Ice Hockey Goaltending Equipment - Trapper

The trapper or catch glove is the glove worn on the free hand. It is similar to a baseball mitt, but has additional padding to protect the lower forearm, wrist, palm, fingers and thumb, and has a deeper pocket. The first goalie trapper, worn by Reid Miller in 1948, who played for the Wadena Wolverines and the North Stars, was a baseball first baseman's mitt. Common variations among trappers include the pocket angle. If the glove is too bulky, it will not allow for good stick handling. Trappers tend to be one of the most cared for pieces of equipment for the goaltender. In order to prevent what is called a "pancake pocket", goalies will often deepen the pocket by strapping objects inside the glove when not in use. The trapper's fit is extremely important as well as the goalie's sense of the pocket and angles of the trapper. As a result, transitioning to a new glove may be difficult because of the significant break in-time. Some people suggest that the size of the trapper should be reduced from its present dimensions, which cannot be justified by the legitimate need to maximize protection.