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IM CRAIG stood at the forefront of one of the most prominent moments in USA Hockey history, backstopping a group of college kids to a gold m e d a l a t t h e 1 9 8 0 O l y m p i c Winter Games. W h a t m a d e t h e f e a t e ve n more remarkable was that he was weighed down by water- logged pads. L o o k i n g b a c k a t i t , C r a i g figures that all the acrobatic saves he made sliding around the Lake Placid ice added an extra 25 pounds to his game. While his equipment at the time was con- sidered state of the art, by comparison with the gear that goalies wear today it was equiv- alent of running an Olympic race with rocks in your pockets. "One thing that Steve [Janaszak] and I are really proud of is that we don't look in the past and see what we didn't have," Craig reminisced during a panel discussion with other USA Hockey 's gold medal-winning goalies. "At the time, we had the best equip- ment available." While the basic design of goalie gear has remained in the same aesthetic vain over the decades, chang es in materials have allowed companies to forge ahead to keep up with both the evolution of the game and the modern-day player. "If you look at early goaltending equip- ment, it originally was designed to provide protection for the unique player that was willing to put themselves between the net and hard rubber pucks being fired at them at high rates of speed," said Brad Johnson, the goaltending coach-in-chief for the Michigan District in addition serving as the manager of U.S. retail sales for Brian's Custom Sports. So how have equipment companies raced to keep up and meet the needs of the posi- tion in an ever-evolving game? On the surface, the answer seems quite sim- ple: the equipment has remained essentially the same, with several enhancements. Digging a little deeper, there's much more than meets the eye when it comes to keeping those in hockey's most vulnerable position safe. Evolving goalie gear has always been sort of a balancing act, according the brands any hockey fan could pick out of a lineup. JUNE/JULY 2020 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 25 AS BRIAN'S MANAGER OF U.S. RETAIL SALES and a goalie himself, Brad Johnson knows a thing or two about the equipment he trusts enough to put between himself and a hunk of vulcanized rubber. Here is his advice for those buying their first set of goalie gear: Fit is extremely important. If the equipment does not fit properly, it will limit a goaltender's ability to effectively move and stop the puck. More importantly, ill-fitting equipment can lead to injury. Know your playing style. Most goalies fall under two general styles of play: hybrid and butterfly. Both goaltenders use the "butterfly" to make saves, but typically, "Hybrid" style goalies tend to move more before going into the butterfly so they need a softer, more flexible pad that allows them to move easier in an upright position still on their skates. As with fit, if a goaltender chooses a pad that does not match his style of play, he may not get the performance he is looking for out of her equipment. Do not choose a brand strictly because your favorite player wears it. What other goalies wear has nothing to do what will work best for you. Take your time and research trends and technology innovations. If you don't live near a pro shop that carries a large inventory of different brands to try on, take a weekend road trip to a place where you can try on multiple brands and get a feel for what you like and fits best. –Alyssa Hertel Tips & Tricks For New Tenders J Bigger and more athletic goaltenders such as Connor Hellebuyck, along with lighter equipment, makes it harder for opposing shooters to find the back of the net.