Mastering Your Angles: The Skill That Makes Every Save Easier

By Eldon 'Pokey' Reddick | Hockey Horizons Mentor & Former NHL Goaltender

Angle play is the single most important technical skill a goalie can develop. It sounds simple — come out, cut down the angle, take away the shooter's options. But doing it correctly, consistently, and at game speed is one of the hardest things in hockey. I know goalies who played at high levels for fifteen years and still weren't maximizing their angles every time. That's how nuanced this gets.

Here's the core principle: when you control your depth and your lateral position relative to the puck, you force shooters into the smallest available net. You're not trying to make circus saves. You're trying to make the save before the shot is even released — by taking away the target before the shooter can pick it. A well-positioned goalie doesn't need elite reflexes on every play. Position creates the save.

The mistake young goalies make constantly is reacting to the shot instead of setting up ahead of it. They wait until the puck is released and then try to cover the net. At the junior and college level, that approach gets exposed. At the pro level, it gets you sent down. Start with your positioning every single practice, every single shot. Not just in games — in practice.

The Bisector Concept

Think of your position on the ice as living on the bisector — the imaginary line that splits the angle between the puck and the two posts. When the puck moves, your position on that bisector adjusts. This is the foundation of angle play. Every movement you make should be dictated by where the puck is and where that bisector line runs. Master this concept, and your angles become automatic. Neglect it, and you're always chasing the game instead of controlling it.

At Hockey Horizons, we understand that goaltending is its own world — technically, mentally, and strategically. Pokey Reddick works directly with goaltenders and their families to navigate development, team selection, and the junior and college recruiting process. If you're serious about your goalie's future, reach out to us at hockeyhorizons.com.

For guidance on the complete development picture, visit us at hockeyhorizons.com.