By Walter Aguilar – COR.E Performance Dynamics Specialist & Goalie Mindset Coach

“Being a starting goalie is a mindset”-Walter Aguilar

Every goalie wants to be the go to guy or the girl. The one the coach taps for the big game, the one teammates count on, the one who doesn’t just wear the pads but owns the crease.

But here’s the truth: being a starting goalie at an elite level is about way more than just skill and talent. It’s about who you are when the game is on the line. I’ve worked with goalies who had all the skill and talent in the world but couldn’t get past their own minds and emotional battles… and I’ve seen others with less raw talent rise to the top because they mastered and played with these five characteristics.

Let’s break them down so you can start building them today.

“You can’t do anything about it. It’s useless for you to think about it… so just try to be positive and focus on the next puck.”-Robin Lehner

1. Consistent Mental Focus and Present-Moment Awareness

If you’re still replaying the last goal or daydreaming about the snack after the game, you’re already beat. Elite goalies lock in on this shot, this play, this moment.

When you train your mind to stay in the now, you read the game better, react faster, and stay calm even when things get crazy. That’s where your best hockey thrives.

One-liner reminder: "This shot. This play. This moment."

“He’s got unflappable swagger…” -Ryan Huska (Calgary Flame Coach) discussing Dustin Wolf

2. Keeping Your Emotions in Check When Under Pressure

You make a highlight-reel save, awesome. You let in a soft one, not awesome. But either way, elite goalies keep their emotional needle steady. Too high, and you get sloppy. Too low, and you lose your edge.

Control your emotions so you can control your game. That’s how you stay unflappable no matter what’s happening on the scoreboard.

One-liner reminder: "Stay even, never too high, never too low."

“I had the same type of preparation throughout my entire career: what I ate, how much I slept, the time I would come to the rink, the things I did before the game.” -Henrik Lundqvist

3. Relentless Preparation of Ritual and Routines

Before you even step on the ice, you've already won. Your rituals and routines are the base of everything you do, from your night before to your warm-up before a game to how you eat.

When you prepare relentlessly, you don’t have to hope you’ll be ready; you know you will be. And that knowledge creates confidence every time you step in the crease.

One-liner reminder: "Earn your confidence before the puck drops."

“For me, the biggest thing is just bouncing back and never letting a bad goal go in twice.”- Jake Oettinger

4. Resilience and Short-Memory Recovery

Every goalie, even the pros, gets scored on. The difference is how fast you can bounce back.

Don’t waste energy fighting with the facts. Accept the goal, learn from it, breathe, and move on in seconds. The best goalies live by the “next save” mentality.

One-liner reminder: "Flush it fast, the next save is waiting."

“I just make them feel comfortable, be themselves, and not [put] too much pressure on themselves. If there’s anything they need, I always try to help if I can.”- Marc-André Fleury

5. Leadership Through Presence and Energy

You might not wear the “C” on your jersey, but make no mistake, your team feeds off your energy. If you look locked in, confident, and ready, they’ll believe they can win. If you look rattled, nervous, and uncertain, they will be too.

Lead by example. Your body language, work ethic, and calm, confident energy can lift the entire bench.

One-liner reminder: "My calm is their confidence."

Final Word

You don’t become an elite-level starting goalie overnight. These five characteristics aren’t just skills; they’re choices you make every single day. The more you embody them, the more you’ll notice your game rising to a whole new level.

So, next time you step on the ice, ask yourself, "Am I truly embodying these five?" Because when you do, you’re not just playing as any goalie; you’re becoming the one the team can’t imagine playing without.