When it comes to fitting yourself from goalie gear, sizing your stick correctly is one of the most important things you can do. Generally, goalie sticks are sold with paddle sizes generally ranging from 21 inches to 25 inches with the options to go even lower for younger goalies. Just like regular player sticks, they come in junior, intermediate, and senior sizing. One of the most common mistakes a goalie can make is using a stick that has a paddle size that is way too long. The added length reduces maneuverability and can leave your blocker hanging far too low below your pads. On the other hand, if you use a stick that is too short, your blocker will be too far above your pads and it will require a deeper stance to ensure your stick is on the ice and protecting your five-hole. You want to use a stick that leaves your stick firmly on the ice and your blocker set just above your pad.
Youth
For a youth player, generally aged 4-6, the smallest generally commercially available paddle size for a goalie stick would be 20”, and this is what size a youth goalie would want to use. Any larger and you run the risk of the player being unable to handle the weight and size of the stick.
Junior
After youth sizing, goalie sticks only continue to get larger, with the ages 7-8 aiming to use between a 20” and 23” inch paddle. This is where we see the largest jump in paddle sizing, what size paddle a goalie will want to use at this age comes down to the height of the player.
Intermediate
Intermediate goalie sticks are the next size up from here, encompassing an age range of 9-14. Paddle sizing in this age range generally swaps between 23” and 24” inches. Again, it comes down to the height of the player to determine what size paddle they should be using.
Senior
After age 14, goalies are going to start getting into the Senior sizing of goalie sticks, where the paddle ranges from 25” up, generally stopping at 27” inches for the largest paddle, but in certain cases, paddle sizing can go all the way up to 30+ inches for taller players. Personal preference can also come into play here, as goalies usually know what they like at this point, and may decide they want to use a shorter, or longer paddle/stick.
Of course, here at HockeyStickMan we have a variety of options for aspiring netminders, including our Pro Blackout Extra Lite goalie stick, as well as our newly released Pro Blackout Blue Lite and Red Lite goalie sticks. These sticks are built for elite performance at a fraction of the cost of the top brands in hockey, which can be found here.
