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>Goalie protection? These guys used to play with minimal pads and no mask as recently as the Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull era. Even when Rocket Richard was shooting at them. Goalies have just become idiosyncratic, superstitious head-cases looking to "pad" their stats. They don't need a 12 inch (0.3m) wide pad to protect a 6 inch wide calf/ankle and jerseys that billow out from under their arms like parachutes. JS Giguerre and his seamingly "jump-up shoulder pads" when he dropped down in the 2003 playoffs comes to mind.
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>If you want to fully protect goalie legs, then curve the pads around the leg to the sides instead of extending them out so far so they cut off the angle shots.

Mark;

Our son plays goalie in a local Hockey League. I call the goalie position “target”. Some of the San Jose Shark players also play in this League and bring some excitement to the games. The Shark players are very civilized and have great talents.

Our son bought a $1200 helmet to protect himself. Another player who is very aggressive (not one of the Sharks) stood about ten feed away and for kicks during practice hit the puck hard at our sons head. The helmet split and shattered. Ten seconds into practice and good by helmet! It could have been good bye son!

What a great game – even at the amateur level! By the way the guy I just described likes to injure other players and does a good job of it. What a great game!

Tom