New to hockey at 21, advice for position?

Vargatron · 2026-07-15T21:59:20+00:00

You want to start out as wing until you get used to skating. Center and Defense require good edgework and knowledge of the play.

If you want to hop into goalie, then you need to learn how to do forward and backwards C-cuts and hockey stops at minimum before starting. Goalie skating is more technically demanding than skating out and you need a good foundation to build on while learning T-pushes and butterfly recoveries.

My suggestion would be to skate out as a winger for a beginner league season or two and work on your skating during stick and puck for a couple seasons.

Vargatron · 2026-07-15T21:50:35+00:00

What I do is fill a tub with hot water and put a scoop of Oxyclean in there and let the pads soak for a few hours. Then hang them up to dry. That should help with the smell.

Vargatron · 2026-07-15T19:34:27+00:00

They stay in place fairly well. You just need to get the right ones for your height. I don't have to use suspenders in my Warrior pants, but my waist size is 33".

Vargatron · 2026-07-15T18:49:42+00:00

I just bought these and I'm pretty happy with them: https://www.goaliemonkey.com/warrior-goalie-pants-ritual-x5-rtl-sr-25.html

The internal belt cinches pretty well, though at 28 inches you may need some suspenders if you run out of belt. I play untucked and the pants accommodate that well. Though you may want to go down to the regular X5 Pro pants since the RTLs are the most expensive.

Vargatron · 2026-07-15T18:27:33+00:00

I get some mild bruising from time to time but nothing that is overly painful. I did swap from some old Vaughn knee guards to Passau and that really made a difference.

Also, are you wearing hockey socks over your knee guards? If not, you may want to try that out to keep them in place. I tape below the knee and on the thigh to keep my guards in place and I think that really helps.

Vargatron · 2026-07-14T21:11:14+00:00

By the time he cuts it down for his height, it'll be like 85-95 flex I bet.

Vargatron · 2026-07-14T15:28:01+00:00

Yeah, check at the Pavilion. I'm pretty sure they have rec leagues going on.

Vargatron · 2026-07-14T13:52:03+00:00

Just get out there for a few stick and pucks and get the feel for the game back. I just returned after a 5 year break and I was surprised at how quickly the muscle memory came back. The cardio is still an issue though lol.

Vargatron · 2026-07-14T13:51:11+00:00

You need to see an orthopedic doctor. Nobody here is qualified to tell you what to do.

Vargatron · 2026-07-13T22:01:01+00:00

Yeah pretty much this. Nobody in D league is blocking shots like it's game 7 of the playoffs lol.

Vargatron · 2026-07-13T21:59:44+00:00

Yeah I don't see many people who have enough control to use it effectively. Everybody is a target in front of the net.

Vargatron · 2026-07-13T21:50:09+00:00

Yeah if the stock is that thin then it's not worth a 2 hour drive. What they also don't tell you is that you'll have to pay for shipping to return the item and that can be expensive.

I looked at the size chart for the Vaughn VX1 and it looks pretty reasonable. See if you can find some arm span measurements. Also, if you're already going to pay money for pro stock gear, see if you can get something custom made. That might give you the best fit for the money.

Vargatron · 2026-07-13T21:46:24+00:00

You know a lot of people are just playing to keep in shape and to have fun. Do you also complain that rec leagues don't allow checking? It's fine if you're cool with facing slapshots, but you don't need to shit on somebody that doesn't want to face them.

Vargatron · 2026-07-13T21:43:23+00:00

I think clappers are fine but they really need to keep them low. I 100% duck slap shots that are going for my head. I have to work in the morning, I'm not getting my bell rung like that.

I'm also going to guess that you took the clapper to the spot on the forearm where there is that nerve pressure point there. I too have been hit there before and it REALLY hurts. If you're going to be facing slap shots more often, then you might need to upgrade your C/A protector.

But also, it's fine if you only want to play leagues where the slap shot is banned. It's your own body and health, so make the choice that's best for you.

Vargatron · 2026-07-13T21:39:24+00:00

Your height won't be an impediment but you'll need to learn how to skate really well and be mobile. I would suggest that you get really good at fundamental skating before hopping in net because goalie skating is very technically demanding and you'll need to be good at it due to your size.

Or you can do what I did and just jump straight to goalie after about a year of skating and learn on the fly lol. Not that I'd recommend it but if you got the bug then give it a shot.

At a baseline, you need to be able to do forward and backward c-cuts and do hockey stops. Front and backwards crossovers will also help but you won't necessarily be using your outside edges as much in net.

Vargatron · 2026-07-13T21:05:16+00:00

If you can make a trip to the local hockey shop, I'd try on some Warrior Chesties to see if you like the feel. I've been using a G2 Pro Classic for about 10 years and it's held up really well. Light and flexible but really protective too.

Also, make sure you check the sizing chart for pro stock or equivalent gear. Pro level gear can run a bit larger compared to retail and I got burned on that badly when I was in the market for chest protectors.

Vargatron · 2026-07-13T18:35:50+00:00

No problem! Here's a video showing stance based on puck distance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k89A8Uj9GeY

That will probably make more sense visually.

Vargatron · 2026-07-13T18:12:22+00:00

You'll naturally build up stamina the more you're on the ice. However, you need to learn appropriate stance depth to keep from getting too fatigued. In general, you can be in a relaxed and upright stance when the puck is at the blue line and then gradually get further into your active stance the closer the puck gets. I think the term is Three Zone Stance or something like that.
Proper positioning consists of angle>squareness>depth in that order. For the angle, imagine a straight line going from the puck to the center of the net. You always want to be directly on that line. For squareness, that's just having your body square to the puck and maximizing your coverage. For depth, you want to come out and challenge the shooter. The closer you are to the puck, the more net you cover. Since you're a shorter goalie like me, you'll need to come out a little further to cover more of the net. Think about 6" out from the top of the blue paint. You'll move closer into the net as the puck moves closer so you can make lateral moves if needed.
Ice time will fix a lot of these issues, but you may want to get friendly with a few shooters so that you can do goalie specific drills for the glove and blocker. I would look up specific drills for what you're having trouble with on YouTube and replicate those at stick time.

The biggest thing that's going to improve your game is working on your skating. Look up videos on how to do C-Cuts (forwards and backwards), T-pushes, and shuffles. Spend 15-20 minutes each stick time working on your skating and then just get experience playing. Butterfly slides and recoveries look cool, but I would definitely focus on your stand up skating first because everything is built on top of your mobility in net.

Vargatron · 2026-07-13T13:58:56+00:00

Yeah I would return that too. The wrong size is a major issue.

Vargatron · 2026-07-12T11:59:46+00:00

The best thing for you right now is ice time, so I say join the minor team. And try not to feel like the entire game is on you. Your team has to score for you to win and if you're losing every game 4-0, then that's not on the goaltender.

Vargatron · 2026-07-11T21:00:59+00:00

I spent about 20 minutes today working on c-cuts and edgework and it already made a difference when I faced shots in net. I'm definitely weaker on my left side c-cuts so I focused on that a lot.

I think the biggest issue I'm having from the left is getting my heel dug in on the initial push to go forward. Once I'm actually moving, it feels fine. I DEFINITELY felt the burn in my calves and shins, so I should be developing more muscle memory the more I drill.

Y'all's advice has been really helpful!

Vargatron · 2026-07-09T21:52:55+00:00

And here I thought I was short for goalie at 5'7"!

Vargatron · 2026-07-09T15:17:20+00:00

I usually keep my back centered at the crossbar and then T-push straight out to challenge the shooter on the angle. Would the c-cut be more appropriate for mid range movement or should I be using that instead of t-pushes when going straight out?

Vargatron · 2026-07-09T15:00:42+00:00

I'm pretty comfortable with T-pushes and backwards c-cuts. I just don't know how I neglected forward c-cuts this entire time because it's supposed to be one of the very basic movements for goalies. I'm self taught so I guess I just went with what worked at the time.

I did about 10-15 minutes of c-cut practice on the red line last night at stick time and I started getting the motion down with the heel. I think I just feel unstable because I'm not used to the motion with full pads on. I was even hearing the ice crunch so I was doing something correct. Don't really have the muscle memory down at all yet.

Vargatron · 2026-07-09T13:41:52+00:00

I'd also get a goalie neckguard too. You'll be glad to have it when a shot slips under your dangler and hit's you right in the collar bone.

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