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Future of Goaltending

TheGoalNet

By TheGoalNet
in Gear

The Future of Goaltending   

51 members have voted

  1. 1. What do you think will change the most in goaltending moving forward? (Vote Multiple Items)

    • Gear Shapes
      7
    • Gear Materials
      25
    • Technique
      12
    • Equipment regulations
      25
    • Customization Options
      15
    • Retail Vs Direct Sales
      6
    • Larger Goalies
      3
    • Gear that improves function
      16
    • New save selection
      3

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Moose75 Proficient

Moose75

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I voted technique. The game is constantly changing, and us goalies have to be one step ahead. However, I feel like with the recent advent of hockey-specific sport sciences, we're getting closer to unlocking something entirely new, or long needed updates and overhauls to the general style of goalies. Knowing what physical tolls certain positioning and movements take on our bodies, sport sciences will help hone in on what can be more efficient for your bodies natural range of motion. We'll see a new evolution of the modern butterfly-based technique.

I also think gear changes via restrictions, technological advancements, and protection will also be a major factor in the next 5-10 years. Chest protectors and pants are going to change the most, as they have updated the least over the years. Especially now with curves like the E28, mutated P92s, and other weird hooks that give even mediocre players a much harder, higher shot, it's going to be interesting to see how companies balance protector with more form-fitting equipment. 

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coopaloop1234 Grand Master

coopaloop1234

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34 minutes ago, TheGoalNet said:

I am shocked we had non for technique yet.  didn't know what RVH was before Jon Quick and now it's everywhere... 

I don't think RVH was as big of a movement as you state. I mean, not to don my hipster glasses or anything but I was using it prior to it being mainstream. (:P)

I just absolutely hated VH and the RVH was my compromise.

Either way, it was a good step forward, but it wasn't a huge shift in how things are played. I'd say the restrictions on gear that the '06 lockout brought was the biggest change since the adaptation of the butterfly. Forcing guys to be more agile and less robotic was a great change for the game and I see further alterations to gear doing the same.

But hey, Opinions are just Opinions.

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Kayen Community Regular

Kayen

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I voted regulations. The NHL is constantly trying to crack down on goalies and trying to "increase scoring". This will change goalies techniques and equipment changes - which means equipment materials may change to compensate - i.e forcing innovation on padding on C/A's so that they remain smaller but equally protective. 

 

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Punisher Goalie Experienced

Punisher Goalie

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I went a different direction. Since the question is what is going to change the most, I.e., what will be most different than it is now, I went with “customization options”. 

I’m citing the developments by Bauer in screen/direct printing of graphics and the traditional, but amazing, work by Brian’s in the custom sets we are seeing in the NHL, Olympics, Juniors, etc. I think this is going to be something customers will be really motivated by and the new emerging technology will make it cheaper and easier for goalies to build their dream sets.

The real money maker (my guess) will be when the detailed custom printing techniques make it cheap enough to offer full-face graphics on senior-priced gear. 

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stackem30 Proficient

stackem30

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I was almost surprised to not see some category that embodies fitness/athleticism/sports science on this list (not that I would have voted for it as the biggest influence).

Perhaps it has to do with how much 'behind the scenes' stuff I see from videos and social media, but I'm constantly amazed at how much work goes into making sure these athletes are in superior shape and have every competitive advantage. 50 years ago, plenty of athletes still chain-smoked cigarettes, ate nothing but red meat, and barely lifted weights. Athletes would show up to training camp 15 lbs overweight after sitting around and drinking beer all offseason. Now,  you're expected to come back in even better shape. Teams work with sleep scientists, sports psychologists, nutritionists, massage therapists, etc etc etc. I've seen goalie tandems work with eye specialists and perform cognitive exercises to improve their reaction time by fractions of a second. The sports science that is being applied is astounding, and it hasn't even been around that long1 Every year we get closer and closer to being able to create hockey machines. I think as the years go on and this type of dedication and training becomes more advanced, we'll start seeing players (and goalies) do things that would have next to physically impossible by our current standards.

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Chenner29 Grand Master

Chenner29

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39 minutes ago, stackem30 said:

I was almost surprised to not see some category that embodies fitness/athleticism/sports science on this list (not that I would have voted for it as the biggest influence).

Perhaps it has to do with how much 'behind the scenes' stuff I see from videos and social media, but I'm constantly amazed at how much work goes into making sure these athletes are in superior shape and have every competitive advantage. 50 years ago, plenty of athletes still chain-smoked cigarettes, ate nothing but red meat, and barely lifted weights. Athletes would show up to training camp 15 lbs overweight after sitting around and drinking beer all offseason. Now,  you're expected to come back in even better shape. Teams work with sleep scientists, sports psychologists, nutritionists, massage therapists, etc etc etc. I've seen goalie tandems work with eye specialists and perform cognitive exercises to improve their reaction time by fractions of a second. The sports science that is being applied is astounding, and it hasn't even been around that long1 Every year we get closer and closer to being able to create hockey machines. I think as the years go on and this type of dedication and training becomes more advanced, we'll start seeing players (and goalies) do things that would have next to physically impossible by our current standards.

I was gonna post something like this.

The off-ice training/maintenance part has grown leaps and bounds since I was playing competitively, and that was 'only' 20 years ago (1998).

My old coach would tell us to eat a big plate of pasta and drink some Country Time Lemonade before games.

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Fullright Experienced

Fullright

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Gear materials are going to continue to change. Just in my lifetime, the change is astonishing. Gear changes are going to follow on the materials. (I hope they don't turn us into soccer goalies and make the nets bigger). As gear and materials change, technique, or save selection (is there a difference?), will change as well. Direct sales are going to continue to grow. Another amazing change in my lifetime. Once you know your size, why get something from, for example, Bauer off the shelf made wherever when you can email or call Passau, or another customer builder, and get what you want made where you know it is made and in the colors you want unless really want the retail version of whoever's glove from the store? Besides, you can get that from the pro return site. 

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Imperative Proficient

Imperative

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7 hours ago, Fullright said:

Gear materials are going to continue to change. Just in my lifetime, the change is astonishing. Gear changes are going to follow on the materials. (I hope they don't turn us into soccer goalies and make the nets bigger). As gear and materials change, technique, or save selection (is there a difference?), will change as well. Direct sales are going to continue to grow. Another amazing change in my lifetime. Once you know your size, why get something from, for example, Bauer off the shelf made wherever when you can email or call Passau, or another customer builder, and get what you want made where you know it is made and in the colors you want unless really want the retail version of whoever's glove from the store? Besides, you can get that from the pro return site. 

I kind of hope that does change and it cuts out the middle man. All the “major” brands you have to order through a retailer and it has to be driving the price up. It would be nice to be able to order factory direct

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Chenner29 Grand Master

Chenner29

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2 hours ago, Imperative said:

I kind of hope that does change and it cuts out the middle man. All the “major” brands you have to order through a retailer and it has to be driving the price up. It would be nice to be able to order factory direct

I really don't think this is possible.
The big boys depend on league presence and volume sales to stay in business. 
The only way for them to keep up that volume to pay league fees and endorsement deals as well as R&D and staffing is to produce and sell direct to retailers.
It's a strangely symbiotic relationship that seems a little broken, in my opinion.

Brands that existed while I was playing that died out (I'd love to hear if people know exactly what happened to them):

Easton - bought out by Bauer(?)
Mission/Itech - bought out by Bauer
Hespeler - ??
VIC - ??
Heaton/Titan/JOFA/Koho/Reebok - rebranded to CCM
D&R - ??
Sher-Wood - ??
TPS - ??
Tackla - ?? Bought by Vaughn
Eagle - ?? Bought by Vaughn
GRAF - Bankrupt? Bought by Vaughn

Two things here:
One, if I start a hockey company today I have what seems to be an equal chance of going bankrupt or being bought out by Vaughn (lol)
Two, Sherwood is a good illustrative point of what I mentioned above about league deals driving sales dollars in the hockey market.
I believe they pulled out of protective/goalie gear the year Brodeur switched to Vaughn and focused only on sticks, bags, and accessories

  • I'd imagine part of it had to do with paying league fees for one player (albeit, a great one at that)
    I'm not sure if they pay separately for glove/blocker/pads or just one lump sum for goalies.
  • No other goalie wore Sherwood gear that season

As far as I know, they are still producing sticks and bags, but without league exposure their sales are going to take a large dip. 
Craig Anderson was using a Sherwood stick without branding last year; he's switched to a Bauer this year.
Jake Allen is using a Sherwood stick without branding:

image.png.f6efff3e2923e1ccd408d63d6faf18cc.png
(side note - notice the St Louis skyline in the white. Very cool)
I'd say most folk who aren't "hockey gear idiot savants" like us would gravitate towards the Bauer/CCM/Warrior sticks at the shop because their favorite pro uses it.
Without branding, that sale and distinction is hard to make for the average consumer.

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Fullright Experienced

Fullright

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Posted

Heck, there used to be Northland & Sherbrooke sticks. While we are a little off topic, what happened to Cooper, Micron, and probably the most obscure of all Great Saves? Hate to admit, I played in college with one of the owners, Stu Gould, but alas lost contact with that maniac. Good man, good goalie.

Companies come and go as things move ahead. Some one buys out some else's company. A big change though that wasn't around before is the ability of the buyer to reach out directly to the company and vice versa through the internet. The word is mouth is much broader than ever before. Total Hockey got over extended and re-organized. Now, only two of their stores in the Northern Illinois area stock goalie equipment. Kind of a shaky basis for a company to rely on a kid wanting to look like so and so using stuff that his/her favorite uses in the show. Not to mention, the kid is only using the same label, not the same piece.

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TheGoalNet Grand Master

TheGoalNet

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@Fullright I don’t know the Gould connection... But I know Sam. He was the one who physically built the gear. He still operates a company called Great Saves. It does gear mods and team equipment cleaning and refurbishment. Super nice guy. One of his sons was drafted by the Bruins and I believe is currently in the A with Texas 

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