How Much Weight Do NHL Goalies Lose In A Game?

Average goalie height in NHL is 6'2'' (187.96 cm). Average goalie weight in NHL is 89.99 Kg (198.39 lbs).

NHL does not require a goalie to have a certain height or weight. However, the size of the gear manufactured is limited, which indirectly constrains the player's size.

NHL Goalie Size: How Big Can Be A Hockey Goaltender? 

There is no limit on goalie height or weight in NHL. Goalies can be as big as Ben Bishop and as small as Roy Worters.

There is a rule to mandate pads for goalies that are anatomically proportional to their physical characteristics. NHL Rulebook states, "Pads can only be ten and one-half inches deep."

The goaltender has to wear pads according to their size, which is limited. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on the size of the goalie.

Goalies in competitive games of the NHL have to be immensely athletic. They can be big or small does not matter, but they should have a lot of stamina and agility.

Who is the tallest goalie in NHL?

Tallest goalie in NHL history is Ben Bishop. He stands 6'6'' (201cm) tall. 

Benjamin Manning Bishop III, a name as big as his body, is also known as "Big Ben." 

Bishop has played for the St. Louis Blues, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, and Dallas Stars.

On June 10, 2022, the Stars traded him to the Buffalo Sabres; in exchange for future considerations.

Jacob Markstrom is the tallest active goalie in NHL as of 2023. He stands 6'6'' (198 cm) tall.

Shortest goalie in NHL

Shortest goalie ever in NHL is Roy Worters. Worters is 5'3'' (160 cm) tall. Worters was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969.

Roy was a Canadian professional hockey player who played twelve seasons in NHL. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Canadiens, and New York Americans for the time. 

Alex Stalock is the shortest goalie in NHL right now. Stalock stands 5'11''(180 cm) tall.

Sergei Bobrovsky Weight Loss peaked at 22 pounds in Game-5 against the Leafs. Bobrovsky usually loses around 15 pounds on average games.

Bob has been a star performer in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In the game against the Maple Leafs, he saved 50 shots out of 52 attempted. 

He brought up the topic of weight loss during a game in a post-game interview. Bob says he gets surprised to see weight fluctuating in every game.

He drinks a lot of water on a game day but ends up sweating almost all of it. He mentioned he lost around 10 Kg after the game with overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Hockey Goalie Training and Fitness Exercises are Polymetric Exercises, Box drills, and Standing Long Jump. Some other exercises and drills for a goalie to stay fit are: 

• Lateral Lunge
• Lateral Triple Jump 
• Alternating Lunge Jumps
• Concentric Box Jump
• Reverse Lunge
• Goblet Squat
• Adductor Side Plank
• Weighted Deadbug
• Half Kneeling Groin Rock

Goalies require technical and mental skills, including agility, explosiveness, reaction time, fast decision-making, and eye-hand coordination.

Hockey players' workout is one of the most intense in professional sports. Players do weights, bicycles, running, and inline skating to stay fit in the off-season.

How many calories do NHL players eat?

NHL Players eat 5000-6000 calories a day. In comparison, an average male consumes around 2500-3000 calories.

Hockey players must maintain their strength by consuming enough calories as the sport is intense.

Even if the players have this much, they are always prone to lose weight throughout the season. Some have reported the loss of up to 15 pounds of weight loss, in one season. 

How many calories does a hockey player burn?

A Hockey player burns up to 1800-2500 calories per game in NHL. An average adult burns the same amount in one day.

The average person burns 500-700 per hour playing general-level ice hockey. The stat in competitive games can go over 1000 calories per hour.

The calorie burn depends on the Player's position and their on-ice duration. A forward player is likely to burn more calories than a goalie.

Considering the regulation periods, overtime periods, and game intensity, the NHL player constantly moving and chasing around can peak up to 2500 calories burnt per game. 

Former strength and conditioning coach of the New York Islanders, Jesse Demers, compares the hockey player in one game at least burns calories as much as a person running 18 miles.

Goalie drinks water after a goal to utilize the chance of replenishing the water lost during a game. Goalies keep a water bottle on the top of the net as they must drink frequently.

Goalies get chances to drink water at every stoppage during a game, so they don't want to miss it to fulfill the need for water in their bodies.

They must recover the water loss during a game, so goalies drink as much water as they lost; before and after every period. And it also includes during a stoppage and after a goal.

Goalies must drink enough fluids to fight dehydration, cramping, and sweat loss.

The game draws around 10 pounds which means they can lose muscle mass and be more susceptible to injury.

Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals, reported in the Washington Post in 2016 that he lost 10-13 pounds despite drinking 17 liters of liquid on a game day.

Some started to drink pickle juice which showed promising results to be better than water at reducing muscle cramps.