Goalies
Puck handling by goalies has
been the subject of several rule changes over the years.
In the earliest hockey games goalies had to remain standing during the game.
They were not allowed to go down on the ice to make saves.
But beginning with the 1917-18 season the goaltender was no longer penalized
for going down to make a save. Then three seasons later they were allowed to
pass the puck up the ice to their own blue line.
In the 1929-30 season goaltenders could not hold the puck. When they caught
it they had to clear it immediately. If they did hold it the ensuing faceoff
took place ten feet from the front of the goal and only the goaltender could
stand between the faceoff spot and the goal.
Although no record exists of a team trying to put two goalies on the ice at
the same time, the 1931-32 rule book said a team could only have one
goaltender on the ice at a time. Also in that season there was a rule
against members of the opposing team trying to impede the movement of a
goalie or to block his view. Not until 60 years later were rules changed to
add penalties for unnecessary contact with a goalie or for infringing on his
crease.
Newer Changes
There were several rule changes during the 1960’s. During playoffs the
backup goalie had to be in uniform but did not have to be wearing his body
protector or leg pads. During the regular season each team was required to
dress two goaltenders.
Ever wonder how the player was chosen to serve a goalie’s time in the
penalty box? In 1967-68 the rule was adopted that if a goalie had a
co-incidental major penalty it would be served by one of his teammates who
was on the ice at the time the penalty was called.
What if both goalies on a team could not play for some reason? In the
1981-82 season the rule was established that if that happened the team could
put in “any eligible goaltender who is available.” Even if he just came as a
spectator to watch the game? The key word in this rule is “eligible.”
A variation on that situation
arose once during the Storm’s first year here. Our backup goalie was not
able to suit up for a game so one of the forwards, Loren Havermeier, had to
step in to that role. He was very relieved not to have to play the position!
Now, of course, we have had youth hockey long enough, an affiliates list,
and a system within the league to provide for emergency backups
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