Reading the Play Before the Shot Is Released

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

The best goalies I ever played with — and the best ones I've coached — share one trait that doesn't show up on a highlight reel: they know what's coming before it happens. Not because they're psychic. Because they've trained themselves to read the play earlier than everyone else. By the time the puck is released, they've already begun their preparation. By the time it arrives, they're ready.

This is called pre-shot reading, and it's one of the most undercoached skills in goaltending development. Most goalie training focuses on reaction — tracking the puck, moving to stops, making saves. That's important. But reaction is your last line of defense. Pre-shot reading is what lets you set up correctly before you ever have to react.

What are you reading? The puck carrier's body position — where are their shoulders aimed? What is their stick doing? How much time do they have? Are they going to shoot, pass, or deke? What are the other players doing in the zone — are they setting up a back-door, a one-timer, a screen? All of this information is available before the shot, but only if you've trained yourself to look for it.

How to Train This

The best way to develop pre-shot reading is repetition combined with deliberate attention. In practice, before every shot, consciously ask yourself: what is about to happen? Over time, that conscious question becomes an unconscious habit. Watch video — not just of saves, but of entire zone sequences. Notice how elite goalies position themselves before the shot based on what the play is showing them. That awareness is trainable, and it will change your game.

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.