Most people think that the job of a hockey goaltender is to stop the puck. Just stop the puck - nothing more, nothing less. 

Unfortunately, many hockey coaches also think this way - and while it's true that the biggest responsibility that a goaltender is tasked with is keeping pucks from going into the net, goalies can provide a lot more value to the team than just being its last line of defense. In fact, the best hockey coaches will also incorporate goaltenders into their game plans. There's good reason for this - we'll explain more in this post.

Why You Should Incorporate Goalies Into the Game Plan

So just why should a goalie be included in the game plan? Here's a look at a few key benefits:

• Key to the breakout: Goalies these days are playing the puck more than ever, sometimes serving as that third defenseman of sorts who sets up the breakout or that key communicator who shouts messages to the defense. If a goalie isn't aware of how a coach wants to play in their own zone, then a goalie can't be an asset in this regard. That's why it's important to include the goalie in situational drills during practice.
• Forward tendencies: Good goalies study the other team's top players so that they're in a better position to stop them. In doing so, goalies often pick up on these forwards' tendencies - and not just where they like to shoot. They'll also pick up on the moves they like to make on defenseman and whether they're pass-first or shoot-first players. By talking with the goalie and picking their brains on the opposition, coaches can better game plan to contain the other team's best scorers and defenseman can get a better idea of how these skaters like to work. The input can be invaluable.

Bottom line - coaches shouldn't ignore the goalies when it comes to game planning. Include them in situational drills so they know how to react in a game, and pick their brains about the opposition's scorers so that the team is better able to shut them down. Want to learn more about Goalie game-planning & strategy? Check out our Goalie Camps.