Hockey goalies wear a mask and a goalie hat to protect their identities, but that doesn’t mean they have to hide who they are. It’s not like they’re James Bond or something.
While hockey is a widely accepted and played game around the world, it’s not without its quirks. In this article, we’ll highlight five reasons why hockey goalies are a little bit unusual.
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They Have To Deal With A Whole Lot Of Trash
Like any other athlete, hockey players and goalies love to trash-talk. They’ll scream at the top of their lungs and use any means necessary to get the puck to their goalie, much like an MMA fighter. The trash-talking goes both ways, but unlike other sports, hockey goalies are usually the ones doing the talking. This is because hockey is a contact sport and the goalie’s mask prevents the puck-wielder from being identified.
They have to deal with a lot of trash because, well, a lot of trash wants to play against them. There is an entire subculture that worships the puck-wielding defenseman, while the goalie’s identity remains a mystery. These types of players are known colloquially as ‘pucksiders’ and their tactics are often criticized as dirty. To make matters worse, the goalie’s trapper style mask makes them a sitting duck for hacks and slashes from the puck-side.
Trash-talking is a part of the game and it’ll likely never go out of style, but the lack of identity protection for hockey goalies means they have to be careful with what they say. It’s hard to complain to the refs when your face is tucked inside your mask.
They Need To Stay Flexible
Like any other athlete, hockey players and goalies have to keep up with their bodies in different ways. The game demands it of them. They have to stay agile and alert, especially in the crease. This is why goalies are usually the first players to be injured in a game, as they’re constantly moving around to keep the puck out of the net.
It’s not unusual for hockey players to get injured. They’re constantly falling down, getting hit by pucks, and getting tangled up in their own legs as they scramble to block shots. This is why flexibility is so important for a hockey goalie – they have to be able to contort their bodies in strange ways to keep the puck out of the net. It’s also why they’re always the first to get injured, as they’re constantly having to adjust their positions to block the puck.
In most cases, hockey goalies are in good health because they protect their bodies with pads and helmets. It’s still a dangerous sport and there’s always the possibility that they could get injured. Just don’t expect them to be the same once the game is over.
Goalies Have To Deal With A Lot Of Stereotypes
Hockey goalies have to put up with a lot of stereotypes because of the sport itself. People often think that goalies are cold and heartless, which is a shame because that’s not the case. They’re competitive as hell and want to prove to the world that they’re just as good as the rest of the team. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the sport, people will always associate the position with a certain image.
These images can be quite varied, but usually they involve a cold, emotionless individual who doesn’t care about their own safety. It’s quite a stereotypical characterization, but it’s one that’s widely held in society. When you put that stereotype on a goalie, it becomes quite easy to understand why they have to play a defensive role, as they’re constantly getting hit with pucks.
Goalies Have A Hard Time Connecting With The Players
One of the most important things for a hockey goalie is developing a good relationship with the players on the other team. After all, the position requires a lot of trust from the other team and the goalie needs to be able to rely on them when needed. Unfortunately, this can be quite hard when they’re always kept at a distance by the team’s brass, as the officials. Most goalies won’t even consider speaking with the players until after the game. When the game ends and the players finally have a chance to speak, it’s often because they need someone to blame for their loss. Not exactly the type of relationship that helps develop trust, especially when there’s a language barrier as well.
Goalies Aren’t Used To Speaking Up
It’s quite unusual for a hockey goalie to speak up. They’re used to following orders and taking instructions rather than giving them. This is partly due to the fact that the game itself can be quite frustrating, as you’re constantly outnumbered by the other team. Most hockey goalies will remain quiet even when they have something important to say. They’ll only raise their voice when they absolutely have to and even then, it’ll likely be in an accent they’ve practiced for days or weeks. This is why you rarely see goalies speak at all in movies. It’s not that they don’t like to talk, it’s just that they don’t feel comfortable doing it in their natural voice.
Goalie’s Clothing Makes Them Look Like Monsters
There’s a reason why hockey goalies wear such thick and bouncy gear – it makes them look like monsters!. When they wear the traditional goalie gear, it’s often described as looking like they’ve been painted on. The padding is supposed to help keep the puck on the ice and make the goalie look bigger, which is why goalies have to stay agile and quick. Unfortunately, the extra padding adds weight, which makes them slower than the rest of the players. Also, the gear is quite often referred to as ‘souped-up mouse gear’, as it was originally designed for mice to eat through. Yikes!
Even the design of the gear is meant to make the goalie look bigger. The helmet is supposed to cover most of their head and the padding is supposed to hug their ears and neck. As you can imagine, this doesn’t look natural and it definitely makes them look like a different species.
Goalies Have To Wear Skir masks
Hockey goalies have to wear a special mask to prevent injury from falling rocks, snow, or ice. These are quite common in some parts of Canada and northern Europe, where it snows frequently. They also need protection from head to toe because the gear is so thick. The most bizarre part is that the mask has to fit snugly around the nose and mouth. This makes it quite hard for the goalie to breathe, especially when wearing it for a long time.
Goalies Are Social Animals
Hockey goalies are social animals and they love to meet new people. They often travel abroad for the winter to play and spend more time with friends. Most of them enjoy meeting new people and being able to talk about the game with someone who doesn’t know much about it. The fact that they have to keep their identity hidden adds an extra layer of social anxiety, as they’re used to keeping quiet.
Now that you know the main reasons why hockey goalies are a bit unusual, you can understand why they have to wear such specialized gear. Being a goalie means being the last line of defense and the only one between the players and the opposition’s goal. It takes a lot of training to be able to play the position and it’s not easy to play without getting injured. While hockey is a widely accepted and played sport around the world, it’s not always easy to explain to those who haven’t experienced it.