It’s ODR season, which means that more than ever we have shinny hockey games going on without goalies.
Not only is it not as fun for goalies as a regular game (And a hell of a lot colder), but many places actually ban goalies from going on the ice due to liability issues. Either way, most outdoor shinny games are organized without goalies and can be a lot of fun, but there are a lot of different ways to play the game without a goalie.
We’re here to rank them so you can all agree on a way to play.
- Posts
Posts is the best. Did you really think a site named BarDown was going to say anything different? The only thing that even comes close to matching the feeling dangling a goalie out of his jockstrap is ringing a game-winning post bar-in.
Ping, ping, ping, we have a winner.
- Single Target
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This might be the most controversial ranking in the group, but attach one of these to anywhere on the net and it’s a more skillful option to many of the game rules below. If you’re concerned about people raising the puck, keep the target low – they’re easy to move around. For the most satisfying goals, throw it top corner and go nuts.
It also doesn’t have to be one of these nets. We’ve seen just regular targets, a cymbol, garbage can lid or basically anything that will make a noise and not break. Get a little target practice in.
- Regular Net, No Raising the Puck
This one is surprisingly good. It allows someone to sit back and try to be goalie with their skates. You need a discipline bunch to make sure nobody raises the puck, but this is still a highly competitive format.
- Mini Net
A lot of guys use these nets for chucking sauce, but they’re a versatile tool. This keeps the puck low while still giving you a target to hit that’s more difficult than most options.
- Tip the net, bounce off the boards
This is one of the more popular options, but also one of the more overrated. Bouncing off the boards on an outdoor rink is so inconsistent that it can be frustrating. Plus, you can get totally fluky goals from anywhere on the ice as long as you hit the right spot.
- Shooter Tutor
Shooter tutors are serviceable, but a weak option on the ice. Pucks can slide in cracks basically anywhere along the edges of the goalie cover and can cause controversy on the ice. Did it go through the proper hole or didn’t it?
These are just as inconvienent as anything else, but they don’t have as much of the benefit.
