Be honest with yourself: did you really take the best care of your body this season that you could have?
Post-season is a critical period for goaltenders as it marks the culmination of a long and physically demanding season. During the season, goaltenders endure significant wear and tear on their bodies due to the number of practices, games, dryland training, and the high-impact nature of their position. As a result, many goaltenders may enter the post-season with accumulated fatigue, minor injuries, or lingering discomfort. Be honest with yourself: did you really take the best care of your body this season that you could have? Once your season has ended, instead of hopping straight back onto the ice, or into the gym, take a little time and spend some time rehabilitating and regaining some of that mobility and flexibility you may have lost. Post-season can be even more strenuous on the body as you’re playing even more games in a short amount of time. Effective rehabilitation enables goaltenders to address any existing injuries or discomforts, allowing them to enter their off-season on and off-ice training with improved health and readiness. By prioritizing rehabilitation during the off-season, goaltenders can ensure that they enter the next season in optimal health and with reduced risk of recurring injuries. This may involve working with physical or massage therapists or a strength and conditioning trainer to help address specific areas of concern. Additionally, the off-season presents an ideal opportunity for goaltenders to focus on improving their mobility and overall athleticism. Engaging in structured off-ice training programs that incorporate mobility exercises, flexibility training, and strength conditioning can help goaltenders enhance their agility, speed, and endurance. Improving mobility not only enhances a goaltender’s ability to move efficiently in the crease but also reduces the risk of injuries and contributes to overall performance improvements on the ice. One excellent resource for goaltender mobility and rehabilitation is Maria Mountain on YouTube; she has lots of excellent videos ranging from post-workout/practice recovery to simple strength training specifically for goaltenders.
-Logan Cloutier
