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Originally posted by srussell0018 Shit, so you can answer this for me. I've always thought that being a goaltender in hockey must be the most stressful position in all of sports. Is that true? Every goaltender I've ever met has been a complete nut job. That must be ridiculous having hard pieces of rubber being shot very hard at you when you can't even see them half the time.

It depends. I played high level letter hockey until 17. When things go well, everything is second nature. When things don't everything can fall apart. It's a confidence thing for sure, but i have to think that playing goalie led me to start drinking heavily earlier. You get used to the stress, and sometimes you use it. The worst feeling in the world is when you let in a softie, or are the main reason that the team lost. Hockey is a team sport, but the goalie can ruin or make the game for a team by himself.

The best feeling? Saving a teammates ass by robbing a goal.

Renzo: Brad couldn't play in our league because he can't even skate backwards

and yeah russell...all the pads or not, getting a slap shot in the chest can hurt like a bitch. I also broke my hand once.

As far as seeing the puck? I'm the same height as Roberto Luongo...so a lot of times if i cover the bottom of the net and square up pucks will hit me even if i don't see them. Rebounds are scarier.

ps: that beer league is light contact only and no hitting. In the real game that guy would not score because he would have been put on his ass.

I always got the impression that goalies were just like a Michelin Man and they were padded so heavily that nothing hurt

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Originally posted by OrangestO This isn't about physics, this is about waves.

trust me, you feel it.

you have to learn breathing techniques similar to a fighter to exhale heavily to brace for the puck.If a guy with a bullet for a shot hits you when you aren't ready the sting can last more than a few seconds...also bruising.

And to think they used to play without helmets

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Originally posted by OrangestO This isn't about physics, this is about waves.

yeah they were crazy back then, but the players were nothing like the players today in terms of size and strength.


One of my coworkers has a 12 year old son. The kid is already 6"2' and has a shot harder than his father. He is going to be something else and is already playing with kids a year older. You didn't see guys like this back in the day.

Don't they start molding those kids really young in Canada? I've heard of NHL players as teenagers being away from home for a good part of the year just playing hockey.

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Originally posted by OrangestO This isn't about physics, this is about waves.

yeah, when he is 14 he is going to be enrolled in a school with a hockey program in the hopes that he can get drafted into the qmjhl.

natural size and ability are amazing, if that kid gets coaching he will go far with his natural gifts.

Scouts must have been drooling over Tyler Myers when he was about 15.

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Originally posted by OrangestO This isn't about physics, this is about waves.

size is usually the first thing scouts look for in young players.

the rest can be developed.

Zdeno Chara didn't even play hockey until after he was 16 i believe...now he is going to win the Norris trophy.

I really like how much more physical Myers has gotten this year. Someone needs to teach him a slap shot. He could be the next Chara imo. They're about the same size.

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Originally posted by OrangestO This isn't about physics, this is about waves.

Myers skates much better than Chara...but he still has a lot of work ahead of him before you can even consider this comparison. A diamond in the rough right now, his development will say it all. He still isn't projected to be a top pairing d man, but i believe it is possible if he is paired with someone with a shot.

I'd still rather have PK Subban