An American teenager has come up with an interesting new hockey idea - goalie pads and blockers that look like open net. The question is, do they actualy confuse shooters and if so, will they be outlawed?Trevor Leahy plays high school hockey in New Hampshire. While not paying attention in chemistry class, he dreamed up the idea of making camouflage pads. He sent the design to Darren Stomp, who whipped up some custom gear for him at his shop in Kingsville Ontario. (The Stomp family partnered with Brian Heaton to make the famous "Brian's" custom goalie equipment until they parted ways in 1988. Stomp bought out Heaton, who started his own company, "Heaton's", which also flourished until his death last September.)
Stomp calls the camouflage pads one of the most the most clever ideas he's seen yet. He believes it will work but isn't sure yet to what degree.
I will say they don't make an opposing goalie look like he's legless with a levitating upper torso, although I think that'd be pretty cool. However, it will be interesting to see if it gives goalies a little advantage in times when a shooter has only a split second to look up before he fires the puck.
I hope it does work. Because that's what hockey fans all agree on. Goalies need to finally catch a break and get little help from their equipment.
