A blog for and about hockey goalkeepers and goalkeeping, trying to expand their coverage, given what a niche market it is! Was a little disappointed that there is nothing like this around so thought I'd have a bash at remedying that! Written with a slightly Gonzo journalistic approach.
Thoughts and analysis of the elite. All opinions are my own; can't be bothered with anyone else's after all!
Showing posts with label England goalkeepers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label England goalkeepers. Show all posts
Obviously old news, but newsworthy as England's no. 2 Jason Mazarelo has joined Surbiton and will be helping them compete for the title and European hockey. With Harry Gibson having retired, Surbiton bolster their goalkeeping depth with the former Loughborough Students goalie, strengthening their defence with an up-and-coming goalkeeper who will be competing with Ollie Payne for international playing time.
Maz made his home debut for Surbiton against East Grinstead, achieving a clean sheet, and will obviously be looking to get many more clean sheets during his time with the club.
As I've barely been to any games in person this season, it's been harder to track any equipment changes in the top ranked goalkeepers in England, but however small, they can make a big change in the goalkeeper in question's playing style and save making. One change of note is Hampstead's and GB trialee Harry Gibson changing his Obo rhp for a Mercian design.
At a time when nearly all the other Obo users in the division have switched back to the Obo Hi Rebound RHP design (Smith and Kettle), it's interesting that Gibson has made the decision to change gloves having been using the Obo blocking style for such a long time in his days with Loughborough and beyond. I don't know if it was mid-season as the footage was from the last few games of the season, but is definitely a changeover since the start of the season.
With the Mercian blocking design hinging on a cross-continental design where the stick does the work rather than the wrist i.e. with the Obo, pushing out from the wrist from the elbow can be used to more readily 'punch' the ball away to redirect over the post or away, with the large square face, whereas the wrist turns with the stick as one more readily with the Mercian. This in turn means more of a flicking motion/rotation to make saves standing up from the wrist; an extension of the stick a lot like the Obo hi control in standing saves, and makes ground work easier.
In game terms, this seems confusing as he stands up a lot more, even when closing down, as in the game clip below, but also diving and recoveries should be easier than the Obo hi control with less emphasis on refined/evolved technique, for getting back into the play more quickly. Features that a hybrid style glove can bring into his game to finish off areas of save technique etc. ...
