DEK HOCKEY GOALIE: AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SPORT!

• Posted on 17 October 2024
• By Carl Lemelin
• 0

Christian Lantin is our resident dek hockey goalie pro. He is uniquely positioned to help us understand the difference between goalkeeping on ice and on the ball hockey floor.

In the world of hockey, it's a widely held opinion that goaltenders are, well… let's just say "different". See here for definitive proof.

To be fair, you must admit that anyone willing to stand in front of a player trying to beat you by shooting an object at over 100 miles per hour in your direction must have an unorthodox personality.

Moreover, the nature of the goaltender position is unique in the world of sports. The goalie is the only member of a team sport whose play is fundamentally individual.

In football, on every play, the quarterback must hand off the ball to a runner or pass it to a receiver. He is the leader of the offense, yes, but he is an integral part of each play, interacting with his teammates.

A pitcher in baseball will have to make defensive plays with the direct assistance of his teammates, whether relaying the ball to them or receiving it from them.

Aside from the rare moments when a goalie makes a direct pass to a skater, all goaltender actions are in reaction to the opponent's strategies. Every movement a goalie makes is completely individual, as they respond to the opponent, independent of their teammates' defensive actions.

That's why I like to say that goaltenders are the only ones playing an individual sport within a team concept. It's no surprise then that they tend to develop a mentality that's quite different from that of their teammates.

Like in all other individual sports, playing goalie at a high level is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one, if not more. It’s no coincidence that we see goaltenders' performances fluctuate so much throughout a season. A goalie doesn’t lose their physical skills, but they can easily lose their confidence.

ICE HOCKEY VS DEK HOCKEY

If the goalie position presents a unique challenge in the world of sports, what about the difference between an ice hockey goalie and a dek hockey or ball hockey goalie?

Many dek hockey goalies started their competitive careers on the ice. Although both forms of the same sport share basic rules and similar equipment, the different playing surfaces make them two very distinct sports.

Thus, even though the goalie’s role is essentially the same in both (preventing the object from entering the net), the differences in the object being shot at them and the playing surface make these two positions just as distinct.

As mentioned in my previous blogs, here at Dek Hockey Town, we are fortunate to work with Christian Lantin, a professional dek hockey goalie who plays in the Ligue Nationale de Hockey Balle (LNHB).

The LNHB, the world’s first professional ball hockey league, plays a 3-on-3 format on smaller dek surfaces than those used in international ball hockey competitions, which are played on a hockey rink, minus the ice.

Christian also played ice hockey, so he’s in a great position to offer his perspective on the difference between the two versions of the position.

"It's the speed of the ball and the heat of the equipment," he tells us.

Indeed, the ball is lighter than a puck, so passes and shots move at incredible speeds on the dek floor. Add to that the smaller playing surface, with shorter distances to cover, and it’s enough to give nightmares to high-level goalies.

If you've ever skated in an arena, you know it’s cold at ice level. The refrigeration system provides a refreshing breeze while playing. Ball hockey doesn’t offer this breeze, so you can imagine the stifling sensation a goalie experiences under all that equipment when their team struggles in their own zone. There’s no doubt that the physical effort required to play goalie in dek hockey is in a league of its own.

Moreover, the LNHB season takes place in the summer, with most arenas being outdoors.

“3-on-3 dek is more physically demanding, but 5-on-5 ball hockey is closer to ice hockey,” Christian confirms.

Yes, because I forgot to mention that Mr. Lantin has represented Team Canada at the Ball Hockey World Championships for several years. He even won the Most Valuable Player trophy during Canada’s victory in Switzerland last June.

So, in addition to shedding light on the difference between ice and dek hockey, our star goalie is well positioned to compare 3-on-3 dek to 5-on-5 ball hockey.

THE TECHNICAL ASPECT

This brings us to the discussion of the technical differences caused by the nuances between the two versions of hockey.

According to Christian, movement is easier in shoes than on skates, but the ball is harder to track than a puck.

"On the dek (floor), you have to anticipate that the ball will move (and) the ball moves faster than the puck."

Not only does the dek goalie need to be quicker due to a lighter object moving on a smaller surface, but unlike a puck, the ball curves on long-distance shots, adding a significant level of difficulty.

This means that reflexes and hand-eye coordination become even more important in ball hockey. Off-ice training should therefore reflect this reality by incorporating more visual acuity exercises into the program.

Another technical aspect that obviously differs from ice hockey is footwork. Since players are in shoes and not skates, the same movements a goalie makes on the ice will require different footwork on the dek surface.

Butterfly-style movements will remain the same now that most dek goalies use sliders on the inside of their leg pads (see the next segment), but all upright movements require a technique that needs to be developed.

The goal, of course, is to avoid leaving big gaps when the goalie moves laterally or depth-wise while standing. Footwork must be adjusted so that these openings are visible to the offensive player for as little amount of time as possible. This way, by the time the decision to shoot is made, the gap is already closed.

Finally, I’ve noticed that dek goalies tend to play closer to the net. Ice hockey goalies more often must move outside their crease to cut off angles, gain a better line of sight through the traffic in front of them, and reduce the effectiveness of deflected shots.

This reality is the same for a 5-on-5 ball hockey goalie, but in 3-on-3 dek, there is less traffic in front of the net, and almost all shots come from much closer to the goal.

Add to that the ball’s curves and the quick passes over shorter distances, and it’s clear that a very aggressive goaltending style isn’t a successful approach when playing high-level dek hockey.

DEK HOCKEY GOALIE GEAR

As you can imagine, ball goalie equipment isn’t all that different from ice hockey gear. However, the speed of the game and the fact that the ball isn’t as heavy as the puck allow goalies to make some choices more specifically suited to ball hockey.

“There’s no real difference, except for the pads, glove, and blocker, which are a bit lighter and adapted to the playing surface with plastic parts in specific areas to improve sliding,” Christian explains.

Ball hockey equipment should fall somewhere between street hockey gear and high-end ice hockey equipment.

Street hockey gear isn’t suitable for the intensity of competitive ball hockey, nor does it provide the necessary protection to stop plastic balls shot at impressive speeds.

High-end ice hockey gear can work, but it isn’t necessary since the ball is lighter than a puck.

Thus, entry- to mid-level ice hockey equipment is very appropriate. The foam is less dense, making the gear lighter, cooler, and less expensive. Additionally, friction on the surface is greater in dek than on ice, so high-end gear would wear out too quickly to justify the purchase.

As for the rest of the gear, for the same reasons, the chest protector and jock should also be entry-level. The mask, however, should be CSA-approved due to the speed of the shots. According to Christian, a street hockey mask doesn’t offer adequate protection for competitive ball hockey.

At Dek Hockey Town, we offer mid-range ice hockey equipment from a renowned manufacturer in Warrior, as well as the ball hockey goalie line from Passau, a Quebec-based company.

The great popularity of ball hockey in Quebec has allowed Passau to focus on the specific needs of dek goalies. As mentioned earlier, Passau adds plastic add-ons to strategic areas of their leg pads, gloves, and blockers to allow for better sliding on the dek or cement surface.

These sliders can make all the difference for a goalie, as they allow for smooth lateral movements, comparable to what you would see on the ice. The ones on the blocker and glove provide the dexterity needed on the ground to freeze the ball when necessary.

Like the idea of sliders but prefer Warrior gear to Passau? Passau also offers their sliders as a set that can be installed on any competitor’s gear.

For all your dek hockey goalie equipment needs, visit our Goalie section today!

PRO TIPS

The growing popularity of ball hockey means that many ice hockey goalies are making the transition.

We asked Christian to give us his best tips for making the switch from ice hockey to ball hockey as smooth as possible.

“Play as much as possible to familiarize yourself with the new dynamics of the game. The more you play, the more comfortable you’ll feel. Keep an open mind. The game can be less structured than on ice, so be ready to adapt and experiment.”

As for equipment, Christian is adamant about the leg pads.

“Often, you hear goalies say they use their old ice gear for dek, but the equipment is outdated. It makes movement more difficult and is generally heavier, which makes the end of games tough and discourages some players!”

There you have it! We encourage you to follow this valuable advice and invest in real ball hockey equipment. Start shopping here today!