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HANDLING THE PUCK
Puckhandling
Puckhandling in its purest sense is all about possession. Good
puckhandling occurs when a team maintains puck possession a high percentage
of time after a goalie involves himself in a puckhandling environment.
Many misguided pundits assume a goalie is a great puckhandler because
they can make amazing clears off the blueline glass, the can attempt to score on
empty nets and they can frequently fire the puck up to a teammate at the far
blueline. For me, that isnʼt the heart of puckhandling.
In reality some of the best puckhandling is subtle and very under the radar.
In many respects it is comparable to officiating. The best refs are complimented
when they are hardly noticed and the lightning rod refs seem to be at the centre
of drama and negative attention. The best puckhandling goalies are smooth,
subtle, controlled, safe and intelligent and came be described like a Fergie song
from the Black-eyed Peas. “No drama…..No, No drama…..”.