Short Answer
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. GREAT GOALTENDING STARTS WITH GETTING TO THE RIGHT PLACE BEFORE THE PUCK ARRIVES.
Parents naturally notice saves, but Goalie Skating is more important long term
However, many of those saves are created before the shot ever reaches the net.
For example, efficient Goalie Skating allows the player to arrive square, balanced and set before the release. In addition, strong movement helps the goalie recover after rebounds, adjust depth and move through traffic without wasting energy.
Therefore, skating is not simply another goalie skill.
IT IS THE FOUNDATION UNDER MANY OTHER GOALIE SKILLS.
At U16–U18, that foundation becomes even more important because shooters are faster, passes move more quickly and mistakes are exposed sooner.
Why Goalie Skating Matters More at U16–U18
Our hockey-development people include a former owner of the Kenesky Goalie School, along with decades of minor-hockey coaching and player-development experience.
In addition, our hockey-management background includes Junior hockey ownership and management. Consequently, we have seen how movement requirements increase as goalies approach higher levels.
A younger goalie may occasionally recover from inefficient movement because the play develops slowly.
However, U16–U18 hockey provides less recovery time.
For example, a lateral pass can move across the slot before the goalie finishes repositioning. Likewise, a rebound can become another scoring opportunity almost immediately.
As a result, better skating gives the goalie more time to do everything else correctly.
Is Goalie Skating the Same as Player Skating?
NO, ALTHOUGH BOTH REQUIRE STRONG EDGE CONTROL.
Goalies move differently because the objective is different.
A forward may skate through open ice to create speed.
In contrast, a goalie often needs to move a relatively short distance while maintaining angle, balance and readiness.
Therefore, goalie skating includes specialized movements such as:
shuffles
T-pushes
lateral recoveries
post movement
crease adjustments
backward depth control
edge transfers
movement into the set position
Most importantly, the goalie must finish those movements ready to make the save.
GETTING THERE IS NOT ENOUGH.
THE GOALIE HAS TO ARRIVE READY.
What Does “Arrive Set” Mean?
Suppose the puck moves from one side of the zone to the other.
The goalie has to reposition.
However, if the player is still drifting when the shot is released, balance and control may disappear.
Therefore, efficient movement should allow the goalie to arrive before the shot and establish a stable position.
For example, the goalie should ideally be:
square to the puck
balanced
under control
properly positioned
ready to react
As a result, the save becomes simpler because the movement was completed correctly first.
Why Does Efficient Movement Matter More Than Fast Movement?
BECAUSE FAST AND CONTROLLED ARE NOT THE SAME THING.
A goalie can move quickly and still arrive in the wrong place.
For example, an overly aggressive push may carry the player past the ideal angle. Consequently, another correction becomes necessary just as the shooter releases the puck.
Efficient movement is different.
Instead, the goalie uses only the distance and energy required to establish proper position.
Therefore:
THE OBJECTIVE IS NOT TO MOVE THE MOST.
THE OBJECTIVE IS TO MOVE THE RIGHT AMOUNT.
That becomes particularly important against deceptive higher-level shooters.
How Does Goalie Skating Affect Positioning?
Positioning begins with understanding angle and depth.
However, the goalie still has to physically move into that position.
Therefore, even excellent positional knowledge becomes less useful when skating cannot consistently execute the decision.
For example, the goalie may know where to be on a pass across the slot. Nevertheless, poor edge control can cause the player to arrive late or off balance.
As a result, skating and positioning cannot really be separated.
THE BRAIN IDENTIFIES THE POSITION.
THE SKATES HAVE TO PUT THE GOALIE THERE.
How Does Skating Affect Rebound Recovery?
DRAMATICALLY.
The first save does not always end the play.
Therefore, recovery movement becomes critical.
For example, after making a low save, the goalie may need to locate the puck and move immediately toward a second scoring threat. In addition, traffic may limit the most direct recovery route.
Consequently, strong edge work allows the goalie to recover without unnecessary scrambling.
THE SECOND SAVE OFTEN DEPENDS ON THE MOVEMENT AFTER THE FIRST ONE.
At higher levels, that movement has to happen quickly.
Does Better Skating Help Smaller Goalies?
ABSOLUTELY.
We’ve already established that size matters increasingly as goalies approach Junior hockey.
However, smaller goalies can strengthen their overall package through exceptional movement.
For example, efficient skating can help a smaller player manage depth more aggressively when appropriate. Likewise, quicker recoveries may compensate for having less natural net coverage.
Therefore, skating becomes particularly important when the goalie cannot rely as heavily on physical size.
That does not erase the size issue.
Nevertheless, elite movement can help the goalie maximize the physical tools available.
Does Skating Matter for Bigger Goalies Too?
JUST AS MUCH.
A large frame creates natural net coverage.
However, poor movement can waste that advantage.
For example, a bigger goalie who arrives late may leave openings despite occupying considerable space. In addition, inefficient movement can create fatigue over the course of practices and games.
Therefore, size should never become an excuse for weak skating.
A LARGE GOALIE WHO MOVES WELL IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM A LARGE GOALIE WHO SIMPLY FILLS THE NET.
How Does Goalie Skating Affect Fatigue?
Every unnecessary movement costs energy.
Therefore, inefficient skating can gradually fatigue a goalie.
For example, repeated over-pushing forces extra corrections. Meanwhile, excessive depth changes may require additional movement before every shot.
As a result, the goalie may become technically less consistent later in games.
Efficient movement reduces some of that wasted work.
MOVE LESS WHEN LESS IS ENOUGH.
That sounds simple.
However, learning exactly how much movement is required takes significant repetition and coaching.
Why Is Edge Control So Important?
Goalies operate constantly on their edges.
Therefore, confidence and control on those edges influence almost every movement.
For example, strong edge control allows the goalie to stop quickly without drifting. Furthermore, it helps the player change direction efficiently when the play reverses.
Good edge control supports:
balance
direction changes
controlled depth
lateral movement
recoveries
post integration
puck tracking while moving
stability when arriving set
Consequently, goalie skating should be developed deliberately rather than assumed to improve automatically.
Should Goalies Skate With Players?
SOMETIMES, BUT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.
General skating can improve fitness, balance and overall edge comfort.
However, player skating drills do not reproduce every movement required in the crease.
Therefore, goalies also need specialized skating work.
For example, goalie-specific sessions can focus on movement patterns that finish in save-ready positions. In addition, those drills can connect movement directly to tracking and shot preparation.
As a result, both forms of skating may have value.
GENERAL SKATING BUILDS ATHLETICISM.
GOALIE SKATING BUILDS POSITION-SPECIFIC MOVEMENT.
Should Goalies Do Skating Work Without Pucks?
YES.
Sometimes removing the puck allows the goalie to concentrate entirely on movement quality.
For example, the coach can focus on balance, foot placement and edge control without the distraction of making saves.
However, isolated movement should eventually reconnect to hockey situations.
Therefore, the progression might include:
movement
technique
with visual tracking
into a shot
into rebounds
game-like sequences
As a result, the skill moves from technical practice into actual goaltending.
How Should Goalie Coaches Teach Movement?
A good goalie coach should not simply demand speed.
Instead, the coach should evaluate whether movement is efficient and appropriate for the specific situation.
For example:
Watch whether the goalie:
moves too far
arrives balanced
drifts after arriving
uses unnecessary pushes
maintains visual attachment to the puck
recovers efficiently
controls depth
stays composed under pressure
Furthermore, the coach should consider the goalie’s physical profile.
A taller goalie and smaller goalie may not need identical movement solutions.
Therefore:
THE TECHNIQUE SHOULD SERVE THE GOALIE, NOT FORCE EVERY GOALIE INTO AN IDENTICAL TEMPLATE.
Can Goalies Become Too Technical With Their Skating?
YES.
Technique is necessary.
However, the goalie ultimately has to play hockey.
For example, a player can look beautifully controlled during an isolated movement drill but struggle when the puck changes direction unexpectedly.
Therefore, skating development must eventually include reads and reactions.
THE MOVEMENT HAS TO SURVIVE CHAOS.
That is where game-like practice becomes important.
What Happens When the Puck Changes Direction?
This is one of the biggest tests.
The goalie begins moving toward one threat.
However, a pass or deflection suddenly changes the play.
Now the player must stop, redirect and establish a new angle.
Consequently, strong skating allows the goalie to adapt without losing control.
For example, efficient edge work may turn a potential scramble into a relatively routine second movement.
HIGHER-LEVEL GOALTENDING IS CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING TO NEW INFORMATION.
Skating makes those adjustments possible.
Does Goalie Skating Matter to Junior Scouts?
VERY MUCH.
Higher-level evaluators are not only watching whether the puck stays out.
Instead, they are trying to understand why the goalie is making saves.
For example, a scout may notice whether the goalie arrives early and set. In addition, the evaluator may examine recoveries, balance and efficiency through multiple sequences.
Therefore, movement can reveal whether the player’s game projects to a faster level.
Scouts may notice:
edge control
lateral efficiency
recovery speed
balance
depth management
movement under pressure
ability to remain set
consistency late in games
As a result, strong skating becomes part of the overall projection.
Can Great Athleticism Hide Poor Goalie Skating?
FOR A WHILE.
An extremely athletic goalie may recover from bad positioning with spectacular saves.
However, higher levels make that increasingly difficult.
For example, a goalie might over-slide and then make an acrobatic recovery save against a U14 shooter. Nevertheless, a Junior-calibre player may recognize the opening and finish before recovery is possible.
Therefore, athleticism should support efficient movement rather than replace it.
THE BEST SAVE IS OFTEN THE ONE THAT DOES NOT NEED TO LOOK SPECTACULAR.
What Should Parents Look For?
Parents do not need to diagnose edge mechanics from the stands.
Instead, watch broader patterns.
Consider whether the goalie:
arrives before the shot
looks balanced
controls lateral movement
recovers quickly
avoids unnecessary scrambling
maintains positioning late in games
moves efficiently through traffic
continues improving against faster competition
In addition, ask the goalie coach specifically about skating development.
A good answer should explain both strengths and priorities.
Should Skating Be Part of Every Goalie Development Plan?
YES.
At younger ages, movement fundamentals should be established.
Meanwhile, older goalies should continue refining efficiency as hockey becomes faster.
Therefore, skating is not something a goalie learns once and checks off the list.
Instead, it evolves alongside the player’s level.
THE FASTER THE GAME GETS, THE MORE VALUABLE EFFICIENT MOVEMENT BECOMES.
Goalie Skating: Our Hockey Answer
GOALIE SKATING IS ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE POSITION.
However, the objective isn’t simply speed.
Instead, strong Goalie Skating should allow the player to:
arrive early
stay square
remain balanced
control depth
recover efficiently
adjust to changing plays
conserve energy
finish movements ready to save
Therefore:
THE BEST GOALIE MOVEMENT IS OFTEN THE MOVEMENT YOU BARELY NOTICE.
The
goalie gets there.
player is set.
shot arrives.
And because the work happened before the shot:
THE SAVE LOOKS EASIER THAN IT ACTUALLY WAS.
We Report What the Research Finds
Goalie-development philosophies can differ.
However, skating and edge control are fundamental components of modern goaltending.
For example, efficient movement helps goalies establish angle, depth and balance before shots. In addition, strong recoveries allow players to respond more effectively to rebounds and changing puck locations.
Therefore, Search the Hockey Answer™ considers goalie skating a core development priority rather than an optional secondary skill.
Furthermore, higher-level hockey reduces the time available for corrections. Consequently, movement efficiency becomes increasingly important as goalies approach Junior and college environments.
EXPERIENCE IDENTIFIES THE QUESTION.
RESEARCH TESTS THE ANSWER.
WE REPORT WHAT WE FIND.
Have Another Hockey Question?
Perhaps your goalie makes spectacular saves but seems to scramble frequently. Alternatively, the player may be technically sound yet struggle when the game becomes faster.
Contact The Hockey Resource™ with your hockey question.
Your situation may become another Search the Hockey Answer™ and help another goalie family understand what development should come next.
Search Other Hockey Answers
USE GOALIES AS YOUR SEARCH TERM:
How Important Is Puck Handling at U16–U18?
Are Your Hockey Practices Actually Developing Goalies?
How Do Junior Scouts Evaluate a Goalie?
What Makes You a Legitimate Junior Hockey Prospect?
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