Which pads/style for new goalie

Carson · High School Joined: 30 Oct 2008 Posts: 12

Hi
Hope you don't mind a few questions - I am very new to this. My son is in his last year of novice. He would like to play goal next year in Atom. The novice team he plays with has channel/standup pads for the kids to use. Are sliding/butterfly pads the way to go when we do go to get him his own for next year? Would it be good to get them ASAP so he can practice this style when he does get to play (every 3rd game or so)? Are there any advantages to the standup pads - can you do everything in butterfly pads that you can with standups? Is there someway to modify/add to the standup pads to make them butterfly out when he goes down?

Thanks very much for your time.
Garth Schindel

puckstopper35 · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:07 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the forum!

Will it be his first year trying goalie? If so, don't invest in new pads just yet - although he may be really excited now, it could wear off if he discovers it's just not for him.

If he does decide that he really wants to be a goalie, invest in a good set of pads. Most of the ones you see now are more "block style", meaning they look like a rectangle when you drop to the ice, sealing the ice and offering more coverage than the older style pads you would see. There's a lot of options out there when it comes to pads, so I'd say start looking now, and see through the year whether he's serious about it or not.

As for making the best with the standup pads - it's a LOT harder for these pads to "flare" out like you would see with the new pads. The only suggestion I have to fix this is to leave all the straps really loose, especially the one that goes under the skate (the boot strap I think?) because ultimately when you drop into the butterfly, you're not rotating your legs all that much - the pads will shift and do it for you. The downside to this is that it will feel really weird when he tries to skate around, since he will want to have them tighter to feel like they will actually stay on his legs. Also, the older style pads - many do not have knee stacks, so with the old pads I would recommend buying some knee guards so that it's not his bare knee making contact with the ice... that could leave some pretty nasty brusies. Oh, and it would also protect him from shots that hit his thighs.. again, the old pads don't usually have these.

Hope this helps Smile

And best of luck!
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Carson · High School Joined: 30 Oct 2008 Posts: 12

Hi
Thanks for the info. He played goal about every 1/3 game last year and still hasn't had any sense knocked into him yet - looks like I will be pad shopping eventually.
Thanks again

itechwarrior · Minors Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 182 Location: Surrey, BC

ebay is a great way to go for young kids as well... buy slightly used stuff at discounted prices, then you can also sell them as he grows. ebay is the way to go, i saved a boatload on 2 sets of gear so far.
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fender122a · Minors Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 137

well i didnt play goal as a kid so i cant say that i know from experience but everyone is right, def used, try like play it again sports, because if you build a relationship with them you can keep coming back and trading up the gear in sizing
i would buy new for a while unless money is not a problem (which is your business not mine, just saying)
good idea would be to take your son to a store just to look and have him mess around and see what he likes
i also realize that that is a diff experience on you since you have to say no like 100 times, but it will let him burn off some of that i want new stuff energy

the important things to remember are that he needs to have fun, work hard, and not get hurt, so the pads have to fit him right
good luck
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My stats
6'2, 216 lbs, wingspan 77 in
RBK 8K 37 in, itech 4.8 xwing blocker and catcher, mask, chest protector, pants, neck, knee, jock,koho skates, rbk 4k garon stick

itechwarrior · Minors Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 182 Location: Surrey, BC

Fender, that 4.8 glove and blocker's gotta go, you're gonna break a finger dude.
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