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| Hockey 101
- 101 Tips For Hockey Players |
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1. Learn To Jam
Formerly a rare power play strategy, "jam" plays are now
commonplace. Attacking teams rush in front of the net from all
angles while attempting to keep the puck moving to rotating
pivot men, hoping to free up an open man one-on-one against the
goaltender. The strategy is risky because there is often no one
back in time to prevent a short-handed rush if the puck squirts
away from the corners or behind the net.
2. Play Without The Puck
A good player's actions and movements away from the puck are
just as important as - and sometimes more important than his
play with the puck. If you're playing with a Gretzky, or some
other clever director, it's imperative to play smart without the
puck. "That's why he's accomplished what he has, because of
anticipation," Colin Campbell says of The Great One. "And if
you're going to play on the same line as him, you better know
where to be and when to be there."
3. Dish Or Dump?
Former defenseman ESPN commentator Brian Engblom on carrying the
puck out of the zone: "If the defenseman has been able to get
the puck under control and gather speed coming out of his zone,
he must be very careful to make the right play in the neutral
zone. If it's congested, often the right play is not to pass it
at all, but instead, get to the red line and dump the puck into
the opposition's zone. If he makes a bad pass in the neutral
zone and it is intercepted, he is caught traveling in the wrong
direction and is susceptible to a breakaway, or out-numbered
attack on his partner (who's backing him up)."
4. Be Indirect
A popular misconception is that most goals are scored on direct
shots. "They're not," says Nelson Emerson. "Especially on power
plays. Most of the time, you score on tips (redirections) or
rebounds off missed shots.
5. One Hand Can Help
"Try to keep one hand on the stick as much as possible," says
Steve Duchesne. "I like to use my stick a lot in tight
situations to take the puck from the forward or intercept a
pass. Freeing one hand from the stick also really helps my
balance and my speed because I can extend both my legs and arms
when I am skating. Also, like most other defenseman, I like to
use the crossover a lot when going backwards. But
crossing over too much can get you burned because a smart
forward will watch your feet and when you crossover one way he
goes the other direction and it can be very hard to untangle
your feet. So when the forward is near it is better to go
straight backwards and let him make the first move."
6. Work On 'D' Skating
Steve Duchesne says that it's important for defensemen to work
on their skating skills. "The stop and go, forward to backward
movement and quick turns are all important for my position, and
I train these skills by working on turning and stopping in
practice. Good balance is important for all players. Staying
low, using your legs and keeping all your weight over an edge
will help the balance, especially when checking. Too many
players try to check with the upper body (only using the
shoulders), but a good, solid hit comes from the lower body -
the strength in the legs - and also a strong abdomen and lower
back."
7. Position 'A'
"The biggest thing is positioning. You've absolutely gotta
protect the dangerous scoring areas of the ice," says Dean
Kennedy. "An opposing offense will try all sorts of things to
try to confuse you, but the one common thing is to keep proper
positioning. You have to be able to put the opposing player
where you want him, as opposed to letting him go to the place he
wants to be," he adds. "That's half the battle right there."
8. Bigger Isn't Always Better
A bigger goaltender has more reach, has more range and probably
can fill more net than a smaller goalie. However, bigger
goaltenders often don't have the same agility, speed, or ability
to move as a smaller goaltender. Sometimes bigger goaltenders,
when they venture out to cut down angles, actually take their
biggest blocking area - their chest and arms - out of the net.
For a bigger goaltender, it's a long way to the ice when they
drop to use their pads. When big goaltenders drop, they often
open more holes than small goaltenders. While in general you
would believe that bigger is better, it is not always the case.
Don't give up on a smaller girl just because of her size.
9. Cover The Corners
"It's an under-appreciated part of the game," notes Coach Brian
Sutter. "Teams that can come away from those battles in the
corners at both ends of the rink with possession - or more
importantly, without giving the puck away - are the teams that
are successful."
10. Keep Them Outside
The common team strategy when play comes back in your own zone
is to attempt to fan the puck as well as the offensive players
toward the outside - and outside the corner areas. A team on the
defensive then might try to infiltrate the middle of the ice
upon possession and institute a break going the other way. This
hourglass effect allows centers to control play on the offensive
end after playing a key role defensively.
11. When To Be Creative
For teams on the offensive, when the battle takes place in the
zone of the opponent, there's a great deal more room for error
and, therefore, for creativity. "Usually, if you can move the
puck anyplace that the other guy doesn't want it, you're in good
shape," says Troy Murray. "Most of the time, they're concerned
with keeping the puck away from you in front of their goal. That
can actually work for you as an attacker, because that can end
up as a one-timer and a rebound."
12. Angle & Anticipate
"I try to take an angle that hurts their ability to come out of
the corner with the puck," Brian Leetch says. "I try to
anticipate where they're going next. And then once I'm in there,
I just do what's necessary to get the puck out of there and to a
teammate. Anything I can do to dislodge the puck and pass it to
a teammate or clear the zone, basically."
13. Goal Stick Options
On many occasions when a goaltender uses the half-butterfly
save, the goalie could get the stick involved and prevent a
dangerous rebound from coming out into the slot, but does not.
She allows pucks to hit the pads and bounce right back out. If
there is no deflection or screen, try to get the stick more
involved by using it to deflect the puck to the corner, backed
up by the pad.
14. Shoot The Puck!
Consider the top goal scorers in the NHL. Not one of those guys
got where they are without shooting 300-to-400 pucks a day. This
may be on the ice or off a sheet of plywood, with or without
formica, or even on smooth concrete, but top scorers will always
put in this intensive type of training.
15. Goal Scoring Attitude
Scoring is both mental and technical. Shooters expect to score.
They bring this goal-scoring attitude to the game. Win or lose,
if they don't score, they're not happy with themselves. A
shooter doesn't make that "last pass." She shoots and she
expects it to go in.
16. Set Up Well To Shoot Harder
How's your wrist shot? If the entire forward line rushes to
block your shot with smiles on their faces, you're probably
doing something wrong. Proper body alignment is as important in
hockey as it is in golf. If anything is out of line you won't
get full power on your shot. Make sure that your feet are lined
up so that if you lay your stick down in front of your toes, it
points directly at the net. In so doing, your opposite shoulder
from the way you shoot (if you shoot left, it's your right
shoulder), should be pointing at the net. Now, open up your
front foot to give yourself more mobility left to right. Start
with the puck behind your back foot to give you a full follow
through, then after your follow through make sure your stick is
pointing at the target.
17. Force The Issue
Al Sims doesn't want teams on the power play to carry the puck
into the offensive zone: "With our penalty-killing, we tried to
establish a precedent based on an aggressive system. We
definitely want the other team to have to dump the puck in
rather than carry it in. We don't sit back and wait. We try to
force the issue."
18. Sticky Situations In Net
Shooting on the stick side creates unique problems for a goalie.
Not only is the stick cumbersome, but it limits a goalie's range
of mobility. It is awkward for a goalie to sweep her stick to
the outside. In most cases the heel of the stick rises, creating
a clear path for the puck. On the other hand, skate saves are
practiced about as often as an American League pitcher takes
batting practice. Therefore, attempting a skate save could net
the same result.
19. Chemistry Lesson
"You have to have good chemistry. Everybody has got to come
together and play together. You don't have to like everybody on
the team, but when you go out and play, you've got to respect
that person for what he can do for you, and to help your team,
and you've got to go to battle with that guy. You don't
necessarily have to like him off the ice, but on the ice you
definitely have to respect him." - Bernie
Nicholls.
20. Protect Your Noggin
Future Hall-of-Famer Dave Taylor says use your head: "Your
helmet is the most important piece of protective equipment
you'll wear. If it's not on your head at a critical time, as was
mine when I was checked hard to the ice in my last game, then
you're likely going to be injured. And with a head injury, it
could be very serious. Your helmet should not only have a secure
chin strap, but should be properly adjusted to fit the head. Too
loose a helmet could produce some obviously poor results. A
helmet that is too tight can cause headaches.
21. Blocking Out
"The first thing you're concerned about is blocking out: body
position," says All-Star defenseman Rob Blake. "Putting a body
on that guy trying to set up in front or on the wing must be
accomplished. It doesn't matter how big or small you are. If you
can put a body on a guy and prevent him from getting position,
he's not going to be able put in a rebound or otherwise hurt
your team."
22. Hard Work Works
"It's all about hard work, and where hard work and dedication
can take you," says Manon Rheaume. "It's never been easy. But
I've always wanted to play hockey. I love hockey. I'd rather
play hockey than do anything else. If you have that kind of
desire, I think you can achieve what you want to achieve. "That
would be my tip to the young players out there, men and women.
Don't be afraid to work hard. And don't expect to succeed if you
don't."
23. Knee Bend For Balance
This much is certain: the more you bend your knees - whether you
are skating forwards, backwards or turning - the better your
control, balance, speed and power. However, knowing that you
should bend your knees is one thing, and doing it is another.
Therefore, you must make a great effort to exaggerate the
bending of your knees while practicing your skating. Bend the
knees lower than what feels comfortable for you, or lower than
how you usually skate. Challenge yourself to bend your knees too
far.
24. Crossunders?
Skating Imagery: try to think of crossovers as "crossunders."
Many players from novice to pro are under the misguided idea
that they need to lift their outside foot very high off the ice
so they can cross it "over." Instead, concentrate on keeping
your feet very low to the ice pulling the inside leg under the
body to achieve better fluidity, speed and balance when
performing corners.
25. Back To Basics
How do you get out of a slump? "That question has one of the
most clear-cut answers," says coach Brian Sutter. "The first
thing you do is go back to the fundamentals and basics. If you
want to have success in any sport, be it hockey, football or
baseball, that's what you do. Winning teams do that every day."
26. The Most Advanced Skates?
True advances in in-line hockey won't be that obvious. Top-end
skates will feature boots comparable to the best ice hockey
boots. Aluminum frames will become "me, too" and all the skate
manufacturers who have been asleep for the last two years will
jump in this direction. Subtle, but highly effective advances
like the "pro-mount" method of attaching frames will start to
get noticed. And internal alignment systems
for boots will become important to elite players.
27. Beating Shot-Blockers
One of the best ways to penetrate a shot-blocking defense is
through a lot of cross-ice and perimeter passing. For example,
the offensive defenseman at the blue line can make quick, crisp
passes to the other defenseman, back and forth, as well as
faking passes to the forwards in deep. If the passes are on
target, sooner or later the opposing player attempting to block
a potential shot will go down (slide) or go out of position,
allowing the offensive player to move forward and take a shot or
make a pass to someone in the slot. The key here is to keep the
puck moving, quickly and accurately.
28. Price vs. Performance
While you certainly don't want to get ripped off when buying
goalie gear, you do need to accept the cold, hard fact that
goaltending gear is expensive. What you definitely don't want to
do is buy the cheapest stuff and watch it fall apart after a
season or two. Is a low-end $110 catching glove a bargain if it
wears out after a short time? When buying equipment always
balance the price versus the performance you can expect from it.
29. Kill Now, Score Later
"The biggest mistake young players make in penalty killing is
that they have that opportunity for a short-handed goal in the
back of their minds," says forward John MacLean, a 14-year NHL
veteran who is the acknowledged leader of one the league's
better penalty killing units. "The first thing, the only thing
you should be thinking about is to prevent the other team from
scoring. It's that simple. Too many players leave the zone too
early and a one-man disadvantage suddenly becomes a two-man
disadvantage."
30. Get Off On The Right Foot
For a powerful shot, always shoot off the proper foot. This is
the opposite foot from the way you shoot. (Left shooters want to
shoot off the right foot, and vice versa). Some guys, like Mark
Messier, have perfected shooting off the wrong foot. Many
goalies don't anticipate this and the quick, accurate shot beats
them. Watch the Robitailles, Neelys and Hulls, however, and
given the time to do it, they will always shoot off the opposite
foot.
31. Don't Forget The 'D'
"Most of the time a short-handed goal is scored, it's not
because of what the defense did but because of carelessness on
the part of the (team with the man advantage)," says Coach Ron
Wilson. "The tendency when you're on a power play is to go
all-out at the opposition's goal, but it's still critical to get
back and play defense when you lose possession of the puck.
Teams, especially at this level, aren't always content to ice
the puck."
32. The Legs Drive You
A hockey player's legs are equivalent to a car's transmission.
They are what propels her back and forth, side to side. Without
strong legs, an individual's game suffers immensely, and her
mobility is severely limited. "I've seen a lot of small guys
that have big legs, and they're usually the one's that are big
hitters," says 50-goal scorer Brendan Shanahan.
33. Take It Easy
Goaltender Kirk McLean on the ups and downs of hockey:
"Sometimes it can be hell out there, but teams are going to have
their bad nights and personally you're going to have your bad
nights. That's just part of hockey. If you can take your highs
with your highs and your lows with your lows and try to keep the
whole thing on an even keel, that's what it's all about. You're
going to last longer if you can do that."
34. The Backward Crossover
Don't be intimidated by the backward crossover. Once you get
over the fear of losing your balance or falling down, you will
find that the backward crossover is easier than the forward
crossover because both feet are on the ice when you land the
crossunder foot, rather than having to land on one foot on an
outside edge like when you are going forward.
- Make sure to bend the knees deeply and to keep your back
straight; feel like you are sitting on a stool.
- Use 100% body weight to drive your outside leg (inside edge)
into the ice to full extension, cutting what resembles the
letter "C."
- Pull the inside leg to full extension under the body and
behind the outside leg, forming a big "X" with your legs.
- After the inside leg (outside edge) has gone completely to
full extension, return it parallel to the ice, reaching as far
in with the leg as you can (to a wide base), landing on an
inside edge so that you are ready to pull the leg under the body
and then to an outside edge to form the "X" again.
35. Don't Count On A Soft Spot
Even though more goals are scored low to the stick side than to
the glove side, a goalie's stick side isn't always a softer
spot. On most occasions the goalie's stick leg is significantly
better in terms of skate saves or half-butterflies than the
goalie's glove-side leg. Why? Because on the stick side the
goaltender does not have the luxury of getting the stick
involved in many of the saves - it's leg, and leg alone. On the
glove side, the goalie has the ability to use the stick as a
crutch. This additional
saving aid prevents the goalie from utilizing the glove-side leg
as often as the goalie utilizes the stick-side leg. Should the
goalie lose his goal stick during the game, you'll find the
goaltender is far better to the stick side than the glove side.
36. Affordable Insurance
If you're playing in a roller hockey league and you're paying
any more than $25 for insurance, you're paying too much. USAC/RS
and IISA both have very reasonable insurance programs.
37. Know Your Opponent
"It's very important to know what the opposing teams like to do
and what their style is. You have to know your opponent so
you're not taken back by anything they do on the ice during a
game." - Stu Grimson.
38. Making A Difference In Net
It's easy to point a finger at somebody else, or place blame on
something else, when in reality the goalie should be held
responsible. But it is also the coach's job to recognize that
often there are many other mistakes or circumstances that lead
to a goal, and that blame should not necessarily be placed on
the goaltender. The goaltender, however, has to approach the
game in a manner where she feels she can make a significant
difference. Not just be there, but make a difference. It's the
nature of the position.
39. Pay Your Own Way
The most despicable thing anyone can do during a pick-up game is
avoid paying their fair share for the ice time. Therefore, to
avoid any embarrassing situations, offer to pay for your ice
time when you first arrive! By doing this, a level of trust and
integrity is established between you and the people running the
pick-up. Other players will notice, and just maybe this good
habit will spread. As one pick-up veteran put it: "A hockey
player is only as good as his or her checkbook."
40. Are You Well Balanced?
Where should the skate blade's balance point be for most
skaters? Many skaters will be satisfied with the rocker left
alone, with the balance point in the center. However, if you are
a defensemen, you may want that balance point moved forward
along the curve of your blade in order to set your center of
gravity back, providing an advantage for backward skating.
Forwards may want the balance point moved rear of center in
order to shift the center of gravity forward, providing an
advantage for forward skating.
41 . Speed vs. Control
How should the hollow of your blade be handled? When the hollow
is shallow, making the bottom of your blade relatively flat, you
are more likely to hydroplane along the ice. Forwards, and most
recreational skaters, who want to get speed out of their skates
will demand a relatively shallow hollow. However, when the
hollow is deeper, the blade will cut deeper into the ice,
providing for more control.
42. Get Your Hands Up
In roller hockey, your hands should be high on the stick when
stick handling. There should be a gap of only six to eight
inches. This allows the widest possible reach. If your hand is
too low on the shaft you'll have less side-to-side
stick-handling movement. Since roller hockey is a wide open
game, usually played without body checking, you can do more
wheeling and dealing.
43. Sleepless Nights
Working to keep your name off the cut list can be gut wrenching,
mentally. Sleepless nights are common during this trial period
of one's career. Nights can be never-ending and days seem like
weeks. One NHLer, Guy Leveque, says camaraderie and adaptability
can help you weather the storm. "When you come to camp for the
first time, not knowing anybody and trying to impress the
scouting staff, it's hard for a young guy. The biggest factor is
knowing guys and knowing how to adapt to the NHL style."
44. Get Back Here!
Concentrate on back checking. Since in roller hockey you're only
playing four-on-four, if you don't get back, the other team is
probably going to have a man advantage. Too many two-on-ones
turn into three- or four-on-twos because the two players up
don't stop and get back quickly. Don't circle the net and cruise
- get back!
45. Snap, Don't Slap
The back-hand wrist shot and snap shot are easier to execute in
roller hockey than in ice hockey because the puck is lighter.
Too many players concentrate on the slap shot when they should
develop a lightning-quick snap shot. Practice both these highly
effective shots and watch your points go up.
46. What Me, Check?
The easiest way to check a girl without actually "checking" her
is the bump. The key to a good bump is to hit the player hard
enough to jar the puck loose without knocking the player down,
or even too significantly off stride. This makes the contact
seem incidental.
47. A Little Hook Helps
The keys to getting away with a hook or a hold are knowing when
to do it, and knowing when to let up. If it's done properly, you
will slow the player down just a half stride, which should be
enough to let you catch up. Equally important is the location of
the hook or the hold. Hook a player's feet and she's going down
- and you're going to the sin-bin to feel shame. Hook her
shoulder for a split second, and you're even with her again -
but remember who this girl was, so that next time you can play
her a little more honestly and don't have to risk a penalty.
48. A Slap On The Wrist
By far, the most effective location to slash someone is on the
gloves. With proper timing, a medium hard slash to the gloves
will knock the puck off most players' sticks, and they don't
even get off a shot.
49. No Cheap Shots, Please
Anyone who has played for some time knows what a cheap shot is:
spearing, butt-ending and elbowing can all seriously injure a
player, so it's best not to initiate this type of action.
However, a good "payback" for someone who cheapshots you is the
big hit. If you level someone who is playing chippy, and "pop
their top," they'll know why you did it and you probably won't
see them again. You've made your statement; take your two
minutes and get on with the game.
50. Fight "For The Team"
New Jersey Devil tough-guy Ken Daneyko would rather win a game
than win a main event: "My philosophy, then as it is now, is to
be a team guy; stick up for your teammates. Some rugged players
make a big deal out of having bouts and beating up on other
guys. It's important to a lot of them, but has never been
important to me. I can recall instances where I beat up someone
who was supposed to be tough, and yeah, it gave me a lot of
confidence. But the thing is, I never made a whole lot of the
incident. And the reason I didn't is that I never considered
standing up to someone anything more than just part of my job."
51. Misdirection Helps
When the puck goes to one of your defensemen for a shot from the
blue line, tap the goalie's pads so she starts looking for a
rebound that isn't there, but don't forget about that big
defenseman...because she'll be looking for you.
52. Making A Scene
If you're playing against a girl who is a little bigger and
stronger than you, don't play her game; you're not going to
out-muscle her. Rather, when you want to set up in front of the
other team's net, don't just stand by the big defenseman and
wait for her to clear you out, take your stick and whack him
right on top of the laces and holler, "I'm here!" She'll
probably chase you around, distracting the goalie - who'll be
wondering "what the heck is going on here?" Meanwhile, your side
will have a better chance to put the puck in the net!
53. Endless Summer
Summer is a good time to build a team. Many players form a
summer-league team and things work out so well that they decide
to stay together into the winter season. The less competitive
atmosphere of summer leagues allows many teams and players to
"experiment" with different players and positions. Maybe you're
a forward and want to change to defense, or may-be you had a
life-long ambition of playing nets. The summer is a good time to
try a new position.
54. Explode!
To gain an explosive start, you should picture in your mind what
a sprinter looks like when the gun goes off. The sprinter is
trying to thrust forward - not upward - to gain that extra
advantage at the start, and their initial strides come from the
balls of the feet. It is similar in hockey. We want to feel like
we are thrusting forward, taking quick strides that may look
like short strides to the naked eye but are, in fact, best
performed when fully extending the pushing leg. Remember to stay
low throughout the move, trying to cover as much distance as you
can while still making very rapid strides.
55. Spur Your Sponsor
Don't waste time thinking how great all the girls are going to
look in those new uniforms. Instead, compile a list of benefits
to a sponsor. Remember, the odds of finding a sponsor ready to
hand over the cash just because she likes you are almost
non-existent. Sponsors want to know what's in it for them. If
you can convince a prospect that it'll help his or her business,
he'll consider your offer much more seriously.
56. A Hybrid In Net?
No goaltender is purely one style or another. They are a
hybrid...a combination that depends on the way the goaltender
plays different situations. Ideally, in developing her own
personal method or system of playing goal, a goalie should take
the pluses of various styles on the "Style Continuum" while
avoiding the minuses.
57. Icing Is Your Friend
Coach Tim Army says icing the puck isn't always such a bad idea.
"If you've been out there for a while, say 35 or 40 seconds,
it's a lot easier to play offense in those situations than it is
defense. Not all players realize this, but sometimes it's
actually better to ice the puck, take a face-off and get some
fresh horses out there. Under those circumstances, players
shouldn't be afraid to take a whistle. But if you're fresh and
the same situation arises, playing it off the glass and looking
for an opening might be a good move."
58. Upstairs, Downstairs
As a player skates in - preferably with her head up, she should
be able to judge from the goalie's positioning whether going
top-shelf is a viable option. Should a goalie be just inside the
top of her crease or back in her net, the odds are good that the
upper corners will be open. If the player is in too close,
chances are she won't have enough room to lift the puck. Between
the hash-marks of the face-off circle or just before the base
are ideal release points for going high. The shot most used in
this instance, is a wrist or snap shot.
59. Handcuff The Keeper
Goalies tend to get somewhat handcuffed when a puck is shot
slightly above the ice to the outside of their pads, and
underneath their glove or blocker. Whatever the reason,
goaltenders prefer to kick their legs out rather than to the
side. Once a goalie kicks her leg to the side, her arm also
tends to rise in the process, leaving a hole between the pad and
underneath portion of her arm.
60. Size Matters
Former L.A. Kings winger Dave Taylor on properly-fitted
equipment: "Some players like to wear their pants large and that
could cause a problem. When you go down, the padding needs to be
in the appropriate places. Large pants could rotate and cause
the padding to move out of place. With shin guards, length is
very important. Too long is not good. Too short is worse,
creating a gap above the skates where the puck seems to always
find." Wearing equipment that fits is the best way to prevent
injuries.
61. I Could Pass, But...
Say two players are breaking in two-on-one, and the player on
the left passes to the player on the right. The goalie will
follow the pass, but generally anticipate a return pass to the
left. If the player on the right holds onto the puck, however,
the goaltender will often become a victim of her own
anticipation, cheating back across and leaving plenty of net to
shoot at. The same strategy can work if the puck-carrier is
along the boards with a teammate cutting towards the slot.
Sometimes using your teammate as a decoy can give you extra
room.
62. Let It Go!
Often players will set up a screen so the goalie can't get a
clear read on the shot. If the goaltender goes down to get a
better view, it's a good bet a rebound will ensue. When this
happens, a player should release the puck quickly and avoid
trying tomake an extra move or two. Get the puck on net, and see
what develops. Being fancy doesn't count on the scoreboard.
63. Creative Discipline
If you're coaching, especially younger kids, don't use skating
as a negative or a punishment. This automatically sets the wrong
tone for the players. Try to be creative when disciplining your
team. Simply threatening your team with laps or other skating
drills sends the message that skating is only practiced as a
last resort. If specific drills are called for - to emphasize
stamina, endurance or technique - use
them as part of the regular coaching regimen.
64. Start Hot
Brian Engblom says that pre-game work pays off: "Work hard in
the pre-game warm-up. Skate really hard and get a good sweat
going. It will help your nerves settle down. It will also
prepare you to work hard and be intense right at the start of
the game. If you try to work your way into the game by skating
off slowly and then building up your intensity, it will probably
already be too late."
65. Way Back? Far Out!
A struggling goaltender will often tinker with his positioning.
He may stay very deep in his net, receiving false security from
being close to the goalposts. But being too deep leaves a lot of
room for shooters. At the other extreme, the goaltender might
come out way too far - running at shooters - sometimes to the
hash marks. The goalie believes that by cutting down the angle a
lot, shooters cannot score. But often the goalie gets caught out
of position by moving forward at the attackers.
Shooters:
watch the goalie's habits in the pre-game warm-up. Goalies:
don't overcompensate one way or the other just because you're
struggling.
66. Don't Think Too Much
New York Rangers sparkplug Adam Graves on approaching the game:
"Hockey is an emotional game and you play
with enthusiasm. You can't go out and say 'Well, this shift I'm
going to do this and that shift I'm going
to do that.' You just go out and play as hard as you can and you
do what you can, and you play on
instinct. It's too quick a game just to be sitting back. It's
not like football where you make plays and
then go and execute them and then you come back and talk about
the execution. It's one of those things
that - boom, boom, boom - it happens so fast that you play on
emotion and you play with heart, and that's where I think you
become more successful."
67. It's Good To Share
One of the biggest annoyances when skating in a pick-up
scrimmage is having to put up with someone who
refuses to come off the ice. A well-run pick-up will normally
consist of two lines per team, and will
have a means of changing lines, most likely by a timed buzzer.
But sometimes there are extra players, so
three or four other people might be on the bench. Be considerate
of them. They paid their money to play, too.
68. Clean, Not Mean
In addition to controlling the amount of physical contact during
a pick-up, one should also play clean.
Pick-up should be a time to develop hockey skills, not combat
tactics. On too many occasions altercations
during pick-ups erupt from someone's recklessly swung stick, or
from a spear that would kill a vampire.
Play like this degrades the pick-up, and players who conduct
themselves like ninjas should not be
tolerated.
69. Top 10 Pick-Up List
- Upon arriving at the rink, pay for your ice time immediately.
- Bring two jerseys, a light and dark color so teams can be
easily divided.
- Assume that the scrimmage will be played with minimal body
contact.
- Don't hog ice time, skate short shifts.
- Play a "team game." No one likes puck hogs.
- Be considerate of your teammates as well as opposing players.
- Obey rink rules. Avoid entering the ice until the Zamboni
operator finishes cleaning his job.
- Be flexible with the teams picked and the position you might
be asked to play.
- Arrive on time. It's annoying to rearrange teams after play
has already started for the benefit of one
person.
- Be friendly to all players. A friendly atmosphere keeps
conflicts to a minimum.
70. Building Wrist Rockets
Strong wrists make for strong shots. If you don't belong to a
gym, there are a number of different,
affordable wrist exercisers on the retail market, ranging from
the Weider Power Wrist Builder to a simple
but very effective rubber squeeze-ball. You can also make a
simple device with a broom handle, a string
and a weight. Tie the string to both the weight and the broom
handle. Then, with the weight on the ground
and the broom handle held with both hands at shoulder height,
simply raise the weight by rolling the
string onto the broom handle until the weight is at the handle.
Then slowly unroll the weight back to the
ground. This is an effective technique left over from the days
of helmetless hockey.
71. Controlled Aggression
Rob Blake on when to go for the big hit: "You have to use a
controlled aggression. When I was younger, I was always real aggressive, jumping up and trying to cause
problems. That's a common thing for younger
players. Being overly aggressive at all costs, and not
necessarily being where they are supposed to be on
the ice at any given time. When you're younger, you're always
looking for the big hit. But you have to
know when that's going to happen. You have to learn to play
smarter, to know when is the time to make the
hit and when is the time to hold your ground so you don't get
stuck at a disadvantage."
72. Keep It Down
Whenever possible, shoot low. Unless the goalie is a
butterfly-style keeper against whom you might want
to shoot high, top scorers almost always shoot the puck low. If
you think about it, this makes sense
because most goalies can move their arms to cover the top of the
net, but if they're not in perfect
position, there are very few who are quick enough to adjust and
cover a good low shot.
73. Try And Stay Balanced
A skater should always be evenly balanced. If the balance point
or center of the radius is too far back,
the knees and ankles will be forced to bend excessively. There
will be a noticeable loss of power in the
skater's stride. If the radius is too far forward, the legs are
locked into a rigid position. There will
be a noticeable loss in the long, full stride; the skater may be
limited to short, choppy strides.
Improper positioning of the balance point will also cause muscle
fatigue, frustration, and a loss of
skater confidence.
74. She's In Alone!
Stopping a breakaway is a three-step process:
- Coming Out: When the goaltender determines there is a
breakaway, she should come out well above the top of
the goal crease and get set. This leaves little angle for a
shot, and forces a sharp player to deke.
- Backing Up: When the player reaches the top of the circles,
the goaltender begins his backward motion.
- Save Selection: This is the save choice the goalie makes.
Whether it is a stack of the pads, a
half-butterfly, or just getting hit in the chest, a decision
based on the situation and visual cues must
be made.
75. Stealing The Puck
How do you get the puck away from an approaching forward? It
depends, says defenseman Rob Blake:
"Basically you look to where he's holding the puck. If he has it
to the side, it's easier to get a hold
of. You can either lift the stick or you can slide and get it
from him. If he's got it directly in front
of him, the best (play) is to hook him around the elbow...just
throw him off a little bit."
76. What's The Plan?
What should you be thinking about as you break in alone on the
goalie? Not much, says Trevor Linden:
"When you go in on a breakaway, it's more of just a
reaction-type play. You're not thinking about it. It
happens so quickly. You're there, you're on top of the goalie
and you make your play."
77. Anticipate In Net
"The goalie has to play against the power play differently than
under normal circumstances," says Coach
Rick Wilson. "When both teams are at equal strength, the goalie
can focus exclusively on the puck,
because he's got defensive help to offset plays on the opposite
side and behind the net.
"But during a power play, the goalie is as responsible for
anticipating as the defenders are. Not that he
wants to leave the net unguarded to play a man without the puck,
of course, but he often ends up making
decisions that the puck makes for him under more routine
circumstances."
78. Don't Let 'Em See You Sweat
How does a goalie approach the pressure-packed breakaway
situation? Kay Whitmore says, make him think:
"You try and stay as calm as you can, and make it look like
you're following him backwards. The more you
make him think, the better for you. Most guys who score know
what they're going to do from the start. If
you can make him change his mind and do something that he
doesn't want to do, that turns the tables in
your favor."
79. Aggressiveness Is The Key
How can you make a difference at both ends of the ice? "I think
being aggressive is the key," says Paul
Coffey. "You can't be afraid to take some chances. Of course,
you have to be aware of when is a good time
to take a chance and when it's a good time to play it safe, but
aggressiveness is very important."
80. Good Refs Rule
Referees are a vital part of any successful game or league. If
possible, it's better to have non-playing refs. One thing is certain, bad refs equal a bad league. If
they're too permissive and liberal, fights
and violence will result. If they call it too tight then the
level of competitiveness suffers. There's
just no substitute for experience.
81. Be Square
A skate that is "out of square," has one edge that is higher
than the other. This can lead to a skate
turning much more easily in one direction than the other. This
is analogous to driving a car that needs a
front end alignment. The way to determine if your skate has its
two edges square to the side of the blade
is to turn the skate upside down, hold it up to where you can
look across the length of the blade, and
place a quarter over the two edges. If the side of the quarter
and the side of your blade comprise a "T",
then your skates are correctly in square. But if one side of the
quarter sits higher than the other, you
have a high edge, and your skates are out of square.
82. Be Sharp
Holding the skate upside down with the toe in one hand and the
heel in the other, and holding the skate
up to the bright lights inside the rink, pivot the skate toward
you in the same fashion that you would
turn a thermometer toward you when you are trying to read it. If
there are dull spots on the skate, they
will show up as little spots and lines of reflected light. This
method is superior to, and safer than,
the old method of running the back of your fingernail across the
blade leaving fingernail shavings on the
blade. Injuries are reported about once a month by people who
use this rather inaccurate method.
83. Did They Do It Right?
Here's how to tell if your skates have been sharpened properly:
First, take a look at the bottom of the
blade and observe the "grain" of the sharpening along the length
of the hollow. Do the lines run straight
along the length of the blade, or are they crooked and run
crossways between the edges? Straight lines
indicate that the skate was ground correctly. Crooked lines will
lead to friction and slow you down.
Another test is to carefully run a pen along the length of the
hollow and check to see if the line you
have drawn runs straight and smooth.
84. Be Flexible In Net
Flexibility increases a goaltender's speed and reduces injury.
Flexibility exercises can be done alone,
or with a partner, by having the second person apply slight
pressure to the goalkeeper while in a variety
of stretching positions. When doing any flexibility exercises,
never bounce, always stretch. Ask a coach,
trainer or physical therapist for specific stretches designed
for hockey players.
85. What Me, Cheat?
Does an All-Star really cheat? "Sure," says Dale Hawerchuk: "You
try and get away with cheating as much
as you can on a draw. I know the word cheating sounds bad, but I
don't mean it in the way you may think
about cheating. Cheating on a draw usually means that you
position your feet differently on every draw.
You try and get as much of an edge on winning it as possible."
86. Be Safe & Sure
How does former NHL rearguard Brian Engblom think you should
play it? Safe, that's how: "Inside your own
zone, you must make sure of every pass and not be careless about
over-stickhandling the puck under
pressure. Play the percentages, but above all, play by the clock
and the score. Giving up a goal against
in the first minute, or last minute of a period is deadly to
your team's momentum. Being fancy with the
puck, in a close game, will lead to defeat much more often than
to victory."
87. Give Yourself Options
When you're on a breakaway, speedster Cliff Ronning urges you to
keep your options open: "When I come
down, I'll always try to put the puck in the middle of the ice
and have my body off the post. That way
you can shoot or deke."
88. David or Goliath?
Coach Dave King offers this advice on stocking a roster: "I
don't think you can have a team of real small
players or real big players. You want balance. On every team you
want speed, finesse, and some
body-checkers. You can't just be all big and slow because you
wouldn't be effective. You look at the good
teams in the league, they've got skill and they've got size."
89. Coaching Confidence In Net
Confidence is a vital ingredient, especially for goalies.
Coaches often don't realize how they can ruin a
goaltender's confidence with harsh words, bad practice drills,
or yanking the goaltender - causing an
embarrassing moment. That's not to say that a goalie need not be
mentally tough. But while all stoppers
must overcome the negatives (giving up bad goals, being yanked,
etc.) of the game in order to excel, self
confidence is critical.
90. All Lined Up?
What is the correct method of lining a player up? Ask a guy who
can hit as well as he can score: "You
look at his body position and you adjust yours to how he's lined
up," says Brendan Shanahan. "You're not
going to run at a guy straight on when he's coming right at you.
It's probably best to take the angle on
him - otherwise he's just going to side-step you."
91. Set Goals, Be Positive
Few athletes know more about winning than Mark Messier. What
does it take, Mess? "I believe that you make
your own dreams come true. You have a determination to achieve
your goals. Too many times, things don't
go well and athletes beat themselves up until they finally just
talk themselves into depression. You have
to instill a positive feeling. A player may try to cheat his way
through the season but you can't cheat
your way to the Stanley Cup. You have to know what you want -
you have to set goals for yourself and for
the team."
92. Space Management
Dean Kennedy on playing the man: "You have to close the gap
between yourself and the man as he gets
closer, from the (opponent's) blue line through the neutral zone
and past your blue line, you have to
keep tight while simultaneously keeping yourself between him and
the goal...and maintaining protection of
the middle of the ice."
93. How Big A Butt?
When you decide to make a butt end on your newly purchased
hockey stick, you should consider that the
larger the butt end, the more weight you're adding to the stick.
Although it may seem this weight is
negligible, it may make a difference after two periods of hard
play. At the same time, you might want to
assess the way you stick handle and the type of game you play.
You may actually need a large butt end to
prevent your stick from slipping out of your hands.
94. Butt Building
When constructing a butt end, there are two basic
configurations. The most common one is a square butt
end that mirrors the shape of the stick. The other is a rounded
butt end resembling an upside-down
bowling pin. Both are easy to make, and can be modified to be as
elaborate as the user wishes. When
building up butt ends, it might be a good idea to use paper to
shape the handle, saving on the amount
tape used. If you choose to make a finger gripping surface,
coiled tape can be used in lieu of rope. This
will keep the weight of butt end to a minimum.
95. Position & Posture
Dave Taylor on face-offs: "I've always been taught that there
are different postures for each face-off
location. For example, in the defending zone you should be
playing to control the puck and be thinking
defense first. Too often teams try to 'break-out' from the
face-off and end up giving up a goal because
they not only lost the draw but left the opposing team
unchecked."
96. Seeing The Ice
The best forwards achieve their status not only through hard
work but by being "heads-up" hockey players
and "seeing the ice." This is an expression that describes
players who instinctively sense the movements
of other players on the ice and are able to play off of those
movements with a similar instinctiveness.
It's also referred to as "feeling the play" or "chemistry"
between linemates. Some players have this
natural gift. Others can work toward it by learning to use their
eyes to read the play.
97. Self-Help In Net
While not every rebound is controllable by the goaltender, the
goalie must get better at controlling more
of them. Geometry tells us that very often, a shot from the
outside third of the ice results in a rebound
into the slot (angle of incidence equals the angle of
reflection). Goaltenders must work on directing
pucks away from traffic, thus shrinking the number of "gimme" or
"garbage" goals from in front of the
net. The goalie should not rely totally on the defense to clear
all rebounds.
98. High-Power Power Play
Where does All-Star center Pierre Turgeon like to station
himself on the power play? "I like to be behind
the net, especially (since) the defenseman has to make a
decision on which way he's going to go. If one
of the two defenseman comes behind the net to get you, there has
to be one guy open in front. I just like
to get there and look to see the play and all of the people in
front. When the defenseman forces you on
one side you can get out of the other, so the net you can use as
a screen. Most of the time when we have
a lot of chances to score, it comes from behind the net. We know
it. We try to talk with Derek King and
Steve Thomas and say get the puck in the corner. The main thing
is putting it behind and start it from
there because we get a lot of scoring chances from behind the
net."
99. Skate Like The Great One
Wayne Gretzky has so many other skills that it's sometimes easy
to forget his skating ability. While not
the fastest player in the league, he is probably the quickest.
His forward skating speed can be matched,
but the rest of his skating abilities are unparalleled. Why is
he so quick when it counts? Start with
genetics, then watch what he does: Gretzky stays low to the ice.
You should, too, because the more you
bend your knees the better all your skating will be. #99 also
turns and stops on a dime. When making one
of those tight turns he is so famous for, notice how he keeps
his upper body centered directly over his
skates, rather than leaning in with the inside shoulder. He also
starts fast: notice how he gets up on
the inside edges of the toes and, like a sprinter coming out of
the blocks, explodes forward. Watch and
emulate The Great One's skating techniques and your game will
improve. But remember, there's only one
#99.
100. Power Play Preparation Pays
"The key to an effective power play first depends on who you're
playing (against)," says Nelson Emerson,
a right winger who often mans the point on the power play. "In
the NHL, we watch films and learn teams'
tendencies. Obviously, that kind of preparation is difficult at
other levels, but the main thing is you
should do everything you can to know the team you're going up
against as well as you know your own."
Colin Campbell agrees: "We prepare them for what they're going
to see. Are the opposing players passive
or aggressive? Do they (attack the puck) or stand back? We give
them as much information as we can
without blurring the whole scene."
101. 'D' Best Passes Are Simple
Brian Engblom on puck-handling at the blue line: "To move the
puck effectively, the best passes are short
ones. A defenseman should always be looking for the simplest
play possible. He should use his partner as
much as possible, when being forechecked aggressively. If he
hangs on to the puck too long an intelligent
forechecker will systematically limit his options and run him
out of room, forcing him into a turnover." |
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