The 3 Keys To Defense - Part 1
Key 1: Go Up The Middle Robinson told Stevens that when he's moving up ice, go up the middle, not along the sideboards. Why?
Many young defencemen will have a tendency to stay along the board hoping to bounce-pass it off the boards and out if they're about to get checked. They also figure if they're travelling up the ice on, say, the right side, the defenceman playing the left point will cover the rest of the ice.
So, let's say for example, you're a defenceman carrying the puck up ice and you're hanging out by the right boards. What happens if an opposing player comes in to check you? Well, you've got one of several choices:
1) Stick-handle around him.
2) Bank the puck off the boards to someone else or go around him and pick it up yourself.
3) Make a cross-ice pass to your defensive partner or advance the puck to a clear forward.
In scenario 1, if he's a better forechecker than you are a stick-handler, you could get beat, then he's in one-on-none on your goalie. So let's chalk that up as a bad idea.
In scenario 2, as my mom used to say, people make better doors than windows. If you can't see past the opposing players, how confident are you that a) one of your forwards, or b) you will get to the bank-pass before an opposition player? As long as your team has control of the puck, the opposition can't score. I'm not saying never use a bank pass, just to use it effectively.
In scenario 3, the opposing forward has just pressured you into making a cross-ice pass, possibly without you being aware of the position of the rest of the players on the ice. If you send a cross-ice pass in your zone or in the near neutral zone and it gets picked off, it ends up as another potentially one-on-none situation with your goaltender. Let's chalk this one up as a bad situation, too.
So, why would you want to carry the puck up the middle? There's a few reasons, and my favorite is simply that you have more options. Again, let's think about it logically. By going up the middle, the center or one of the wingers should drop back to cover your position, and the other defenceman should be trailing you. This leaves you four pass outlets instead of one or two (two forward, two back), all of which should be a considerably shorter distance than the options you had if you had gone up the boards. Also, if you go up the middle, your lateral movement isn't limited by having the boards to one side of you. And when you have more (and safer) options, you should be able to react better in any given situation.
Related Tags: hockey, defense, hockey training
Pete Fry is the founder of Puckmasters Hockey Training Centers, the worlds first and largest hockey training center franchse.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Learn How to Improve Your Hockey Game
In order to be great at something you need to practice your heart out. This goes for any type of sp - Find Out Facts About Ice Skates You Did Not Know
Travelling on ice was not always a leisurely pursuit and although it is now a pastime followed by m - Six Factors to Consider While Buying Hockey Skates
If you are a beginner planning to buy yourself a new pair of skates then here are some basic tips - Training For Hockey Games
People that play hockey are in good physical shape because hockey forces a player to use every muscl - Why Getting a Custom Made Nhl Hockey Jersey is a Good Idea
The NHL hockey jersey, apart from being witness to the colorful unfolding of our favorite hockey lea - A Piece of the Miracle - 1980 USA Hockey Team Collectibles
The 1980 USA hockey team played what could be called the most memorable game in hockey history. So - Florida Panthers Mourning Loss of Former Player
Hockey is a sport where players are used to loss: loss of games, loss of sticks, even loss of teeth. - Is It A Sport, Is It A Plane, No It's Roller Hockey
Roller HockeyThe sport of hockey has many variations, including the Olympic sports of ice hockey and - Lacrosse Helmet - The Importance of Choosing the Best
In rough contact games such as lacrosse, head protection should be a requirement for all players. La - Lacrosse Bags - Choosing the Best
Lacrosse players often have to carry a lot of equipment, such as balls, sticks, shirts, shoes, and t
Most viewed articles in this category:
- What Does Ice Skating Mean To Playing The Game Of Hockey?
Ice Skating. What does it mean? Why do we want to teach our children to ice skate?When your child d - A Piece of the Miracle - 1980 USA Hockey Team Collectibles
The 1980 USA hockey team played what could be called the most memorable game in hockey history. So - Lacrosse Helmet - The Importance of Choosing the Best
In rough contact games such as lacrosse, head protection should be a requirement for all players. La - Lacrosse Bags - Choosing the Best
Lacrosse players often have to carry a lot of equipment, such as balls, sticks, shirts, shoes, and t - Is It A Sport, Is It A Plane, No It's Roller Hockey
Roller HockeyThe sport of hockey has many variations, including the Olympic sports of ice hockey and - Hockey Sticks - Choose the Right Stick to Improve Your Game
Hockey sticks come in different sizes, compositions, and materials. Choosing the best combination is - Hockey Wrist Guards Help Prevent Injury
Hockey is an aggressive game that puts you at risk of serious injuries, such as sprains and dislocat - Tips To Improve Your Ice Hockey Game
Every teenager who plays ice hockey dreams of making it big in the National Hockey League. However, - Florida Panthers Mourning Loss of Former Player
Hockey is a sport where players are used to loss: loss of games, loss of sticks, even loss of teeth. - History Of Hockey
Do you know when hockey was first played? All through the past it has been played in some form or th
