JMS Hockey

As a newbie goaltender, it is helpful during the warm-ups before the JMS pick-up game begins to get wrist and snap shots from 15 feet or so out at various angles and low. It is difficult as a goaltender to warm-up when players are dangling or shooting pucks at your head. So, as a shout-out on behalf of the goaltenders--please consider the shooting portion of warm-ups as warming up the goaltender so s/he doesn't get hurt during the game rather than an opportunity for you to score a goal or to practice a one on one move. If the goaltender ignores your shot attempt during warm-ups, please don't take it personally, just realize that what the goaltender is trying to accomplish before the scrimmage begins. Skate on, Wayne.

I only take maybe 3 or 4 shots during warmups. I try to go for the glove, blocker, pads and a soft one in the chest. As a skater I also like when a goalie communicates how much time I have if I am going back to retrieve a puck behind the net.

Great point Mark. I try to tell guys this in the locker room before games. I am new to goaltending as well and I find it much more helpful to see shots from about 10-15 feet out during warm ups. I cannot speak for all goaltenders, but when skaters are dangling and trying to make that one last move in warm ups, it does very little to warm me up. The goaltender is not always in the net during warm ups, use that time to practice a new move if you must. I know when I skate out, I'd much rather have a goaltender be on their game the whole 90 minutes than them not be fully warmed up or get hurt because someone thought they were Patrick Kane.

Trust me, even on teams with good players who've played Varsity HS, NCAA D3, etc. some still don't understand this and will rocket a puck past your head from time to time :D. It comes with the territory. But that said this is all very good advice. The deking stuff is by far the worst, not only are they annoying and not warming up the goalie, they're also preventing others from shooting as well.

If a player dekes and is on the Patrick Kane slow-mo breakaway in warmups, I just don't move. That usually sends the point home. I do like to take at least 10 shots before playing to help with tracking the puck a little, but mostly to warm up my old ankles and feet. After 35 years playing net, it takes a lot longer to get going nowadays!

Thanks for the post fellas! The topic is not new, but worth repeating: The warm-up allows you to get your timing down, to see the pucks, to feel the pucks. The word "warm" is critical. Players: if you come in "hot" it doesn't really give us a chance and can be very frustrating. Take shots from out a ways and take shots you can control. The warm-up is for your goalie - not for you. DA

I'll put my two cents in. As a higher level tendy, I try to get out there first, so I can take a lap or two to get my legs warm. Then I will stretch as the players are starting to trickle out onto the ice. I do prefer to see pucks, glove side, blocker, dropping into the butterfly as well. If the skater wants to dangle, he can have at it, I will not put forth the effort to try to stop his ego boosting moves ;) . I don't want to pull something to try to make a save while trying to warm up and get loose. It doesn't matter to me if skaters line up in a half moon, or do a one on one bring it in from the blue line, but I will not try to follow you if you try to deke me.