Hockey Tips and Hockey SKills

These are things I want to do, when I play hockey

ICE VISION

· Always turn to look behind me as I go to collect the puck
· As soon as I pass the puck, quickly look to see where the other players are on the ice.


DEFENCE

· Pull the puck in towards me when in trouble along the boards
· Use the strong, but controlled, stick-lift when appropriate.
· When in trouble near the front of the net (and opposition is coming towards me), quickly pass the puck to the corner and move swiftly to collect it from there.
· Just before the quick stick-lift in front of the net, figure out how to quickly get to where the puck goes (eg, usually into the corner)
· Do not allow opposition players to deke you along the blue line- keep moving back – force them wide.
· Close the gap as the opposition seeks to cruise through the slot.
· After I’ve swept the puck off the opposition stick, then play the man – not the puck!
· Quickly close the gap when the opposition goes to shoot.


PASS &/OR EVASIVE

· When fairly close to an opposition player, and the passing play exists, pass close to their skates and between their stick.
· When being pressured in the defensive zone, and the play exists, turn back deeper in the zone to create more time and options.
· When in trouble near the front of the net (and opposition is coming towards me), quickly pass the puck to the corner and move swiftly to collect it from there.
· For a flat pass, keep my stick along the ice when passing.
· For a lob pass, lift the stick as completing the pass.
· When taking a pass, move into towards the centre of the ice, to give myself more options to move either in or out, after receiving the pass.

USE MY FEET TO ADVANTAGE

· Point feet to create a good puck deflection when a pass is heading into my skates.
· Keep feet moving when going to shoot on a rush – fools the goaltender.
· Keep skates along boards when puck is coming quickly towards me in that area.

PUCKHANDLING

· When in own zone, and along the side boards or in the corner, stickhandle the puck back and forth to create more time to pass.
· Cradle the puck (ie curve the top of blade in a downwards fashion) just before making a hard pass.


PLAYMAKING

· Be patient in the offensive zone when along the point – look for the play or the quick shot in front of the net.
· Do not pass the puck blindly into the slot when leading the rush and forced to go around the net – if no one is there then make the big circle out between the blue line and face-off dot – look for a good shooting position.


SHOOTING

· Keep long shots low along the ice – more goals scored and more chances for rebounds.
· Do not pass the puck blindly into the slot when leading the rush and forced to go around the net – if no one is there then make the big circle out between the blue line and face-off dot – look for a good shooting position.
· Look for the twine - behind the goalie - when shooting.


... another random musing