remains on the ice, and a transition move can be executed instantly.

In addition, especially with the power shuffle, the goalie remains square to the puck, and with a properly executed T-push, the stick, lead pad and chest square up more quickly to a new puck location.  There is also no doubt in my mind that precise movement is facilitated more easily with the shuffle and T-push.  I have not seen every NHL goalie play this season, but none that I have seen uses the hop. Unless some superior being convinces me that the hop is the here-and-now of great goaltending, I will continue to focus on proper mechanics with the goalies that I teach.