Skating Endurance Training Drill

Endurance as a goaltender in hockey is crucial. Your on the ice for 100% of the game and you need to stay sharp and alert. So what should you do to last through out the game? Well you need to practice drills that will increase your stamina.

There are a couple of drills you can do to increase your stamina in different aspects of the game, and as a goaltender one of these aspects is your skating. I was once told that a goaltender should be the most powerful skater on a team. When I first heard this I thought my trainer was crazy but then as I got older I realized that he was right, a goalie needs to be able to move fast, skate side to side fast, challenge a player quickly.

So that is why my first drill I will show you guys is to help improve your skating and skating stamina. The goaltender needs to start off in the middle of his crease in his stance.


You will be using your 2 face off circles just outside of your crease for this drill. You must place 1 puck at the center of each face off circle, this is used to simulate hitting away a loose puck from an oncoming offender.

You can do this either alone or with a coach, get your coach to blow his whistle, right when he blows his whistle, extend your stick and sprint towards the puck on the right.


Once you reach the puck shoot it away, try to get height and bank it off the glass. Then pull your stick back in, and get into position quickly. Then skate backwards as quick as possible back into position in the center of your net. This is to simulate, shooting the puck and getting back into position to be prepared as quick as possible for any shots you may receive.

Once you reach the center of your net (while skating backards) stop firmly, stop for 1 second face forwards then extend your stick and sprint to the puck on the left and do the same thing that you did on the right side.

Doing this drill with a teammate or coach/trainer is good because he will be able to stop the puck and bring it back into the center so you can keep going without having to fetch the pucks yourself.

If you have any comments just leave them and I will try to answer any questions or problems!
Sean