The Three Axes of Goalie Positioning

The Basics of Ice Hockey Goalie Positioning: Depth, Angle, and Squareness.

Largely speaking, goalies have three axes (plural of axis) they are concerned with when positioning themselves to save an incoming shot.

First, what is an axis?

• The fixed reference line for the measurement of coordinates (Angle)

• An imaginary line about which a body rotates (Squareness)

• Straight central part in a structure to which other parts are connected (Depth)

The Three Axes

Angle

Angle is the imaginary line from the puck to the middle of the net. If a goalie is ‘off-angle’, they leave a piece of the net open. Simply said, the goalie is ‘on angle’ if they are in the middle of the net relative to where the puck is located.

Squareness

Squareness is the orientation of the goalie compared to the puck. A square goalie has their body (toes + shoulders) aligned in completely facing the puck.

Depth

Depth is how far a goalie is from their net. Depth is either shallow (near the goal line) or deep (at or beyond the crease limit).

E.g. On the goal line vs on the edge of the crease. Big depth is often referred to as “Challenging the shooter.”

Angle

• G1 = Off Angle

• G2 = On Angle

In this example, we notice a poor angle where the goalie is standing too far right, from the puck’s perspective.

Poor angle, Good depth, and Good squareness

Squareness

The most dramatic non-squared goalie. Although, the goalie’s angle is great!

Good angle, Good Depth, and Poor Squareness

More realistically, you’d notice that the goalie’s feet and shoulders are not facing the shooter and thus are not square.

Poor angle, Shallow Depth, and Poor Squareness

And finally, an example of quality/good squareness

Depth

• G1 = Big Depth challenges the shooter

• G2 = Shallow Depth makes life easier on the shooter

Shallow Depth

Good angle, Shallow Depth, and Good Squareness

Challenging the Shooter

Good Angle, Extreme Depth, and Good Squareness

Add these together and you get a goalie who positions themselves well to have a great opportunity to make save after save after save.

Great shooters understand these and do their best to throw the three axes into a blender to gain an advantage…. Here is how a shooter can gain an advantage when shooting off the carry:

Shooting: 'Across' or 'Down' Routes

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Further Reading

• RVH - Goalie Talk For Non-Goalies

• You Dropped Your Goalie Stick… Now What?

• Why Left-Handed Shooters Have An Advantage

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