I'm considering a goalie for my main character, but I need some input from guys that have been there. Or, as this is an open forum, guys that have opinions of or experience with goalies (this may be opening a big can of worms!). My impression is that goalies are loners in the way that football kickers are, full of quirks, superstitions and the heavy weight of often being THE GUY that makes or breaks a game. Gay, straight or anyone in between that can shed some light on the man in front of the net, I would surely appreciate it.

From an outsider's view: a goalie is considered much more a key part of the team by his teammates than a kicker. Football players, I think, tend to have the view that kickers aren't "real" players because they usually aren't tackling or blocking or otherwise getting physical. So the "loner" term wouldn't quite fit. I'm sure goalies have their quirks and superstitions, though.

I know a lot of goalies are very particular about how they pack their gear and their meals before a game. Many goalies will stare at the net and imagine it shrinking. Roy used to talk to the pipes and called them his only friends. Oh and you don't say the "S" word in the third period of a scoreless game.

My conversations with players indicates that the goalie is a more integral part of the team than the kicker in a lot of ways.

Here's a question: would a goalie have a poster of Gretzky or Yzerman (non-goalies) on their wall, or would they gravitate to the Roy or Osgood poster? I assume they would tend toward someone they can emulate (or relate to?) in their position, but I'm just assuming.

Another question: as athletes, would the focus of their workouts be different? More or less cardio? It seems likely that a goalie's body would require a different focus just to get it to do what it needs to do to be successful (or at least to improve).