The goaltender is the only hockey position allowed to legally cover or freeze the puck with their hands. This special privilege exists because the goaltender’s primary job is to prevent the puck from entering the net, often by stopping shots with any part of the body.
Goaltenders play in or near the goal crease and wear specialized equipment, including a catching glove called a trapper and a padded blocker. They may catch the puck or hold it against the ice to stop play. Once the puck is covered, the referee normally blows the whistle and awards a faceoff.
Other players can sometimes catch or bat the puck, but they cannot deliberately hold it or cover it to stop play. Doing so can result in a penalty or a stoppage that favors the opposing team. The goaltender’s hand privileges are therefore closely tied to their defensive role, not simply to wearing gloves.
The modern catching glove evolved from a baseball-style glove. Chicago Black Hawks goaltender Emile Francis is credited with introducing the specialized trapper to the NHL during the 1946–47 season.