Hockey Goalie Leg Pads - Page 38

Goalies generally play one of two styles in today’s game: butterfly or hybrid.

Butterfly goalies focus on positioning and blocking to make saves, moving less in the crease. Their leg pads are typically rigid to increase rebound distance and often feature one or no breaks below the knee. Popular models include the CCM Axis, CCM Premier, and Bauer Supreme lines.

Hybrid goalies focus on reacting to stop the puck, unlike butterfly goalies, who prioritize blocking. They aim to catch and trap pucks to minimize rebounds, using softer leg pads with multiple knee breaks for better mobility. Top choices for hybrid goaltenders include the Vaughn Velocity and CCM Extreme Flex lines.

When sizing goalie leg pads, the key factor is the knee's fit in the “knee cradle.” Proper fit is crucial to avoid injuries.

To find your approximate pad size, use three measurements:

• Distance from kneecap to ankle (inches)
• Distance from kneecap to mid-thigh (inches)
• Skate size 

Add these numbers together for your ballpark size. For example, the skate size is 9, the ankle to the knee is 17”, and the knee to the thigh is 7”, which gives an approximate pad size of 33”+1.

Common Junior Leg Pad Sizes

• 29” Leg Pads
• 30” Leg Pads

Common Intermediate Leg Pad Sizes

• 31” Leg Pads
• 32” Leg Pads

Common Senior Leg Pad Sizes

• 33” Leg Pads
• 34” Leg Pads
• 35” Leg Pads