Stick Work: The Weapon Most Goalies Underuse

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

Ask most young goalies about their stick and they'll tell you it's for stopping pucks along the ice and maybe poking checking the occasional breakaway. That's it. That's the whole list. And I get it — when you're first learning the position, there's so much to focus on that the stick becomes almost secondary. But at the junior and college level, your stick is a weapon. Goalies who use it well have a massive advantage over those who don't.

Your stick controls the bottom of the net. It seals gaps, redirects passes, breaks up cross-crease plays, and handles loose pucks in the crease. When your stick is properly positioned — flat on the ice, angled correctly, active — it closes a portion of the net that would otherwise require a full body movement to cover. That's efficiency. That's giving yourself a better chance.

Then there's the puck-handling element. At the junior level and above, goalies who can handle the puck behind their net, make clean passes to their defensemen, and relieve pressure in their own zone are enormously valuable. Coaches notice this. Scouts notice this. A goalie who is comfortable with the puck on their stick is a goalie who helps their team — not just one who stops shots.

Train It Separately

Work on your stick skills away from full practice. Puck handling in your own zone, moving the puck to specific targets, and stick-positioning drills are all things you can do on your own or with a goalie coach. Don't wait for team practice to be the only place you develop this part of your game. The goalies you're competing against for roster spots are putting in this work. Make sure you are too.

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.