Butterfly Meaning in Ice Hockey

The butterfly is a style of goaltending used to block shots. A goalie drops to both knees and flares the skates out. This position covers the bottom of the net very effectively. The leg pads form a wall along the surface of ice. Most modern goaltenders use this as their primary way of playing. It allows the goalie to stop low shots with their legs. The goalie dropped into a butterfly to stop the low puck. Keeping the upper body upright helps the goalie stay very balanced. This technique requires great flexibility in the hips and the knees. Goalies must recover quickly to a standing position after the save. Covering the five hole is easier when using the butterfly style. This system revolutionized how players play the goalie position today.