By Ryan Walter /

Today’s game demands that goalies become not only puck-stoppers, but also puck-movers. Many NHL goalies are very good at moving the puck and all NHL goalies work weekly to improve this ability. Early practice goalie warm-up drills can be the perfect place to work on this skill.
Defence line-up in the middle of the neutral zone. Forwards begin on all four bluelines, with pucks.
On the whistle, Fs release wrist shots on the goalie (in the glove) from opposite blueline corners.
Ds back skate hard and open up in opposite corners for a goalie pass. The D then pass up to the posted forward, who is supported by the F on the other side of the blueline, skating towards the F with the puck.
The forwards pass the puck, take an outside shot and net-drive.
The passing Ds join the rush, getting ready on the far blue line (and the next whistle) to back-skate into the opposite corner, working through the same sequence.
Ds take two breakouts and then switch with the next Ds.
Make sure when your defencemen skate into the corner that they skate to different places and varied distances away from the goalie. This will give your goalies practice controlling and moving the puck to different places on the ice.
Remember, if your goalie is good at controlling and distributing the puck, your team might not only control more of the game, but also sustain fewer injuries to your defencemen.
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Ryan Walter played 15 seasons in the NHL and is now a coach with the Vancouver Canucks.