By Brandon Gwidt
In society, the perception is that the more you have of
something the better off you are. When it comes to the most important position
in hockey, the goalie, a team is better off having one go-to-guy.
The importance of having one starting goalie does not
diminish the necessity of having a solid backup to come in and win some games
if the starter gets hurt or needs some rest. A backup goalie can be a very
important part of a team’s success throughout the long grind of a hockey
season.
However, to have an ongoing competition and rotation in the
starting spot between goalies can have a negative effect on both goalies and
the long term success of the team.
If you look at the past champions in hockey at multiple
levels, the evidence supports that teams need to have a solid number one goalie
that plays the majority of the regular season games and is the backbone of the
team in the playoffs.
A goalie is not like a pitcher in baseball who plays every
fifth game. A goalie is called upon each and every game where his success or
failure is likely correlated with his team’s success or failure.
Competition is a great motivator in sports, but it can also
harm the psyche of athletes and, as we all know with goaltenders, they can be a
bit fragile.
So whether you are a coach, player, or fan, ask yourself if
you want two number one goalies or one solid starter with a backup who can fill
in if called upon. It’s a question worth asking.
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