Santi

I'd like to meet:

THE GOALIERNATION'S CREEED!Pressure makes all Goalies brothers of a sort, And the very nature of their job separates them from their teammates, while inviting extreme physical and emotional stress. No one understands him, no one wants to be him, they only know they need him.In a sport famous for speeding skaters and non-stop action, the Goalie rarely moves from his position Yet skating just as hard. Moving from post to post, Challenging the shooter, All the while skating in a way to not open 'holes' and with as little movement as possible. Goalies cover as much ice as any other player only in a way they the "skaters" could never understand; while other players are constantly changing on the fly, he is replaced only because of woeful ineffectiveness, debilitating injury, or to send a message to his teammates "we need defense too".Goalies must stop shots that can travel at speeds of more than 100 mph, an assignment that can cause nausea before games and even chronic nervous disorders. Sometimes a giant innocent grin.A goalie is judged only by the goals he gives up, and each one activates a red light that illuminates his failure for the world to see. The goaltenders victories are measured in other ways. When a player bangs his stick on the ice in frustration, when the bench cheers because he just kept them alive, when the defenseman skates by with a smack on the pad and says "nice save", and knowing that when the shooters just keep hitting him and he looks "bored" he is at the top of his game. That moment when the whistle blows and he stands up, turns over the trapper and the puck falls to the ice. "not today he thinks"For the Goalie there is no end zone dance,No home run trot,Because he knows the only save that matters is the next one.Because the demands on a Goalie are mostly mental, it means that for a Goalie the biggest enemy is Himself. Not a puck, Not an opponent, Not a quirk of size or style.Himself.The stress and anxiety he feels when he plays, the fear of failing, the fear of being embarrassed, the fear of being physically hurt, all the symptoms of his position, in constant ebb and flow, but never disappearing.The successful Goalie understands these neuroses, accepts them, and puts them under control. Uses them to be stronger and determined to beat not only "them" but himself as well.The unsuccessful Goalie is distracted by them, his mind in knots, his body quickly following And subsequently a goal.When most men scramble, duck or turtle for cover the goalie casts aside every natural instinct of self preservation and heroically stands his ground, whatever the cost, whatever the pain, his purpose is eternal, singular and constant….STOP THE PUCK!!!!