The Time I Broke My Own Goalie’s Shutout, and What We Can Learn From It

Every hockey player loves those rare and special moments when they or a teammate earn a coveted shutout. Whether you’re a forward, defenceman, or goaltender, shutting out an opposing team speaks to the entire squad’s ability to play cohesive, disciplined hockey.

Unfortunately, no matter how well a team performs, the strangest things can happen to spoil that perfect record. I learned this lesson the hard way when, in the heat of a lopsided game, I inadvertently fired the puck into my own goalie’s net—breaking his shutout. The memory still makes me chuckle, but it also reminds me of the many lessons to be learned from a single moment of mishap.

A Moment of Complete Brain Freeze

I distinctly remember this incident: My goalie, Mike, was having a stellar night. In fact, he was on track for a shutout in the third period. We were well ahead on the scoreboard—up by several goals (maybe not ten as Mike claims). But I noticed he hadn’t seen much action lately.

The opposing team didn’t pose much threat, and the shots that did come his way were few and far between. I jokingly told him he looked bored out there, which he did—most of his time was spent idly skating around the crease, tapping the posts, and trying to stay loose.

Then something truly bizarre happened. The puck was sent down into our zone, and I skated back to retrieve it. No one was really forechecking me—I had plenty of time. As I approached the puck near the faceoff dot, I had several options:

I could turn up ice with it.
I could take the net and look for a quick-up.
I could take the net and take all the ice they'd give me.
Or, I could just safely rim it around the boards.

In my complacency, I chose to rim it along the boards, likely thinking it was the easiest way to keep the play moving forward. But for reasons I still can’t fully explain, my angle was off, and I fired a bullet—straight over Mike’s shoulder—into our own net. It wasn’t a bouncing puck or a deflection. It was simply a moment of laziness and poor focus. I took a chance on a nonchalant rim, and it ended up lasering right into our goal. Instantly, Mike’s shutout was gone, my teammates stared in disbelief, and I skated right to our open bench door and had a seat.

Why Do These Moments Occur?

The obvious question is: “How does a player accidentally score on his own goalie when there’s no pressure from the opposition?” You do occasionally see such moments in higher-level hockey—though seldom as spectacularly as launching it cleanly over the goalie’s shoulder. Hockey is fast-paced, and weird bounces happen. But in this case, there really was no bounce to blame, no aggressive forechecker forcing my hand. The main culprit was a lapse in focus. When you’re up by a large margin, there’s a natural tendency to ease off, forget the fundamentals, and get sloppy. Skills sharpened by constant competitive tension can suddenly dull when you feel safe or bored.

In my situation, overconfidence and complacency played a big part. We had such a big lead, it didn’t feel like the game was on the line. I wasn’t being rushed; I had all the time in the world to make a smart play. Instead of directing the puck methodically, I tried a lazy or rushed rim around the boards and ended up putting it into our own net. Mike, as you might guess, was not too pleased. He’d done everything right—stopped every opposition shot up to that point—only to lose the shutout because of a teammate’s mental lapse.

The Reaction and the Aftermath

Because the game was so one-sided and Mike and I were friends, the aftermath wasn’t nearly as hostile as one might expect. Initially, though, both teams fell silent—an instantaneous moment of, “Wait, did that really just happen?” Then came the chuckles, chirps, and disbelief. Even the referee seemed unsure of what had transpired until he saw Mike digging the puck out of the net and me slinking through the D door—which, with uncanny timing, a teammate had opened so I didn’t have to break stride as I rounded the net and skated off in shame.

While it might have been humiliating, the moment quickly morphed into a lesson in accountability and team dynamics. There was no bouncing puck or tricky ricochet. This was pure user error—my error. Rather than blame the boards or some phantom stick contact, I recognized I had made a mental mistake. Growing up, I heard plenty of coaches say, “If you make an error, own it. Then figure out how to prevent it from happening again.” This aligns perfectly with what happened. Acknowledging mistakes, even embarrassing ones, paves the way for personal and team growth.

Lessons for Players

Stay Focused
No matter the score or the stage of the game, maintain concentration. A single moment of drifting can undo an entire game’s work. Keep your mind on your role, your positioning, and your next move.
Respect the Fundamentals
Even in a blowout, if you’re on the ice, it’s time to play. That means moving your feet, reading the forecheck, communicating with teammates, and making purposeful decisions. Fundamentals keep you sharp and prevent ugly mishaps.
Embrace Team Success
A goalie’s shutout is a team accomplishment. Every forward check, defensive block, and routine clearance helps preserve it. Don’t assume you can let your guard down just because the scoreboard appears comfortable.
Own Your Mistakes
If you accidentally give up a goal—even if it’s an own-goal—shrug off the embarrassment, apologize to your teammates, and learn from it. Mistakes happen; how you respond is what ultimately shapes your development.

Lessons for Coaches

Emphasize Consistent Effort
Whether you’re up by 10 goals or down by a few, encourage players to remain disciplined. Complacency can lead to injuries, sloppy habits, or bizarre incidents like my own-goal.
Teach Resilience
Moments like these should be used as teaching tools. Berating a player for a miscue rarely helps; instead, highlight that even the most skilled players can lose focus. Emphasize that real growth happens in how they bounce back.
Reinforce Team Values
A shutout in hockey is the fruit of collective labour. Defense, forwards, and goalies all matter. One fluke goal shouldn’t destroy team morale—especially if everyone learns from the experience.
Keep the Bench Engaged
In a lopsided game, it’s easy for players to zone out. Develop a culture where the bench remains animated and aware. Encourage players to discuss strategy, spot weaknesses in their own play, and cheer on teammates, regardless of the score.

Lessons for Parents

Encourage a Growth Mindset
Remind your children that errors on the ice are part of playing hockey. Instead of criticizing, ask them what they learned. Help them see mistakes as opportunities to improve, rather than moments to dwell on.
Value Fun and Sportsmanship
Accidents are bound to happen, even at high levels. Maintaining a sense of perspective helps everyone enjoy the game. Laugh at the bizarre goals and appreciate the camaraderie that sports provide.
Focus on Process Over Outcome
Many parents get hung up on wins, losses, or personal stats like shutouts. While these can be significant, the bigger picture is about developing skills, fostering teamwork, and nurturing passion for the game.
Praise Team Accomplishments
Hockey is a team sport. One mistake—no matter how spectacular—should not overshadow the collective effort. Support your kids in celebrating each other’s successes and in rallying together when things go wrong.

The Power of a Teachable Moment

The story of me accidentally firing the puck over my own goalie’s shoulder remains a favourite anecdote among teammates and friends. It lives on in locker room banter and occasionally resurfaces in group chats or social media. Beneath the humour, though, is a reminder of how quickly things can go sideways when focus fades. A single shift of inattentiveness might derail an otherwise flawless performance.

Strangely enough, that own-goal also made the game memorable for everyone involved. Instead of coasting through a blowout, we were all snapped back to attention. Mike was disappointed, but he was able to shake it off with a laugh. He used it as motivation to stay mentally engaged, even when the puck hardly came near him. I, on the other hand, took it as a humbling lesson: never dismiss the fundamentals, never ignore the easy decisions, and never underestimate the power of a quick mental lapse.

These lessons ring true at every level of hockey. Whether it’s a group of young players just learning the game or professionals battling for the highest honors, the need to stay alert and disciplined is universal. A single instance of lost focus can give the opposition a spark—or, in my case, hand them a goal they didn’t even have to work for.

Conclusion

Hockey is full of unexpected moments—dramatic comebacks, strange bounces, clutch goals, and yes, even own-goals. My accidental sabotage of my goalie’s shutout is a tale of what can happen when complacency sets in. Rather than let it define me, I use it as a humorous anecdote and, more importantly, as a reminder about the importance of fundamentals, focus, and humility.

For players, this story is a call to remain vigilant, regardless of the score. For coaches, it exemplifies the necessity of teaching consistent effort and resilience in the face of mistakes.

For parents, it highlights the value of turning blunders into opportunities for growth.

A shutout is a beautiful achievement in hockey—one that requires everyone to pull their weight and remain dialed in. But as my ill-fated clearing attempt shows, it only takes a moment of inattention to obliterate that hard-earned zero on the scoreboard. Next time you find yourself in a seemingly easy game, remember: any puck, even the safest-looking one, can wind up in the back of your own net if you take your eye off the fundamentals. Keep your focus, guard that net—even your own—and ensure the story you tell at the end of the night is one of triumph, not friendly fire on your own goalie.

Ed Garinger is a seasoned hockey coach, mentor, and educator with over two decades of experience. A native of the Bruce Peninsula, he played minor and junior hockey before earning his BA and BEd from Nipissing University, where he also competed in varsity volleyball and extramural hockey.

Coaching since age 14, Ed has balanced his teaching career with an extensive coaching and development portfolio, working with players at all levels. He has coached in the Provincial Junior Hockey League, led youth and high school teams, and served as a learning facilitator for the OMHA. His experience includes elite programs like the OHL/OHF U15 and U16 camps, U17 Regional Camps, and Hockey Canada’s Skills Academy.

A Hockey Canada HP1-certified coach, USA Hockey-certified coach, and Chartered Professional Coach (ChPC), Ed is committed to ongoing professional development and continually seeks to expand his knowledge to better serve players and coaches. Now based in Orillia, he enjoys passing on his passion for hockey to the next generation.