Hybrid Goalie Training

As the sport of hockey evolved, goaltenders began to develop styles stop the puck. By the time the 1990s rolled around, two distinct styles emerged: the traditional stand-up style and the butterfly. Hybrids are a combination of these.

  1. Hybrid Defined

    • Hybrid style goal tending refers to those goalies who employ certain methods from the stand-up and butterfly styles to form one inclusive style of play. These goalies will stay on their feet as long as possible before dropping to the ice.

    Style

    • Hybrid goalies make saves based on the play rather than automatically relying on a certain method (e.g. staying on their feet or dropping into the butterfly). Hybrids typically appear as if there is no uniform way of making saves.

    Differences

    • Hybrids can be reactionary with emphasis on positional play; they often track the puck and use as much of their body as necessary to make saves, relying on instinct and quick reflexes when caught out of position on a play.

    How To Play

    • Goalies must track the puck as much as possible, staying on their feet when an opposing player in the distance is about to take the shot. When the play is closer to the goal, hybrid goalies often drop to the ice into the butterfly save position with the stick vertically upright or in the paddle-down (stick horizontally on the ice) save position.

    Drawbacks

    • The hybrid style is very athletic and more physically demanding, as there is more movement to the style than stand-up and butterfly. While hybrids are somewhat known for making acrobatic saves, they often are prone to allowing goals as a result of overplaying a given situation.