Beyond the Crease: A Framework for Scouting Ice Hockey Goaltenders
Koitmaa, Villem-Henrik (2024)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024120533181
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024120533181
Tiivistelmä
The NHL has long been the pinnacle of professional ice hockey, representing the ultimate dream for countless young players. As aspiring athletes progress, the question of what scouts look for becomes increasingly critical, particularly for goaltenders—a position requiring a unique blend of skills and attributes.
Scouting in professional ice hockey demands a specialized approach, especially for identifying elite goaltending talent. This thesis examines how technical skills, physical attributes, and mental resilience are assessed, blending traditional observational techniques with data-driven metrics such as save percentage and goals-against average.
Through interviews with NHL scouts and coaches, the study highlights the significance of key competencies, including positioning, agility, and composure under pressure. The findings advocate for a balanced evaluation framework that combines quantitative performance data with qualitative insights to assess a goaltender's potential comprehensively.
By proposing a detailed and practical framework, this research provides valuable tools for scouts to enhance talent identification and for coaches to better tailor development strategies. Ultimately, this thesis answers the pivotal question of what scouts prioritize when evaluating goaltending prospects for the NHL and outlines the developmental pathways envisioned for selected talents. This ultimately gives coaches a better understanding of what to focus on during athletes' development process.
Scouting in professional ice hockey demands a specialized approach, especially for identifying elite goaltending talent. This thesis examines how technical skills, physical attributes, and mental resilience are assessed, blending traditional observational techniques with data-driven metrics such as save percentage and goals-against average.
Through interviews with NHL scouts and coaches, the study highlights the significance of key competencies, including positioning, agility, and composure under pressure. The findings advocate for a balanced evaluation framework that combines quantitative performance data with qualitative insights to assess a goaltender's potential comprehensively.
By proposing a detailed and practical framework, this research provides valuable tools for scouts to enhance talent identification and for coaches to better tailor development strategies. Ultimately, this thesis answers the pivotal question of what scouts prioritize when evaluating goaltending prospects for the NHL and outlines the developmental pathways envisioned for selected talents. This ultimately gives coaches a better understanding of what to focus on during athletes' development process.