I think the problem might be that the pads are allowed to be PROPORTIONAL to the goalie. This gives the bigger goalies a advantage over smaller goalies.
I think everyone will agree that the goaltenders have more than enough protection, so perhaps instead of limits to each piece of equipment, each goalie has a limit to the combined area the equipment covers overall, and then is allowed to allocate the coverage as he needs.
This would even the playing field for all goalies, regardless of size. Say each goalie can cover only 2/3 of the net area (face on) or 16 ftsq. He can then choose how to allocate it--ie. 6'2" goalie--leg pads 36" high, 12" wide-6 ftsq, thigh to neck 24" wide, 26" high-4.33 ftsq, arms (x2) 8" wide, 30" long-3.33 sqft, head 12" high, 8" wide-0.66 sqft, leaving 1.67 sqft for trapper and blocker (about 10" sq each-small, but could reduce leg pads to gain here).
So if you're a bigger goalie, you have to sacrifice the size of your cheaters on the trapper and blocker, or use narrower legpads.....otherwise, why not just take a sumo wrestler, put PROPORTIONAL pads on him, and wedge him in the net?
|