Ideal Defender - Jacob

D-Zone Retrievals and Exits

Quick Retrievals - My skating ability allow me to be quick to retrieve dump-ins. Starting with a smooth transition from backward to forward, I accelerate towards the puck while keeping a good line of protection between the puck and F1.

Taking Information - I have excellent shoulder-check habits when approaching the puck. I scan the middle, the outside, then the middle again before making my first touch on the puck.

Deception - I have a great ability to use deception (head, stick and feet) to throw F1 of my trail as I approach the puck.

Carrying the puck - I am an excellent four-direction skater, allowing me to beat F1 with a cutback to carry up the strong side or cut tightly against the back of the net to carry up the weak side.

Reading the play for a successful exit - I have an ability to read the play to quickly choose the best option for a successful breakout. Either taking the open ice for a fast breakout, hitting a forward with a pass on the tape or using my D partner to reverse the play.

Supporting my D partner - When my D partner has the puck, I provide great support by entering the D-Zone with speed, communicating with him and opening up ready to receive a pass with eyes and skates facing up ice.

N-Zone Transition Offense

Joining the Primary Attack - When I am the net-front D or weak-side D, I am quick to recognize if there is little/no pressure on my forwards exiting our zone to allow me to join the primary rush to create an odd-man rush. I continue to be part of the rush with speed through the neutral zone and when entering the O-Zone as long as there is little pressure on the puck carrier through the centre ice and offensive blue line.

Controlling the Attack - With the puck, I am excellent at moving the puck with speed taking the open ice when available, finding the open teammate or placing the puck in an open area in the offensive zone.

O-Zone Offense

Secondary Attack - When entering the O-Zone, I take advantage of my opponents being back to me and get into the open passing lanes to be in a great position to score or dish to my teammate in a higher scoring chance.

Creating Triangles - When my forwards are in control of the puck deep in the O-Zone, I create an extra passing option by getting open in a triangle formation or being an outlet at blue line to re-launch the attack.

Movement with the Puck - when I am in possession of the puck at the blue line, I have great movement with the puck. My skating ability, puck control and deception tactics allow me to have an arsenal of simple to imaginative movement patterns to open up the ice for a shot, pass or taking ice to further develop the play for a higher percentage scoring chance.

Shooting and passing - As a two-way defensemen, my shot is strong, quick and accurate, making it to the net every time I shoot from the blue line with any type of shot. When shooting from below the circles, between the dots, I pick the open holes and can change my shot angle to avoid sticks, blocks and making it harder for the goalie to be square to the puck. I pride myself of my great passing ability to find an open teammate in a great scoring opportunity.

Keeping the Puck in the O-Zone - When the opposing team gets possession in our O-Zone, I am great at reading-reacting-anticipating where the puck is going so I can be aggressive when needed to keep the puck in the zone along the half-wall.

N-Zone Transition Defense

Establishing the Gap - To establish a proper gap across all three zones, I find the highest forward in the O-Zone and establish a tight gap early. My backward skating ability allow me to match the speed of my fastest opponents. I also establish a good lateral gap staying outside the dots and protecting the middle of the ice.

Stick Detail/Active Stick - I have a great stick on puck mentality, shadowing my opponent’s stick movement, baiting him to get closer, only to poke check the puck away.

Striking my Opponent - With my good, gap, matching the speed and followed by a solid stick-on-stick, I am great at making the appropriate contact with my opponent, separating him from the puck, followed by taking control of the puck. My ability to strike is as good going forward or backward, along the boards or in open ice. I excel in striking before my opponent reaches the blue line preventing controlled zone entries.

Defending During a Regroup/Turnover - In these change of possession situations, I am great at already having a good gap established with the highest forward. My ability to anticipate, also allow me to intercept passes and/or get to 50/50 battles quick to allow my team to get back on offense.

D-Zone Defense

I have high physical intensity in the defensive zone. I am hard to play against taking away time and space from the puck carrier, creating contact/taking away hands and separating him from the puck. I box out/lift stick at right time in the house to prevent puck receiver to get quick shot or rebound. I protect the house with my back to the net keeping full vision of those trying to get in scoring position. I am quick to sprint to loose pucks in my area of responsibility, which allows me to transition to D-Zone retrieval and create a successful exit.