Home -> Info -> Hockey tips #1

[Excerpt below courtesy of Chris Kamalani]

This first email will focus on basic game play tips. These tips you must
carry in your mind at all times while on the ice in any game/scrimmage/drill
that involves more than one player.

1. FACE THE PUCK
Always face the puck.  If you don't know where the puck is how do you know
where the play will develop too, pass is coming from? Seems simple right?
Yet, you'll find as your in contact with other players that you will be
tempted to pay more attention to them then to where the puck is. It will
take a little practice at first but after a while you should be able to do
it without thinking about it.

2. STAY ON YOUR SIDE OF THE RINK
All the fancy cycling you see in the NHL will come later. Right now it is
best for you to remain on your side of the rink. Right wingers on the right,
left wingers on the left. Centers in the center of the ice. Same goes for
defense. Some of the biggest gaffs beginning hockey teams make involves
having everyone following the puck everywhere. We will talk more about this
at the practice.

3. HEADS UP, hands up, DON' T DUCK !
If it looks like your going to collide with another player, keep your head
up and don't duck. It's better to let your facemask take the brunt of the
collision than to duck down and have your neck tweeked.

4. STOP AND GO
Stop immediately and skate hard the other way on all turnovers (avoid making
big circles!). If you loose the puck don't just skate on. Stop and turn to
the puck. This is one of the many areas roller hockey does not translate to
ice hockey. You'll see roller hockey players on the ice right away. They're
the ones who only play one way and give up on the play if they lose the
puck.

5. ALWAYS MOVING
Standing still does no one any good. The only person who should be still is
the one in front of the net and only when they are between the puck and the
goalie (not much standing still in this case either). If your still, your
out of the play. Away from the puck, you must give your puck carrier a lane
to pass you the puck. This can only be achieved if your moving.
Momentum wins everything ­ from airplane dogfights to ice hockey!  Why is an
NHL shift only 45/60 seconds when athletes at that level are in peak
physical condition? Because the    players are always moving.  You should
always be on the move.  Whether you are receiving a pass, playing defense or
prowling the net - keep  moving when youčre on the ice.    This is an
extremely difficult concept to learn; but one that will pay huge dividends
in the long run.

6. HANDS CLOSE TOGETHER WHEN STICK HANDLING & PASSING
When passing and stick handling place your hands approximately six inches
apart and no further.  Why?  With your hands 6" apart you can maneuver your
stick and perform many    magical moves when stick handling.  Placing your
hands farther apart adds to the stick fulcrum and reduces it blade sweeping
arc and also brings your arms closer to your body.  Now if    you pass with
your hands the same distance apart as stick handling several important
things are accomplished.  You do not telegraph your pass by moving your hand
down, you can    pass right from a stick handling position, when you release
the puck off the stick it has better spin, you have more expanded reach to
get a bad pass and you can quickly roll the wrist to    get a back hand pass
while still facing the puck.