Are goaltenders really “wired differently”?
Are defensemen calmer by nature?
Are forwards inherently more volatile?

In this episode of the Coretex Athletic Review, I examine a peer-reviewed study that puts long-standing hockey stereotypes under the microscope—not by testing performance or brain activity, but by exploring how players perceive each other.

Using a social-psychology lens, this episode looks at whether perceived personality differences between hockey positions reflect true dispositional differences—or whether they are products of role demands, social identity, and in-group bias.

• Why hockey positions function as powerful social categories

• The Big Five personality framework and how it’s used in sport psychology

• How players rate themselves versus how they rate positions

• Common stereotypes associated with forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders

• Evidence of in-group bias across positions

• Why perceived differences are stronger than actual personality differences

• How coaches may unintentionally confuse role demands with personality traits

The strongest differences weren’t found in who players are—but in how players see each other.

This episode is less about proving stereotypes right or wrong, and more about understanding how they form, why they persist, and how they influence coaching, communication, and athlete development.

Personality Traits and Stereotypes Associated with Ice Hockey Positions
Cameron, J. E., Cameron, J. M., Dithurbide, L., & Lalonde, R.
Published in Journal of Sport Behavior (2012)